On March 11, 2026, the White Lake community gathered for the kickoff of the Walk the Beat program, an event that brings music, opportunity, and community connection together. This marks the fifth year Walk the Beat has hosted in White Lake, with events previously established in Grand Haven and Albion.
Walk the Beat is more than a festival. Founded in 2013 by Dave Palmer and Ric VanWeelden, the organization is dedicated to building communities through music. It creates opportunities for musical education, relationships, and performance while awarding scholarships to students and supporting nonprofit causes. At the White Lake kickoff, more than ten local nonprofits were present, selling raffle tickets to help fundraise for both scholarships and their own initiatives.
Sarah Kane Smart, executive director for the White Lake Area, welcomed students, families, and volunteers, noting the enormous effort required to organize the program. “I couldn’t do it myself,” she said, highlighting the contributions of board members, donors, and volunteers who help make the program possible.
This year, 50 students received scholarships, instruments, or funding for music lessons. Students from Whitehall, Montague, and surrounding areas were recognized for their dedication to music. Instruments awarded ranged from trumpets and guitars to saxophones and violins, along with support for band fees and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp scholarships. In total, the evening’s awards exceeded $16,000, reflecting the generosity of local sponsors and donors, including Guitar Haven, Meyer Music, and Scheid Heating and Cooling, which sponsored a student for the first time this year.
The event also celebrated the human stories behind the music. Students’ excitement and gratitude were evident as they received their instruments and scholarships, shaking hands with community leaders including Mayor Tom Lohman of Montague and Mayor Tom Ziemer of Whitehall. Each award carried both recognition and opportunity, reinforcing Walk the Beat’s mission to make music accessible to everyone.
Walk the Beat continues to seek volunteers to help with festivals and programs, and they are always accepting instrument donations. If you have an instrument gathering dust, it can find a new home with students eager to learn and perform.
The White Lake Walk the Beat Festival is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 1 to 5 p.m., featuring live music at The Lewis House Bed & Breakfast, The Playhouse at White Lake and ten other venues around downtown. The festival offers free entertainment for the community and provides aspiring musicians a chance to showcase their talents.
For more information on volunteering, donating instruments, or more, visit the Walk the Beat website.
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