20 Northern Michigan Summer Festivals
Local fun in the sun in for June, July, and August
With summertime comes summer festivals—big, small, charming, quirky, and everything in between. The long days and starry nights promise some of the best memories of the year, and whether you have some free weekends, are looking to explore local traditions, or just love the atmosphere of an event, these festivals (a non-exhaustive list) range from concert series to art shows to Shakespeare celebrations to food and wine extravaganzas.
JUNE
1. Leland Wine & Food Festival
June 13 | Leland | lelandmi.org/leland-wine-festival
This popular festival made a comeback last year after a hiatus in 2024, and it’s back again the day this paper hits newsstands! The event runs from noon-6pm, and tickets are still available. Expect eight wineries (plus beer from Farm Club), live music, and food from Pleva’s, Village Cheese Shanty, The Cove, and Locals Lake Leelanau.
2. Suttons Bay Artisan Art & Wine Walk
June 19 | Suttons Bay | suttonsbaychamber.com/summer-art-wine-walk
This summer kickoff tradition invites the public to stroll through Suttons Bay, explore local businesses, meet local artists, sample wines (and beers or ciders), enjoy live music, and win prizes.
3. Art in the Garden
June 27 | Gaylord | otsegocd.org/art-in-the-garden-festival.html
Get in the spirit of growing at the Art in the Garden Festival, presented by the Otsego Conservation District. The festival has something for everyone: artwork on display and for sale, free workshops, live music, and lunch from Tilly’s Grill. Admission is free, and the festival runs from 10 am-4 pm at the Otsego County Demonstration Garden.
4. Michigan Log Cabin Day
June 28 | Honor | phsb.org/event/log-cabin-day-2
Sleeping Bear Forever (formerly Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear) invites guests to Boekeloo Cabin, one of six log cabins on the mainland in the park, from 11am-2pm on June 28. Stuart Boekeloo, a descendent of the cabin’s namesake family, “will be on-site to share history and stories of his family’s time at the cabin.”
JULY
5. Great Lakes Equestrian Festival
July 1-Aug. 9 | Williamsburg | traversecityhorseshows.com
Traverse City Horse Shows has competitions running all summer, but the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival is one of the biggest and best known, especially locally. Expect five-plus weeks of incredible equestrian talent in the ring, along with plenty for visitors to do, from dining and shopping to watching events in categories like jumping, hunter, and dressage. Some events are ticketed (usually around $15 for GA), but admission is free on non-ticketed days.
6. Cadillac Freedom Festival
July 2-5 | Cadillac | cadillacfreedomfestival.com
Ring in the Fourth of July along the shoreline at the Cadillac Freedom Festival. The weekend kicks off with a movie in the park on July 2 (9:30pm, after dusk), followed by a whole slew of festive events starting the morning of July 3, including a 5K race, craft and vendor show, car and motorcycle show, petting zoo, live music, foam party, and more. The fun continues July 4, with a parade and the continuation of the events from the day before.
7. Lavender Fest Fridays
July 3–31 | Boyne City | lavenderhillfarm.com/lavender-fest-fridays
Take in the scenery and tranquility of Michigan’s largest lavender farm at Lavender Fest Fridays! Hosted by Lavender Hill Farm in Boyne City, guests are invited each Friday in July to enjoy a multitude of fun happenings, including yoga on the farm, live music, food and drink, guided farm tours, lawn games, and a scavenger hunt. Admission is free, and events run from 9am-2pm.
8. Fourth of July Art Show
July 4 | Harbor Springs | harborps.org/page/4th-of-july-art-show
Harbor Springs is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its 4th of July Art Show, held in Zorn Park. Stroll through booths with 80 artists’ original works at this all-day event from 9am until 4pm. In addition to work from professional artists, there will also be a Youth Artist tent space showcasing local youth works!
9. National Cherry Festival
July 4-11 | Traverse City | cherryfestival.org
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Cherry Festival and all the cherry fun it brings, including an amusement park, airshow, parades, cherry pit spitting, the dog frisbee contest, and more cherries than you could eat! Whether you run the 5K, watch the fireworks, attend a concert, watch the volleyball tournament, or indulge in some cherry pie, there’s no shortage of summertime fun.
