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Photo by the Charlevoix Venetian Festival

The Venetian Festival is a Summer Must in Charlevoix

July 2025

The volunteers who host each July’s week-long Venetian Festival in Charlevoix like to say that the event is only missing thing: a cost for admission. Free music, parades, children’s activities and fireworks are all free.

The Venetian Festival in Charlevoix has been a highlight of summer in Northern Michigan for more than 80 years. During the Festival, there are daily music performances on two stages in Charlevoix’s East Park. Venetian Games include kids and teens in soccer, basketball, running, boarding, sailing, volleyball, golf and tennis tournaments.

Water activities include a night boat parade–with boats decorated, animated and lit–and an AquaPalooza boating party take place on Round Lake in Charlevoix.

The Charlevoix Venetian Festival queen is crowned in special festivities. The street parade is the place to be for fun, music, and craziness and thousands of people line the street to watch the floats. Two nights of fireworks? Yes, two!

Here's what happened in 2024:

Activities Happening Over Multiple Days

  • Venetian Rhythms: Live Music. See daily schedule for performers/locations.
  • Wednesday-Saturday – Food Concessions at East Park- 400 Bridge St.. Time varies by vendor.
  • Venetian Merchandise at East Park. Wednesday & Thursday from 6-10pm, Friday from 12-10pm, and Saturday from 10am-8pm.
  • Live music at the Tiki Tent in East Park. See daily schedule for performers.
  • Arnold Carnival –  Downtown. Wednesday from 5-11pm & Thursday-Saturday from 12-11pm.

Friday

Saturday

  • 10:30am-12pm – Registration for “Cornetian” Corn Toss Tourney at Ferry Beach- – 224 Ferry Ave., Charlevoix.
  • 12-6pm – Aquapalooza Beach & Boating Party at Ferry Beach. Live music featuring Air Margaritaville Jimmy Buffet Tribute at 2pm.
  • 12pm – “Cornetian” Corn Toss Tourney at Ferry Beach. $20 per person, no double needed. 
  • 12pm – Volleyball Tournament at Ferry Beach. 6 Member Co-ed teams. $90/team. Register at venetianfestival.com/games.

Sunday

  • 9am – Rader Roundball Classic Basketball Tournament at Charlevoix High School- 5200 Marion Center Rd. 3-v-3 Teams. $80/team Register at venetianfestival.com/games
  • 10-11am – Registration for Disc Golf Doubles Tournament at Mt. McSauba- 09223 Mt. McSauba Rd.
  • 11am – Disc Golf Doubles at  Mt. McSauba. Bring your own partner. Best shot doubles. $40/Rec Team and $60/Advanced Team. .
  • 5:30pm – Community Service & Volunteer Fair at East Park- 307 Bridge St.
  • 7pm – “Worship on the Water” at Odmark East Park Pavilion- 400 Bridge St. with live music with Christian Rock band, Sanctus Real.

Monday

  • 9am – Kling Memorial Youth Tennis Clinic at Stroud Park Courts. Free for ages 6-17. Register on-site.
  • 1:30pm – Cottage Croquet Tourney at East Park. Register on-site.
  • 7pm – Bocce Ball at the Shanahan Field Glass Baseball Diamond- 12491 Waller Rd.

Tuesday

  • 6:30am – Tommy Tropic Guiness Book of World Records Cycling Bid on Waller Rd.
  • 10:30am – Junior Sailing Regetta at Depot Beach North End – 307 Chicago Ave. Open to Ages 8 to 19. No registration required.
  • 12pm – Bingo at Castle Farms– 5052 M-66. Free and open to all ages. No registration required. Hosted by American House Charlevoix.
  • 4pm – Charlevoix Township Fire Department Open House. 210 State St.
  • 5:30pm – 3-on-3 Soccer Tournament at Shanahan Field. Divisions: Youth, High School, Adult, and Over 35. $50/team. Register at venetianfestival.com/games.
  • 7pm – Venetian Rhythms: Live Music featuring the Charlevoix City Band at Odmark East Park Pavilion

