
Boyne City’s July 4th Celebration
This 3-day festival in Boyne City begins with a run along Lake Charlevoix and ends with fireworks, with food, fun, and more in between!
Photo by
Aliko Sunawang on Unsplash.com
For many visitors and summer residents, summer is THE season in Northern Michigan. Where else can you golf on fabulous courses until 10 pm, or go for a swim in pristine waters as the sun rises? Activities abound Up North in the summer with everything from festivals, to concerts at Bay View, to Blissfest Music, to Ugotta Regatta.
Life’s a beach and no where else is that more prevalent than Northern Michigan. We have miles of beautiful sandy beaches on Lake Michigan and inland lakes just waiting for a beach goer. Climb the dunes at Petoskey State Park, walk to the beach along a boardwalk at Thorne Swift Nature Preserve, or body surf in the waves at Sturgeon Bay. Harbor Springs has two beaches within the city limits, a rarity for most cities. Pack the sunscreen and hit the beach!
This is the place for water sports! Northern Michigan is your destination for sailing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, personal water craft boating, and fishing. Our many inland lakes are perfect for fishing. Walleye for dinner? Catch it yourself! The Little Traverse Bay is known for sailing. Youth sailing is important here with programs at Bay View and in Harbor Springs with the Little Traverse Sailors. Rent a pontoon boat on Crooked Lake and motor through the Inland Waterway to Lake Huron. Put your kayak in on Lake Michigan early in the morning and glide along the quiet waterfront. And when the water freezes, no problem! Ice boating is great fun and racing takes place throughout Northern Michigan in the winter months.
Northern Michigan is not the place where you’ll hear “there is nothing to do.” There is so much to do in the summer that keeping a daily calendar is a must. Concerts on the waterfront in Harbor Springs or Petoskey, concerts in the park in Petoskey, concerts and theater at festivals, to concerts at Bay View, music at Blissfest, sidewalk sales, gallery walks, and art fairs are just some of the organized activities to enjoy. Add to them golfing, hiking, kayaking, cycling, swimming, sailing, boating, fishing, shopping, dining, visiting with friends and…. well, you get the picture, the days are filled with wonderful opportunities Up North!

This 3-day festival in Boyne City begins with a run along Lake Charlevoix and ends with fireworks, with food, fun, and more in between!

The Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair is held at the fairgrounds on Charlevoix Avenue, and is a mix of carnival rides, food, exhibits, and more.

Shay Days is a celebration of inventor Ephraim Shay and his contributions to the Harbor Springs community.

This annual event includes live musical performances, workshops, vendors, and more all in beautiful Harbor Springs, Michigan.

Indian River celebrates summer in Northern Michigan with Old Fashioned Days, an event with five days of family fun.

East Jordan’s Freedom Festival has food, music, fun, entertainment, carnival, dancing, and more. Fun for the whole family!

The Venetian Festival in Charlevoix has been a highlight of summer in Northern Michigan for more than 80 years.

You can find performances almost any night of the week in Northern Michigan with music by area musicians as well as professionals.

Each August, the Mackinac Island Fudge Festival celebrates this delight with music and activities throughout the weekend.

The Mackinac Island Lilac Festival is filled with events and the celebration of the Island’s many varieties of lilacs.

A unique event featuring a variety of one-of-a-kind exhibitors offering everything from yachts to boating goods for sale.

Northern Michigan grows the best. Our Farmers Markets are open from late spring to fall, from cherries, to potatoes, to sweet corn, and more.

Hosted by the Little Traverse Yacht Club, the Ugotta Regatta brings together some of the best sailboat racing in the country.

An amazing array of activities like parades, fireworks, and more, make the 4th of July a special day in Northern Michigan.

People come from all over to celebrate the July 4th in Harbor Springs for the gorgeous setting along the water and many great activities.

Hundreds of antique, custom, and celebrity automobiles take part in the internationally acclaimed St. Ignace Car Show Weekend.

Mackinaw City’s Heritage Village lets visitors explore life in the Straits of Mackinac as it was during the era of 1880-1917.

With Lake Michigan on one side and Lake Huron on the other side, Mackinaw City is a true Great Lake’s spot with lots of things to do!

The Mackinac Bridge is the 10th largest suspension bridge (over water) in the world and connects Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsula.

Young State Park outside Boyne City is a ‘year round delight for campers, hikers, snow lovers, swimmers and nature lovers.

Historic Mill Creek has 625 acres along Lake Huron, 3.5 miles of hiking trails, a reconstructed saw mill, mill dam, and more.

Summer’s not summer without a day at the beach and Northern Michigan offers some of the best beaches anywhere.