10. Alpenfest
July 14–18 | Gaylord | gaylordalpenfest.com
Since 1965, Alpenfest has been a staple event in Gaylord. The Swiss-themed festival encourages lederhosen and dirndls, and its five-day itinerary includes an artist craft show in the Alpine Village, a 10K and 5K run, plenty of carnival rides, and a ton of delicious eats.
11. Cadillac Festival of the Arts
July 16–18 | Cadillac | cadillacmichigan.com/cadillac-festival-of-the-arts
Enjoy art in many forms at Cadillac’s Festival of the Arts, which includes a weekend full of music, dancing, art fairs, artisan markets, floral demonstrations, food tastings, and more. Among the events is the Phyllis Olson juried art fair. There’s also a color run, farmer’s market, and book sale.
12. Venetian Festival
July 18-25 | Charlevoix | venetianfestival.com
What says Charlevoix more than a boat parade, swim party, and lawn games? Venetian Festival brings these festivities and more. The week is chock-full of fun events, including Aquapalooza, the Bridge Street block party, carnival, games and tournaments, fireworks, a parade, and more. There are activities for attendees of all ages, ranging from a kids’ day to an art fair.
13. AuSable River Fest
July 19-26 | Grayling | graylingchamber.com/ausable-river-fest
Rooted in the AuSable Canoe River Marathon (a 120-mile river race from Grayling to Oscoda), Grayling’s AuSable River Fest is a celebration of the riverside lifestyle. Events include the HUP race (an informal canoe relay), a classic car and truck show, a craft show, live music and concerts, and a kids’ day with family-friendly attractions and games. There will be plenty of other fun events and programming throughout the week, too!
14. Lakeside Shakespeare Festival
July 23-Aug. 1 | Frankfort | theworldsastage.org
The returning Lakeside Shakespeare Festival is hosted by nonprofit The World’s a Stage. This festival features two weeks of performances of two classic plays: the comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the tragedy Macbeth, featuring professional actors from Chicago. The plays are performed at Tank Hill in Frankfort.
15. Kalkaska County Fair
July 27-Aug. 2 | Kalkaska | facebook.com/KalkaskaCountyFair
Hosted annually at the Kalkaska county fairgrounds, this weeklong fair is a celebration of livestock, agriculture, handicrafts, contests, community, and 4-H projects. This year, the car show is returning on Aug. 1. Swing by to watch one of the events, admire the agriculture, or check out the hard work the 4-H group has put in.
AUGUST
16. Harrietta Blueberry Festival
Aug. 1 | Harrietta | harriettamichigan.com/blueberry-festival
Since 2007, the Wexford County village of Harrietta has been paying homage to our favorite purple fruit: the blueberry! Expect live music, pie eating contests, a quilt raffle, local artisans, and the Leo Porter Memorial Parade.
17. Elk Rapids Harbor Days
Aug. 5-8 | Elk Rapids | elkrapidsharbordays.org
Soak in the small-town fun at Elk Rapids Harbor Days with carnival rides, an antique boat show, a car show, an arts and crafts show, and events including a morning paddle and yoga on the beach. Indulge in some tasty treats, enjoy live music, and enjoy the best of summer up north.
18. Northwestern Michigan Fair
Aug. 9-15 | Traverse City | northwesternmichiganfair.net
If you can’t make the Kalkaska County Fair or if you didn’t get enough fair festivities, the Northwestern Michigan Fair brings more 4-H, agriculture, livestock, and handicrafts. There are also carnival rides, a rodeo, tough trucks, a demolition derby, and lawnmower races.
19. Michaywé Arts and Crafts Fair
Aug. 14-15 | Gaylord | michayweartfair.com
Peruse 100 booths featuring indoor and outdoor decor, homemade crafts, jewelry, artwork, natural products, and delicious food. There will be a kids’ zone both Friday and Saturday from 11 am-2 pm, full of activities for little budding artists. This juried art fair is held in the park next to the Michaywé’s Tavern Inn the Woods restaurant.
20. Traverse City Food and Wine Festival
Aug. 19-23 | Traverse City | traversecity.com/food-wine
Whether you’re a foodie, love local wines, or are looking for interesting farm tours, Traverse City Food and Wine Festival has it all. From regenerative farm tours (with ducks!) to whiskey tastings while you sail to thoughtful wine-paired dinners, this is a celebration of the local agriculture and culinary scenes in Traverse City.