Courtesy of Visit Eau Claire
After eight years away, one of the Midwest’s most beloved boutique music festivals is making its long-awaited return. Eaux Claires—founded by Eau Claire native Justin Vernon, of Bon Iver, and Aaron Dessner, of The National—returns July 24-25 at a new home: Carson Park in Eau Claire, about 90 minutes east of the Twin Cities.
For music fans willing to make the easy weekend road trip, expect more than a typical festival. Eaux Claires has always blurred the lines between concert, art installation, literary gathering, and community celebration—and organizers are leaning even further into that philosophy for 2026.
The lineup alone is reason enough to go. Friday features the much-anticipated “Bon Dylan” performance from Justin Vernon, when Vernon will perform as 1994 Bob Dylan, playing the Minnesota icon’s hits from every era with a 12-piece band of frequent collaborators. Festival organizers say Vernon will “try to turn Bon into Bob—blurring the lines and becoming someone else, not as an impersonation but a personification.”
Friday will also highlight a collaborative set from Aaron Dessner and Fred again.., plus Kevin Morby, Bizhiki, and Aimee Mann, who’ll perform music from her acclaimed 2000 album “Bachelor No. 2.” Saturday brings Dijon, Samia, Monica Martin, Gully Boys, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, and a retrospective celebrating the Minneapolis Sound, among others.
But music is only part of the experience. This year’s festival debuts an ambitious Writers in Residence program with acclaimed authors, poets, critics, and musicians, including Michael Perry, Sheila Heti, Hala Alyan, Safia Elhillo, Amanda Petrusich, Nickolas Butler, Katie Ka Vang, and many more. Festivalgoers can attend writing workshops, poetry readings, conversations, open mics, memoir collaborations, and one-on-one readings throughout the weekend.
Families will also find plenty to explore beyond the stages. Programming includes live owl presentations and reptile demonstrations from Beaver Creek Nature Reserve, the All-American Lumberjack Show, professional magicians and jugglers, Hmong Siab Zoo’s Kindness Dance Program, an only-in-Wisconsin dessert bar contest judged by five women named Mary, farmers union activities, and other family-friendly attractions.
Carson Park will also be scattered with art installations, and there’s a food lineup that spotlights Wisconsin restaurants and vendors from Eau Claire, Madison, Milwaukee, and Chippewa Falls—another nod to the festival’s emphasis on celebrating its home state.
That local focus is intentional. When announcing Eaux Claires’ return, organizers described this new chapter as “more something, for more everyone,” centering unexpected collaborations while keeping Eau Claire (and Wisconsin) itself at the center of the experience. The move to historic Carson Park roots the festival in one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
Justin Vernon says, “People are going to be able to walk up through this incredible sense of nature. There’s just such a rich history here… and yet we can kind of easily forget how special this place is.”
If you’re planning to make the drive from the Twin Cities, a few logistics are worth noting: The gates open at 11:30 a.m. each day; children 10 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult; and on-site parking has already sold out, so organizers recommend using festival transportation options or walking from downtown Eau Claire if you’re staying nearby.
Visit eauxclaires.com for tickets and details.
