BRAINERD — The Lakes Area Music Festival announced its 2025 season, "MYTHS AND MAGIC," bringing world-class orchestra, opera and chamber music to central Minnesota from July 25 to Aug. 17.
This year’s festival will transport audiences to enchanted realms, where fairy tales, legends and epic sagas come to life through the power of music, with fairy-tale favorites like "Hänsel & Gretel" and "The Nightingale," alongside epic sagas including "The Lord of the Rings" and Wagner’s "Ring Without Words."
“We are thrilled to return with a season that celebrates the transformative magic of music,” Scott Lykins, artistic and executive director, said in a news release. “This summer’s programming will explore myths, folklore and legendary storytelling, featuring works that highlight the supernatural and the sublime.
"As hundreds of artists from around the globe return to their summer home for music-making, we’ll be reminded of the enchanting experiences that bring them back year after year: sharing laughter, reuniting with friends, and — of course — creating unforgettable music,” he said.
Celebrating its 17th anniversary season, more than 200 artists from the nation’s top orchestras and opera companies will present 60 concert, education and community outreach activities this July and August.
Under the leadership of Lykins, Artistic Director John Taylor Ward, and Music Director Christian Reif, LAMF continues its rise as one of the nation’s fastest-growing classical music organizations.
The festival’s hallmark is its vibrant community of internationally acclaimed musicians who return each summer.
LAMF partners with the Minnesota Orchestra for ticketing services. Tickets are available online at minnesotaorchestra.org/LakesAreaMusic and by calling the Minnesota Orchestra Box Office at 612-371-5656 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday–Friday).
2025 festival season
Main stage concerts:
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- Symphonie Fantastique: Sunday, July 27, at 3 p.m. at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd.
- The Nightingale: Wednesday, July 30, at 7:30 p.m. at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd.
- A Night at the Opera: Friday, Aug. 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd.
- Magical Keys: Sunday, Aug. 3, at 1 p.m. at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd.
- Block Party: Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Mississippi Landing Amphitheater at Lyman P. White Park in Brainerd.
- Hänsel & Gretel: Saturday, Aug. 9, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 10, at 3 p.m. at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd.
- Haydn & Shostakovich: Wednesday, August 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd.
- Wagner’s Ring: Saturday, Aug. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 17, at 3 p.m. ath the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd.
Preseason events:
- Thalea String Quartet: The Thalea String Quartet returns as artists in residence, bringing energetic and innovative programs to venues throughout the lakes area — from parks and churches to senior centers and the county jail.
- Cabaret: Saturday, July 19, at 7:30 p.m. at The Ripple Center in Aitkin and Sunday, July 20, at 7:30 p.m. at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa.
Special events:
- Summer Solstice: Sunday, June 22, at 6 p.m. at The Pavilion at Madden’s Resort in East Gull Lake.
- Gala: Spellbound: Friday, July 25, at 6 p.m. at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd.
Music education:
- Sound Garden: Saturday, Aug. 2, 9–11 a.m. at the Northland Arboretum in Brainerd.
- Explore Music: Aug. 4–8, 9 a.m.-noon daily at Forestview Middle School in Baxter.
Casual classics:
- Yoga + Live Music: Saturday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. at the Lyman P. White Park Amphitheater in Brainerd.
- Musicians’ Night Out: Thursday, Aug. 14, at 7 p.m. at Roundhouse Brewery in Nisswa.
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