It's finally here. The 2026 Grass Lake Traffic Jam'in kicks off TODAY — Friday, July 10 — and runs through Saturday, July 11 right here in Grass Lake, Michigan. Two full days of FREE live music, a classic car show, a 5K run, festival food, bounce houses, craft vendors, and the Beer & Wine Garden. This is one of the best free outdoor events in all of Jackson County and it happens right in our backyard.
Before the weekend gets away from us, here's everything you need to know — full schedule, performers, sponsors, and more.
🎤 Special Announcement: Marla Moore Sings the National Anthem
Here's a big one — Grass Lake's own Marla Moore, the 2026 WRIF W4 Country Idol winner and owner of the Ann Arbor Music Academy, will be singing the National Anthem at Friday's 5:00 PM opening ceremony.
If you haven't heard yet, Marla took home the W4 Country Idol crown on June 26th and is set to open for Justin Moore at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre in Detroit on September 4th. She's the real deal — and we're lucky to have her open Traffic Jam'in 2026 right here at home. Read our full story: Grass Lake's Marla Moore Wins W4 Country Idol 2026.
📅 Full Weekend Schedule
Friday, July 10 — Festival Hours: 5 PM–11 PM
All day: Bounce Houses (Just for Fun Inflatables), Kids Activities, Festival Food, Crafters & Exhibitors, 50/50s, Beer & Wine Garden
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 5:00 PM | Opening Ceremonies & Flag Raising — National Anthem by Marla Moore |
| 6:00–6:45 PM | Brayden Lape — NBC's The Voice, Season 22 |
| 7:00 PM | 1-Mile Fun Run |
| 7:30 PM | 5K Run/Walk — sponsored by Lost Railway Museum |
| 7:30–8:15 PM | Brayden Lape — Second Set |
| 8:30 PM | 5K Winners Announced & Special Announcements |
| 9:00–11:00 PM | Breakdown — A Tom Petty Tribute |
Saturday, July 11 — Festival Hours: Noon–11 PM
All day: Bounce Houses, Kids Activities, Festival Food, Crafters & Exhibitors, 50/50s, Beer & Wine Garden
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Festival Opens — Car Show Begins ($5 registration, includes dash plaque) |
| 12:00–2:00 PM | Music Factory |
| 3:00–5:00 PM | Exit 51 |
| 4:00 PM | Car Show Closes |
| 6:00–8:00 PM | FLYTE — Legendary Classic Rock from Jackson, MI |
| 9:00–11:00 PM | Funhouse |
Between all sets both days: Paul the Piano Guy & Ghostrider DJ Services. Times may vary.
🎸 About the Performers
Brayden Lape is a Michigan native who made it to the Top 5 on NBC's The Voice Season 22 as part of Team Blake Shelton. He's performing two sets on Friday night — don't miss him.
Breakdown — A Tom Petty Tribute closes out Friday night with an authentic, hard-rocking tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. If you love Tom Petty, this is as close as you get to the real thing.
Exit 51 is a Michigan original band — modern, upbeat, and high energy. Great for a Saturday afternoon.
FLYTE is a legendary classic rock band out of Jackson, Michigan with deep local roots. Saturday evening headliner energy.
Funhouse brings down the curtain on the whole weekend Saturday night at 9 PM.
🎥 Watch: JTV's Preview of Traffic Jam'in 2026
Traffic Jam'in organizers Joe DeBoe and Dawn Cuddie stopped by JTV Jackson earlier this week to talk about the event. Watch the full interview:
Video via JTV Jackson — Jackson County's local television network.
🚗 Car Show — Saturday, Noon to 4 PM
Classics, customs, rat rods, and more roll in Saturday noon through 4 PM. Registration is just $5 and includes a dash plaque and prize drawings. Spaces are limited — get there early. The 2026 Car Show Title Sponsor is Kelly Express Mart.
More details: Traffic Jam'in Car Show Info
🏃 5K Run & Walk — Friday Night
Kick off the festival Friday evening with the Traffic Jam'in 5K Run & Walk — a flat, scenic route around the lake and nearby neighborhood. The 1-Mile Fun Run starts at 7:00 PM, 5K at 7:30 PM. Medals and a complimentary beverage for all 5K finishers. Music plays on the course. This race is part of the ORS Race Series.
Register at RunSignUp | 5K Facebook Page
The 2026 5K Title Sponsor is Lost Railway Museum.
📸 From the Gallery
Traffic Jam'in has a long history of bringing the community together. Here are a few photos from past events:
View the full gallery on the official Traffic Jam'in website →
🎬 Last Year's Highlights — Video by CJMK Photography
Missed last year? CJMK Photography captured a highlight reel from a previous Traffic Jam'in that shows exactly what the vibe is all about:
🙏 Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsors
Traffic Jam'in is 100% free to attend thanks to the incredible support of local businesses and organizations. A huge thank you to:
Title Sponsor: The Copper Nail
5K Title Sponsor: Lost Railway Museum
Event Sponsors: Rave Associates · Kelly Express Mart
Festival Sponsors: Grass Lake Community Pharmacy · Lester Brothers · Central Security Alarm · Ghostrider DJ Services · 5 Healthy Towns · McKibben Media Group · TransTek
Gold Sponsors: Brokerage House · Cal's Excavating · Choice One Bank · Frank's Shop-Rite · Grass Lake Charter Township · Grass Lake Fire Department · Legacy Construction · PL Schmitt Carbide Tooling
Interested in sponsoring a future Traffic Jam'in? See sponsorship opportunities here.
📍 Event Details
| Dates | Friday, July 10 & Saturday, July 11, 2026 |
| Location | Grass Lake, MI — Community Events Park |
| Admission | FREE |
| Parking | See parking info |
| GrassLakeTrafficJamin | |
| Official Site | grasslaketrafficjamin.com |
The event is organized with support from the Grass Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce. Want to get involved? Sign up to volunteer!
We'll see you there, Grass Lake. 🎸