The festival's schedule varies each year, typically including at least one major opera, a night of scenes from famous operas, performances by several chamber music groups, a symphony, organ and voice recitals, and performances by members of the Orchestra Fellowship Program.
Various master classes (including organ and voice) are also offered to community members.
Venues range across the western Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin, focusing on the cities of Houghton, Ontonagon, Iron Mountain, Marquette, and Land O' Lakes in Wisconsin.
The major performances and a season ending gala take place in and around Houghton and Marquette between early June and mid-July The festival began in 1991 as a series of chamber music performances, and quickly expanded to include operas and symphonies.
The PMMF has been host to the first performance of a locally written opera about the history of the Keweenaw.