Celebrate everything that makes Northern Michigan great — load up your bikes with the kids and take a ride at the Beaver Island Bike Festival, then enjoy a dip in the lake at a beach party when you’re finished. Take a sip or two of wine at one of the three Northern Michigan festivals and enjoy some local music in either Traverse City, Leland or Harbor Springs. Or maybe relish in the food culture of Northern Michigan at the National Asparagus Festival in Hart or the Mushroom Festival in Mesick.
Mancelona Bass Festival — Sunday, June 1st
- The 59th Annual Mancelona Bass Festival includes kids games, kid and pet parade, Mancelona Idol Contest, carnival, crafters, Dairy Delight contest, classic car & custom bike show, live music, fireworks, fishing for kids, Bass Fishing Tournament (begins Sat. 5/24), horseshoe tournament, 5K run/walk, grand parade and much more. 231.587.8331, MancelonaBassFest.org.
National Asparagus Festival in Hart — Friday, June 6th to Sunday the 8th
- Celebrate asparagus in Hart! Family activities daily. Parade on Saturday. Hart, 231.861.8110, nationalasparagusfestival.org.
65th Annual Lilac Festival on Mackinac Island — Friday, June 6th to Sunday the 15th
- Includes bike tours, walking tours, street hockey tournament, beer tasting, wine tasting, Market Street Art Walk, Coronation of Festival Queen, Movies at the Mission, Scottville Clown Band, Lilac Festival 10K & Lil Lilac Run/Walk, Dancing in the Streets, Grand Hotel Garden Tour, A Taste of Mackinac at Harbour View Inn, Epona & Barkus Parade, dog and pony show, grand parade and much more. Mackinac Island, 800.454.5227, MackinacIslandlilacFestival.org.
Adams Fly Festival in Kingsley — Saturday, June 7th
- Fly Tying Demonstrations; Live and Silent Auctions; Fishing gear and Art Vendors; Food and a Micro Brew Tent ($20 admission). Guided bus tour to historic Mayfield Pond (departures at 1:30pm and 3pm); Boardman River Clean Sweep Raffle. The original Adams Fly display is available for viewing in the library. Renowned fly rod builder, Bob Summers returns as a special guest. Brownson Park, noon-6pm. Kingsley, 231.263.7778, villageofkingsley.com.
29th Annual Leland Wine & Food Festival — Saturday, June 14th
- Sip wine from local wineries at Leland Harbor and historic Fishtown, sample specialty foods from local restaurants and vendors, noon-6pm. Live music in the park all day. Adult $15 (+ $2 ticket fee); Students 10-21 $10 (+ $1.25 ticket fee); 10 & under Free. Weekend Ticket, includes Artscape/An Evening of Art & Wine is $30 (+ $3 ticket fee). Admission includes an etched wine glass and two tickets for wine tasting. Additional wine tasting tickets available. Tickets available at MyNorthTickets.com. 231.256.0079, lelandmi.com.
Beaver Island Bike Festival — Friday, June 20th and Saturday the 21st
- Bikers ride at their own pace and enjoy incredible scenery, island monuments, historic sites and more. BIBF begins with a Thurs. night sunset dinner at the Beaver Island lodge; Fri. afternoon beach party & lunch; Fri. and Sat. night festival parties with live bands, plus this year’s guided bike trip on Sat. with rest stop snacks and lunch at Bill Wagner campground, t-shirt, transportation on the ferry, prizes and goodies. $65 registration includes all perks mentioned above. Register online. 231.448.2505, beaverislandbikefestival.com.
36th Annual Spirit of the Woods Folk Festival — Saturday, June 21st
- The festival offers a kids program, a main stage and second stage, food service presented by community groups and a craft-booth area. Picnics and lawn-chairs are welcome; the day ends with a rousing dance set in the park’s pavilion. Featured bands: Wisaal; Rita Hosking; True Falsettos; Dan Gellert ; DarlenYA; Talantis & Jans. Dickson Township Park, Brethren. 231.477.5381, spiritofthewoods.org.
Annual Solstice Festival — Saturday, June 21st
- Free music festival—family friendly, quirky, cutting edge and eco-friendly, with some of the best bands, craft beverages and artisanal food around, capped off with fantastic fireworks display. Festivities begin at noon, live music continues until 2am. Elberta, 231.352.7201, villageofelberta.com.
Bark in the Park — Saturday, June 21st
- Contests, dog walk, fun, prizes and more. 1-4 pm at the American Legion Park in downtown St. Ignace. 906.643.7646, saintignace.org.
Traverse City Wine & Art Festival — Saturday, June 21st
- 6th Annual celebration of the wine, food and culture of Michigan’s wine coast. The Northern Michigan Festival features 30 wineries of the Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission Peninsula, Traverse City & Benzie along with a selection of regional restaurants, innovative music and performance, plus original artwork from dozens of regional artists for show and sale. 3-10pm, must be 21 or older. $35 General admission; $125 VIP Back Stage Party. Tickets available at MyNorthTickets.com. Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Traverse City, 231.421.1172, traversecitywinefestival.com.
North Hold Renaissance Festival — June 21st-22nd and 28th-29th
- Featuring performers and musicians from around the country. Clothing of the times is highly encouraged, but not necessary. Visit website for scheduled performances. Hoxeyville Music Festival Grounds, Wellston. 231events.com/northholdrenfest.
East Jordan Freedom Festival — June 25th-28th
- A family affair with parades, block party, live music, games, carnival, food, fireworks and lots more. 231.536.7351, eastjordanfreedomfestival.org.
40th Annual Flea Roast & Ox Market — June 26th-29th
- Events include live music all weekend. Amusement rides, food tent, beer tent, casino tent, Co-ed Old Timers Softball, kids penny scrambler, bike raffle for 12 and under (boys and girls), horse pull, bean bag tournament, beach volleyball tourney, horseshoe tournament, kids 3-legged race, arm wrestling contest, kids watermelon eating contest and egg toss, Dogman Performance and Dogman movie, gospel breakfast on Sun. at 9am, kids water balloon toss, bubble gum contest, sack race and pie eating contest. Festivities end Sunday at 4pm. Thurs. is Kids Day-free admission; Fri. $5 Per Car Load Admission; Sat. $7 Per Car Load Admission; Sun. Free Admission. Irons, 231.266.8101, ironsarea.com.
3rd Annual Art in the Garden Festival — June 28th
- Paths twist through gardens of herbs and wildflowers. Art displays that mirror the gardens’ colors line the paths. Live music mingles with children’s excited voices as they make birdhouses and recycled paper greeting cards at workshops throughout the gardens. The conservation workshops include making rain barrels, creating bentwood projects, building “canjos” from recycled items, creating recycled paper cards infused with wildflower seeds, working with herbs, learning how to grow Shitake mushrooms, making stepping stones, gardening for kids, forestry tours and more. The festival also has a fun run, Wings of Wonder raptor program with live birds, local eats and treats. 10am-7pm, admission is free, however, donations to the Otsego Conservation District’s Friends of the Garden is encouraged. Gaylord, 989.732.4021, otsegocd.org.
Waterfront Wine Festival — June 28th
- An afternoon of wine tasting, live local music and more. $20 advance, $25 day of, includes two tastings and a commemorative wine glass. In the park next to the city marina off Bay Street, downtown Harbor Springs. 231.526.7999, waterfrontwine.org.