Wednesday

  • 1pm – 3-Club Golf Tournament at Charlevoix Municipal Course- 700 Petoskey Ave. Youth league: $12/player; Adult league: $25/player. Register at venetianfestival.com/games.
  • 5:30pm-Dusk – Spectator Viewing of Sailing Regatta on Lake Charlevoix at Ferry Beach. Many Fleets: Personal Boats and Crews.
  • 6pm-12am – Tiki Tent in East Park featuring live music by Strings Attached.
  • 7pm – Venetian Rhythms: Live music featuring Pub Runners at Odmark East Park Pavilion.
  • 7pm – Venetian Art Auction & Miss Charlevoix Competition and Coronation with live music featuring Frankie Ballard at East Park.

Thursday

  • 8am-1pm – Charlevoix Farmers Market at Bridge Park- 200 Bridge St.
  • 10am-2pm – Kids Day Downtown. Free & armband activities for the whole family. Armbands are $13 each and scholarships are available.
  • 10:30am – Free showing of “Land Before Time” at Charlevoix Cinema III- 107 Antrim St. #1305.
  • 6pm-12am – Tiki Tent in East Park featuring live music by Galactic Sherpas.
  • 7pm – Venetian Rhythms: Live music featuring Pinter Witnick, and Gin Blossoms at Odmark East Park Pavilion.

Friday

  • 12pm – Bridge Street Block Party 
  • 12pm – Registration for “Peaches n Cream” Corn Toss Tourney in Bridge Park- 200 Bridge St.
  • 12-4pm – Venetian Car Show on Bridge Street South of the light.
  • 1-4pm – Family Fun Zone on Bridge Street North of the light.
  • 1:30pm – Bridge Street Block Party “Peaches n Cream” Corn Toss Tourney: Bridge St.- South of the light. Register onsite at 12pm. $20/team.
  • 1:30-3pm – Meet the Air Show Pilots at Charlevoix Airport- 111 Airport Dr.
  • 6pm-12am – Tiki Tent in East Park with music provided by 1 Wave DJ’s.
  • 7pm – Venetian Rhythms: Live Music featuring Ikons of Rock at Odmark East Park Pavilion and Pine River Jazz Swing Band at Ferry Beach.
  • 7:45pm – Scream’n Rebels War Birds and Redline Air Show with Flag Jump over Lake Charlevoix.
  • Dusk – “Night Sky” World Class Fireworks over Lake Charlevoix. Visible from Ferry Beach, Depot Beach, and East Park.

Saturday

  • 9am – Drenth Memorial Footrace on Bridge St. Prior to parade. Family Mile, 5k, & 10k. All Ages welcome. Register at venetianfestival.com/games.
  • 10:30am – Ryan Shay Mile on Bridge St. Championship Competition by invitation only.
  • 11am – Street Parade on Bridge St.
  • 12-4pm – Venetian Car Show on Bridge Street South of the light.
  • 12:30-3pm – Charlevoix All Class Reunion at the Tiki Tent
  • 3-6pm – Venetian Rhythms “Rockin’ the Townhouse” street concert featuring Union Guns on Bridge Street, north of the light.
  • 6pm-12am – Tiki Tent in East Park featuring live music by Kenny Thompson.
  • 7pm – Venetian Rhythms: Live music at Odmark East Pavilion featuring Mac Watts and Elton Rohn
  • Dusk – Venetian Lighted Boat Parade on Round Lake.
  • Immediately following the Boat Parade – Spectacular Harbor Fireworks over Round Lake.

Experience Charlevoix

The sight of this bustling community nestled between Lake Michigan and Round Lake is simply beautiful. The waterfront park is a jewel complete in Charlevoix with a spectacular water fountain. Read the stories below or go to the Charlevoix destination page.

Stay tuned for information on the 2025 Charlevoix Venetian Festival!

For more information on the Charlevoix Venetian Festival, please contact the event organizer:

Charlevoix Venetian Festival

309 Petoskey Ave., Charlevoix, MI, 49720

(231) 547-3872

venetianfestival.com

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