2025 Outdoor Music
Jam out with live music. Big concerts, little concerts, one-man bands, it doesn’t matter. The Norfolk area is JAM PACKED with this kind of thing! Here is what you’ll find when on the hunt for live music in the area.
You are also likely to find live music playing almost every weekend at many bars in the Norfolk area. You can catch a variety of different genres from place to place.
Check out a list of some of the places that feature live music on a regular basis.
If you’re looking for music outdoors, the summer months are loaded with that too!
Live music gets underway in June!
June starts off with 2 area festivals June 6-7.
Klown Doll Days in Plainview and Shell Creek Valley Days in Newman Grove providing fun for the entire family. And of course there will be music, because no festival is complete without music!
Friday, June 6th is the first of several River Point District Concert Series in Downtown Norfolk. These free, family friendly events are in River Point Square, and allow you to have food from participating downtown restaurants delivered right to the park while you enjoy an adult beverage, soda or water. The series kick off with acoustic artist Jeff Conrad opening the night. Conrad is the perfect lead-in for PvP Dueling Pianos, who’ll take the stage with their signature high-energy show packed with crowd favorites and musical battles.
Get ready for an event that will inspire you with music and life changing testimonials at the Christian Cross Festival, on June 7th. Beginning at 2pm, at Skyview Lake, there will be an amazing line up of speakers and artists, like Mac Powell who helped define a generation of Christian rock and many others.
Then on June 14th, start the weekend off right at the Norfolk Farmers Market to fuel up for an evening full of music. The farmers market is not only full of goodies, but you will be able to stroll along with the sound of a local musician there too! You’re going to need the extra bounce, so you can party All. Night. Long. at the Office Block Party!
The 4th annual Office Block Party starts at 3pm, (June 14th) south of Norfolk Avenue on 4th Street, just outside the Office Bar. Indulge in food trucks, beer garden and of course, live music from FIVE different bands!
June 20th brings rising country star Billie Jo Jones to the River Point Square in the Downtown Norfolk River Point District. With more than 130 shows a year across the country, Billie Jo has earned a reputation for high-powered performances and growing crowds. Opening for her is local favorite Mason Michaels, bringing familiar tunes and feel-good country to start the night.
Trade your dancing shoes in for water socks and take a ride on the North Fork Whitewater Park before taking a break at 3pm to catch the FIRST EVER Rockin’ on the Rapids in Johnson Park on June 21st, featuring local alternative, classic country rockabilly band from the Norfolk area, Kancho.
The line-up thus far will make any outdoor concert lover ‘eNVy’ous of the Norfolk area!
Music in the Park debuts its 2025 season on Thursday, June 26th. Pack the car with supper, drinks, chairs, and of course your favorite people to party with and head up to Skyview Park! Omaha’s premier cover band, eNVy, will have you dancing with a variety of classic and modern hits.
WOW, June was boomin’ and July starts with a bang!
Grab your sunscreen and lawn chairs for a full day at Skyview BoomFest, Saturday, July 5th, with a day full of activities, including, you guessed it…LIVE MUSIC and Northeast Nebraska’s largest fireworks show!
The 2nd of four Music in the Park events at Skyview Lake will be July 10th, featuring Southern Nights. Southern Nights is known for playing hits from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers Band, .38 Special and more.
On July 11th the Madison County Fair is bringing in Country music star, Jo Dee Messina, one of the most passionate, high-energy performers in the business. The very next night on July 12th will be “The Bombastic Celebration of Arena Rock”, Hairball. You won’t want to miss this one, it’s like 20 concerts in one night.
Are you ready for a weekend full of music?
On July 18, the Scott Schram Band, Nebraska Rocks 2024 Nebraska Hall of Fame Inductee, will take over River Point Square at the River Point District Concert Series, with a mix of classic and modern hits. Getting things started is Joe Cockson from Columbus, a regular performer across the region, also a familiar face from Nebraska Rocks.
Speaking of Nebraska Rocks, it is happening this very same weekend, July 18 & 19 at Divots Ballroom. But wait, there is more…The second Rockin’ on the Rapids event is Saturday, July 19 featuring the Westside Sunset Band. With an amazing weekend like this one, it’ll be hard to choose what event to attend.
Our recommendation: spend time at all of them!
Downtown Norfolk Concert Series on July 18, 5:30-11pm
Nebraska Rocks on July 18-19, 6-11pm
Rockin’ on the Rapids on July 19, 3-6pm.
July 24th head to Skyview Lake, “Where the Party is” for Music in the Park’s 3rd event of the summer. The 70’s Band will be providing a “true 70’s experience”.
Fast forward to August…but only to the ‘90s. On August 1st the River Point District Concert Series presents Flannel, a ’90s-era cover band from Rapid City, SD, known for rocking stages at Sturgis and beyond. Opening the night is The Red & Ren Show, a fun comedy-infused act from O’Neill that’s built a following with their energetic and humorous shows in and around Norfolk.
Take one to go and visit Skyview Lake on August 7th for the last Music in the Park of the season. Don’t forget your dancing shoes as One2Go takes the stage and gives you a dose of pop, rock, and country music!
The 5th annual Mimosa Fest is set for August 9th in the Downtown Norfolk River Point District (between 2nd and 3rd Street on Norfolk Avenue). Mimosa Fest is another free event that will have a variety of bands playing many of your favorite music genres all day!
August 16th is the last BIG weekend before you get busy with school activities. Start the day off with a float on the North Fork Whitewater Park and dock in Johnson Park at 3pm to catch Rascal Martinez at Rockin’ on the Rapids. Then, hit the road and head to Battle Creek for their annual Summer City Fest for fireworks and live music.
Don’t get MAD, that the outdoor live music has wound down for the season, there are still outdoor live music opportunities.
MAD Summer Nights (Madison), September 6
Oktoberfest, September 19-20
Rockin’ on the Rapids, September 27
