Crowds forming along the sidewalk. Melodic voices filling the air with their vibrant harmonies. Joy radiating from the hearts of those watching. During Long Beach’s second annual Make Music Day festival on June 21, the summer solstice, local residents can stroll down to their local shops and parks to witness a citywide concert unfold in front of them – for free.
The Fête de la Musique, also known as Make Music Day or World Music Day, originated in Paris in 1982 by the French Ministry for Culture. The all-day celebration encourages musicians of any and all backgrounds and skill levels to perform in public spaces.
“Go rogue and play a kazoo in the park. Get outside and sing songs to the birds,” said David Sauer, local musician and executive producer of Make Music Long Beach. “If it’s free and accessible, register your performance and get on the map.”
Make Music not only encourages free concerts, but entices people to venture out into the streets to dance and celebrate with their communities. The festival has reached international success in over 2,000 cities across 120 countries. Long Beach is currently one of 13 participating cities in Southern California.
Long Beach’s history of raising up musicians and embracing live music experiences makes it a perfect epicenter for the festival. The now defunct Long Beach Music Council first incorporated Make Music into their array of live music events in 2016. The event transitioned to virtual platforms in 2020 and 2021 before going dormant for four years.
Sauer was the first to take a step in reviving the event in Long Beach. Sauer previously performed at Make Music with his band, One High Five, and seized the chance to introduce newer generations of concertgoers to the fresh forms of music.
“In 2025, I saw an opportunity to revive the event for Long Beach and was warmly welcomed back by the Make Music Alliance,” he said.
Musicians and host venues/businesses have a symbiotic relationship that is rooted in giving each other exposure. The musicians gain a following for their work while experimenting with new sounds and crowds, and the host venues/businesses garner support from passersby.
But festival participation goes further than experienced musicians. Sauer’s favorite part of Make Music Day is that you do not need to play an instrument to be a participant in the festival. Residents are encouraged to use whatever they have on hand, or even their own voice, to add to the tapestry of sounds.
Open spaces serve as a beautiful reminder that there is infinite potential to create something somewhere all the time. Participants can host an artist, perform as one, or sign up for both directly through the Make Music Long Beach website. Registration for hosts and artists ends May 31.
“Go rogue and play a kazoo in the park. Get outside and sing songs to the birds. If it’s free and accessible, register your performance and get on the map.”
David Sauer, local musician and executive producer of Make Music Long Beach
As concerts and festivals have become less accessible with the rising cost of admission and fees, Make Music serves as a small antidote for those who seek the live music experience, but do not want to empty their wallets to do so.
As a musician himself, Sauer believes that low-cost music events reframe music as a simple necessity rather than a luxurious product.
“By removing financial barriers, Make Music Day replaces gatekeeping with radical inclusion, inviting everyone to join the fun, and allowing the city to transition into a unified voice on a global stage,” Sauer said.
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Make Music Long Beach has expanded its catalogue of activities this year by teaming up with Make Music Nigeria for a project titled “My Song is Your Song.” Artists from all over the world will participate in a global song swap project where they can submit covers of each other’s music. The event is an eccentric way for listeners to discover new music, and for artists to hear their work reimagined from a different artist.
Registration for the song swap event closes on May 4. Artists can find more information here.
Updates regarding performers and locations can be found on the interactive map on the Make Music Long Beach website. Scheduled programming for Make Music Long Beach is from 10 a.m.. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, June 21.
Those who want to volunteer in organizing the event, assisting in outreach, photography or creating social media content can contact Sauer directly at longbeach@makemusicday.org.
Christine Nader
Reporter
Christine Nader is a journalist with aspirations in community, music, and entertainment stories. She has ample experience in creating videos, social media posts, and other various forms of multimedia content. She wields the skill of reaching younger audiences through relatability, and presents a positive and determined attitude in all professional environments. In her spare time, you can find her at a concert, or in a movie theater.
