Ford House's 2026 Outdoor Summer Concert Series Is Back, and This Year We're Doing Something New
Last summer, nearly 5,000 guests spread blankets and unfolded chairs on the lawn of the Main Residence, settling in as the sun dropped behind the trees and music drifted across Ford Cove toward Lake St. Clair. It was the largest crowd in the history of Ford House’s Outdoor Summer Concert Series, and for many of those guests, it was their very first time at Ford House.
We’ve been thinking about that a lot. About what it means when a summer evening opens a door.
This summer, we’re opening it a little wider.
We’re thrilled to announce the 2026 Outdoor Summer Concert Series lineup: three Friday evenings of live music by the lake. Saved by the 90s on July 10, the Michigan Philharmonic on Aug. 14, and the Dave Hamilton Band on Sept. 18. And alongside the lineup, we’re launching something completely new: a concert poster contest inviting high school students in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties to design the official poster for the series.
More on that in a moment. First, the music.
The 2026 Lineup
Saved by the 90s opens the series on Friday, July 10. If you grew up with a CD binder in the backseat and MTV on in the background, this one’s yours. The nationally touring tribute experience covers Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Nirvana, Oasis, Alanis Morissette, Foo Fighters, Blink-182, and more. It’s the soundtrack of a generation, performed live on the shore of Lake St. Clair on a summer night. Dig out your flannel, dust off your platform shoes, or come as you are. Period costume is welcome, but the only requirement is showing up.
The Michigan Philharmonic takes the stage on Friday, Aug. 14. Whether you’re a lifelong classical music devotee or someone who has always meant to give the symphony a real chance, this is the evening to do it. Under the direction of Music Director and Conductor Nan Washburn, a 19-time ASCAP Award winner for adventurous programming, the Philharmonic has built a reputation on concerts that are as accessible as they are artistically ambitious. The complete program will be announced in spring 2026.
The Dave Hamilton Band closes the outdoor summer concert series on Friday, Sept. 18, returning after an unforgettable performance last year that had guests dancing on the lawn well into the evening. Rooted in the soul, funk, and rhythm that put Detroit on the musical map, the band brings classic hits and original music that honors a sound the whole world came to love. Come ready to move. This one doesn’t sit still.
All three concerts begin at 7 p.m. on the grounds of the Main Residence at Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Shores.
Choose Your Spot
Audiences choose between two ticket options. Seated tickets include a provided chair in the prime center area directly in front of the performers. Lawn tickets let you bring your own chairs and blankets and settle in at your own pace. Guests are welcome to bring food from home (outside alcohol is not permitted), and concessions on site offer snacks, hot food, and a selection of beer and wine.
Something New This Summer: A Poster Contest
Eleanor and Edsel Ford were passionate collectors and champions of art and design. They believed deeply that this estate should be a source of beauty and inspiration for the people around it. In that spirit, we’re inviting high school students in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb county schools to design the official 2026 Outdoor Summer Concert Series poster.
The winning design will be professionally printed and used in Ford House’s official marketing throughout the summer. The selected student will receive four complimentary tickets to each of the three concerts, recognition on the Ford House website and social media, and the opportunity to have their poster offered for sale at the events. Submissions are due April 30, 2026.
Know a young artist who would love this opportunity? Share it with them. Full contest guidelines and submission details are available at fordhouse.org/concert-poster-contest.
Tickets and On-Sale Dates
Concert packages, which include all three concerts at a 10% discount, go on sale to Friends of Ford House on Tuesday, April 21, at 10 a.m. and to the general public on Friday, April 24, at 10 a.m. Package pricing is $59 for lawn and $108 for seated tickets for Friends, and $73 for lawn and $135 for the general public.
Individual concert tickets go on sale to Friends of Ford House on Tuesday, June 2, at 10 a.m. and to the general public on Friday, June 5, at 10 a.m. Individual pricing is $22 for lawn and $40 for seated tickets for Friends, and $27 for lawn and $50 for the general public.
Not yet a Friend of Ford House? Membership starts at $50 and includes early access to tickets for all Ford House events, along with a range of other benefits. Learn more at fordhouse.org/friends.
We’ll see you on the lawn.
