Project North is back and bolder than ever

Project North, a collaborative music, art, and sustainability festival, will return to downtown Rhinelander on Sept. 20-21.

Project North offers a diverse music lineup, interactive art experiences, sustainable and eco-friendly practices, family-friendly events, food trucks and more, organizers said in a press release.

Headliners of this year’s festival include Dessa, Old Shoe, Sunny War, Them Coulee Boys and The Milbillies. A total of 23 musical acts will perform during the two-day festival. In addition to musical acts, the festival includes an activated and engaging Kids Zone with youth activities; welcomes a variety of immersive art experiences festival goers will delight in participating in; and is proud to be certified as a near-zero waste festival.   

Now in its fourth year, Project North was first held in 2019. 

“It’s exciting to see the growth and evolution of the festival,” said WXPR station manager Jessie Dick. “At its core it has always been about music, art, and sustainability, but each year we up our game — and our schedule of events this year is testament to that. Project North 2024 is going to be unforgettable.”

Visitors to Project North will engage in sustainable methods including complying with a single-use plastic ban, using biodegradable food containers and utensils, properly disposing of food and drink waste to prepare for composting, and refilling reusable water bottles.  

“We are proud of our near-zero waste status,” added ArtStart’s Program and Operations Director Ashely McLaughlin. “Here in the Northwoods we love our lakes and our forests.  We value protecting them.  It’s part of our culture and naturally became an important aspect of the festival.”  

Gates open at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 20 for this one-of-a-kind music festival on King Street in downtown Rhinelander. 

“Our mission for Project North is to bring artists and audiences together to play, explore, and connect around music, art, and the environment,” explained Melinda Childs, ArtStart’s Community Cultural Development Director.  “This year’s festival is certainly paved to do exactly that.”

Project North presenting partners are ArtStart and WXPR, with supporting partners Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce, Nicolet College, and Holiday Acres Resort.  

For more information about Project North or to purchase tickets, visit www.projectnorth.org.