Summer’s End Smokeout: The Most Underrated Music Festival of All Time

Summer’s End Smokeout: The Most Underrated Music Festival of All Time

Some festivals are built around giant budgets.

Some are built around celebrity names.

And then there’s Summer’s End Smokeout (SESO) in Republic, Michigan.

After spending our first day here, there is only one way to describe it:

This might be the most underrated music festival in America.

Not because it has the biggest crowd.

Not because it has the flashiest production.

But because every single person here from the artists to the vendors to the organizers to the attendees actually wants to be here.

That feeling is impossible to fake.

A Hidden Gem in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Held at Boulder Alley Disc Golf Course in Republic, Michigan, Summer’s End Smokeout transforms the Northwoods into a four-day music, cannabis, camping, and arts festival unlike anything we’ve experienced.

Three music stages.

Camping.

Live art.

Glass blowing.

Food vendors.

Cannabis brands.

The Yooper Cup.

An on-site dispensary.

Late-night performances.

And somehow it all works together without feeling overcrowded or overproduced. (Summer’s End Smokeout)

The layout is incredibly well thought out. Whether you’re walking between the Big Smoke Stage, Forest Stage, or Dab Tent, nothing feels like a marathon. Camping, vendors, sponsors, food, and entertainment all flow naturally together, making it incredibly easy to spend an entire day exploring without ever feeling rushed.

A Lineup That Punches Way Above Its Weight

This year’s lineup is stacked.

Headliners include:

• Juvenile & The 400 Degreez Band

• Riff Raff

• Devin the Dude

• Caspa

• TVBOO

• Manic Focus

• Think X

• Sister Nancy

• The Widdler

• Joker

• Flava D

• Resonant Language

• MIMS

• Honeycomb

• Mr. Blotto

And that’s just scratching the surface.

Across four days and three stages, nearly one hundred performances span hip-hop, bass music, EDM, funk, jam bands, reggae, blues, comedy, folk, and more. (Summer’s End Smokeout)

This isn’t a festival that locks itself into one genre.

It’s a celebration of music itself.

The Best Part Isn’t the Music

It’s the people.

We’ve covered a lot of events.

One thing becomes obvious pretty quickly.

Sometimes vendors are exhausted.

Sometimes sponsors are just there because marketing told them to be.

Sometimes artists are counting down until they can leave.

That is absolutely not the vibe here.

Everyone smiles.

Everyone talks.

Everyone educates.

Everyone seems genuinely excited that you’re interested.

That energy spreads through the entire festival.

Korey From 710 Labs

One of the highlights of our first day was spending time with Korey representing 710 Labs.

Her knowledge wasn’t just product knowledge.

She broke down the history of the event, explained how everything comes together, helped us understand the flow of the festival, and answered every question with genuine enthusiasm.

People like that elevate an event.

They don’t just represent a brand.

They become ambassadors for an entire culture.

Honeycomb Explained Why Artists Keep Coming Back

Another incredible conversation came with Honeycomb, a veteran SESO performer.

He gave us insight into what many of the artists think about this festival.

The overwhelming theme?

They genuinely love coming back.

When performers choose to return year after year, it says something.

Artists have played every type of venue imaginable.

When they tell you this place feels different, you pay attention.

Rove… We Need That Vape at MJBizCon

And then there was Rove.

First…

That giant vape display might be one of the coolest promotional pieces we’ve seen at any cannabis event.

Second…

We’re officially making our request now.

Can we please get one of those at MJBizCon?

Imagine interviewing people around that thing.

It’s impossible not to stop and look at it.

Marketing done right.

Every Vendor Wanted to Talk

One thing we noticed over and over again…

Nobody seemed bothered when people stopped.

Questions weren’t interruptions.

They were conversations.

Whether it was cannabis education, products, music, or simply directions around the grounds, everyone took the time to engage.

That makes a huge difference.

It creates an environment where newcomers immediately feel welcome.

None of this happens without Elevated Exotics. As the host, presenting sponsor, and driving force behind Summer’s End Smokeout, they’ve built something that feels far bigger than a music festival. They’ve created a community where artists, vendors, brands, and attendees all genuinely want to be. From the organization and atmosphere to the incredible lineup and welcoming culture, their passion shows in every detail. It’s rare to attend an event where the people putting it on are just as excited to be there as everyone attending, but that’s exactly what makes SESO special. A huge thank you to Elevated Exotics for inviting F’nAround to experience what we truly believe is one of the most underrated music festivals in the country.

Thank You

A massive thank you goes to Elevated Exotics for inviting F’nAround to cover Summer’s End Smokeout.

Thank you to Brett for making this opportunity happen.

We’re incredibly grateful to be here documenting one of Michigan’s hidden gems.

We’ll Be Here All Weekend

This is only Day One.

We’ve already filmed interviews.

Artist conversations.

Vendor spotlights.

Brand features.

Food.

Behind-the-scenes moments.

And plenty of F’nAround shenanigans.

We’ll be dropping clips throughout the weekend as we continue exploring everything Summer’s End Smokeout has to offer.

Final Thoughts

Some festivals become famous because they’re expensive.

Some become famous because celebrities post about them.

Summer’s End Smokeout deserves attention for a much simpler reason.

It gets the important part right.

The people.

The artists.

The brands.

The organizers.

The volunteers.

The attendees.

Everyone contributes to an atmosphere that feels authentic.

And in today’s festival world, authenticity is becoming harder and harder to find.

If you’ve never heard of Summer’s End Smokeout before…

Now you have.

And after spending just one day here, we’re already comfortable saying it:

This may be the most underrated music festival of all time.

We’ll see you in the woods.

And if you missed this year…

Start planning for next year.

Our day 1 video:

The only way to describe @ElevatedExotics’ Summer’s End Smokeout? The most underrated music festival of all time. Incredible artists, amazing vendors, the friendliest people, and a vibe you can’t fake. Huge thanks to Elevated Exotics for building something truly special. We’ll be dropping clips all weekend… and we’ll definitely be back! Music by the Widdler

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbvhFl8xACz/?igsh=MXd2b3J0M3BnbnYwZA==