Five venues join forces for communitywide Make Music Day – Laredo Morning Times

Casa Ortiz and its garden are located at 915 Zaragoza St. in downtown Laredo. Make Music Day will bring live performances, open mics and interactive musical activities to several venues across Laredo on June 21, 2026.
With the celebration of Make Music Day just around the corner, the Laredo Fine Arts and Culture Commission is showcasing a growing lineup of local artists and musicians set to fill the city with music at several participating venues.
Make Music Day will take place June 21 throughout the afternoon at Casa Ortiz, 915 Zaragoza St., in downtown Laredo, along with activities at The Outlet Shoppes at Laredo, 1600 Water St.; Pan American Courts, 3301 San Bernardo Ave.; Star Music Shop, 10962 Room for More Way, Suite 3; and Black & White Coffee House, 5702 McPherson Road, Suite 9.
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Celebrated annually on the summer solstice, Make Music Day began in France in 1982 and has since grown into a worldwide celebration of music in public spaces. The Laredo chapter was founded in 2021 and has encouraged musicians of all ages and skill levels to perform throughout the Gateway City.
During a city recognition celebrating Make Music Day on June 15, Carroll and Jorge Santana of the Laredo Fine Arts and Culture Commission appeared before City Council to highlight the event and its impact on the community.
For Make Music Laredo Administrator Mary Grace Carroll, the event is ultimately about creating opportunities for local musicians to be heard.
“Since I’ve moved here in 1994, I’ve always been astounded at the amount of talent there is here. They just need places, they need access to performance,” she said. “And we try to provide that.”
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Carroll also reflected on how the summer solstice is celebrated differently around the world.
“I’ve been struggling for a while as to why Make Music Day works better in some places than others, or has more following in some places than others. And then I realized if you live near the Arctic Circle, Summer Solstice is a big deal,” she said. “So the Summer Solstice is celebrated with great vigor up closer to the Arctic Circle. Here in Laredo, the sun is (here) all the time and we’re trying to get away from it.
“So the Make Music Day for us is about making music.”
Carroll further emphasized the importance of giving musicians a space to perform in order to grow and showcase the talent within Laredo.
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This year’s lineup at Casa Ortiz consists of the following:
The Outlet Shoppes at Laredo will also offer open-mic opportunities from 1-8 p.m. Two stages will be located on the second floor where the Laredo Farmers Market is typically held.
Pan American Courts will host a four-band lineup from 7-11 p.m. on its outdoor stage.
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Star Music Shop will host up to 30 drummers in its parking lot, Carroll said.
“They’re all going to play songs from the '80s, Metallica,” she said. “Then they’re going to come perform with us at Casa Ortiz.”
Black & White Coffee House will also feature live musical performances throughout the day.
“Anyone can have a venue,” Carroll said. “Anyone can play anywhere. But if you are someone who would like to sponsor a venue, which could be anything, really — a gas station, the more unusual, the better, you could be in a park — let me know.”
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Carroll also encouraged attendees to bring their fathers out to celebrate Father's Day weekend.
For more information on how to host as a venue, visit makemusicday.org/laredo/.
Maria Ruiz is the Events / Breaking News Reporter at the Laredo Morning Times. Previously, she covered general and feature news across Hidalgo County for the Progress Times and the Edinburg Advocate. Ruiz is also a National Geographic Photo Camp 2023 alumni member and a NPR NextGenRadio | Texas Newsroom 2024 mentee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in her hometown of Edinburg, Texas.
For tips, contact Ms. Ruiz at maria.ruiz@lmtonline.com.
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