Hear the Difference
Explore the music scene and hear the difference in Beloit with live music, nightlife, dancing, festivals, and outdoor concerts in the summer.
Outdoor Concerts
Start the weekend with lunch from a local eatery and live music at Fridays in the Park, a Friday lunchtime concert series from May to September from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. On Friday evening, grab a lawn chair or blanket and settle in on the bank of the beautiful Rock River to watch Music at Harry’s Place, a free concert series at 7 p.m. with food trucks and vendors that set up at 6 p.m. Spend your holiday watching the Beloit Janesville Symphony Orchestra perform at Riverside Park just before the city fireworks display during the Pops on the Rock.
LIVE MUSIC
There’s live music at Merrill & Houston’s every Friday night at 8 p.m., truk’t on Thursdays at 6 p.m., and The Rooftop at Hotel Goodwin on Sundays from 3-6 p.m. Watch for live outdoor music at the Downtown Beloit Farmers’ Market, Visit Beloit’s Wednesday Wind Down, Wednesdays at the Library, The Rockton River Market, Sky Carp baseball games, The Butterfly Club, The Rock Bar & Grill, DC Estate Winery, and more. Keep an eye on The Castle at 501 Prospect for concerts as well.
NIGHTLIFE
The Grand Avenue Pub offers a stage visible from anywhere in the seating area complete with a dance floor! Here you will find live music almost every night of the week, including live blues every Monday night. The 5Bar is another great stop for live music throughout the week. In South Beloit, Mustangs Bar and Grill is a great option as well. Check the calendar for more nightlife happenings in Beloit and beyond.
DANCING
Dancing at Harry’s Place is a Friends of RiverFront program that offers free dance lessons that begin at 7 p.m. followed by open dancing that begins at 8 p.m. The lessons are held every second and fourth Monday throughout June, July, and August. There’s also free line dancing lessons at the Grand Avenue Pub on Wednesdays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and afternoon dancing at Palpable Pub on Thursdays from 2-4 p.m. Looking to let loose on the dance floor? Grand Avenue Pub, Coyote’s Night Club, 5Bar, and The Club Tavern are just a few great options.
Beloit Stories
One of the Top 15 Jazz Band Orchestras in the U.S. Calls Beloit Home
The school bell rings as students trickle into the expansive band room at Beloit Memorial High School (BMHS). Friends chat as they take their instruments out and begin to fill the rooms with melodic sounds. The daily practice is mixed with playing music, student feedback, and excitement. The practice is not just an elective for credit, as the students here are selected by audition. The practice is perfecting pieces to be played at the prestigious Essentially Ellington competition in New York City.
2025 FESTIVALS
6/12-15: Old Settlers Days
6/21: Make Music Day
6/21: Juneteenth Celebrations
7/4: Pops on the Rock
8/1: Downtown Beloit Street Dance
9/5-7: Beloit Heritage Days
9/20: Downtown Fall Fest
Check back for updates!
