Big Bear Lake Hosts Sixth Annual Make Music Day Celebration on June 21
On Sunday, June 21, the quiet town of Big Bear Lake, California, burst into song as it staged its sixth annual Make Music Day, a free, community‑wide festival that aligns with the summer solstice. The event unfolded along the Moonridge corridor and the Village L, drawing more than 60 musicians from local and regional scenes.
Mayor Randall Putz began the day with a brief welcome, but his speech was interrupted by a thunderous chorus from the Diane Kubeja Voice Studio. The group launched into Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” inviting the crowd to sing along in a spontaneous, jubilant call‑and‑response. After the anthem, a staged reenactment of the iconic car‑head‑banging scene from Wayne’s World had everyone laughing before the mayor resumed his remarks, thanking the Make Music Big Bear Committee and highlighting music’s healing power.
The program was a showcase of breadth. Solo artists Alec Johnson, Connie Ybarra, David Bishop and Tom Stauffer each took turns commanding the stage. Duos such as Roper and Roper, Scott and Amy, and Robbie Bos with Bob Middleton added intimate textures, while full bands—Merge Left, Elevated, Dragonwolfe, The Linda Ronstandt Project and Brand New Keys—filled the schedule with layered sound.
Generations mingled on stage. The youngest performers, Urijah Rojas and Stella Rosenblatt, stood out, while several Baby‑Boomer‑era musicians also took the mic. To reinforce inclusivity, organizers handed out more than 60 egg shakers and 75 kazoos to children and adults, letting everyone create music on the spot.
A few groups traveled from beyond the immediate area. The Yucaipa Ukes, a ukulele ensemble from Yucaipa, joined the lineup, and the town highlighted its own High Mountain Ooks—students from Randy Boswell’s ukulele class. Organizers hinted that a future “battle of the Ukes/Ooks” could add a competitive edge to next year’s program.
Make Music Day, also known as World Music Day, is celebrated worldwide on June 21. In 2026, the Make Music Alliance reported that the day was observed in more than 1,000 cities across 120 countries. The Big Bear celebration was part of this global movement, offering residents and visitors a chance to experience music in an open, communal setting.
The festival’s programming—spanning solo acts, duos and full bands—demonstrated the town’s commitment to showcasing diverse musical styles and generations. The event concluded with a palpable sense of community and shared creativity, as Mayor Putz underscored music’s role in fostering connection and healing.
The success of the 2026 event suggests that Big Bear Lake will remain a key location for Make Music Day celebrations in the years to come. Organizers are already brainstorming fresh programming ideas, such as the proposed ukulele showdown, to keep the festival vibrant while staying true to its core mission of encouraging free, public music‑making.
