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Bear Lake Days
July 8th-10th, 2022
Each mid-July, the Village of Bear Lake bustles with a variety of activities for the annual Bear Lake Days. The Village is located in the northern part of Manistee County, about 15 miles north of Manistee on US 31. Activities of the 3-day festival typically include an adults and kids fishing contest, pig roast, merchants sidewalk sales, kids games, entertainment tent, boat and pontoon parade, classic car show, arts/crafts fair, summer fun run, bike tour, Saturday night parade and fireworks.
Here’s the Schedule of Events for 2022:
Friday, July 8th
- 10am-12pm – Kids Pot Pals Garden at Pleasanton Valley Greenhouses- 14758 Pleasanton Hwy., Bear Lake. Cost is $15 per child.
- 12pm through Sunday at 12pm – Bear Lake Days Cold Hard Cash at Absolute Auto Repair & Auto- 7530 Chippewa Hwy., Kaleva. Visit facebook.com for more information.
- 3pm – Recreate “The Great Wave Off Kanagawa” at the Kedie Norconk Library- 12325 Virginia St., Bear Lake. For kids of all ages. Pre-registration is required by calling (231) 864-2700.
- 4:30-6:30pm – Pig Roast, Bear Lake Methodist Church- 7861 Main St., Bear Lake.
- 6-8pm – Horse Pull at Correct Compression- 11903 Chippewa Hwy., Bear Lake. Bring your own chairs. Concessions available.
- 7pm– Boat Parade beginning at Hopkins Lake Boat Launch- 7798 Hopkins Dr., Bear Lake.
- 9:30-11:30pm – Teen Dance under the tent.
- 10:30pm – “Light Up Bear Lake Days”- light up the shoreline with lights, lanterns, etc.
Saturday, July 9th
- 7am (Registration), 8am (Fun-Run Start), 8:15am (5k Start) – 5k Walk/Run beginning at Hopkins Park- Hopkins Dr., Bear Lake.
- Bear Lake Lions Pancake Breakfast
- Kid’s Fishing Contest
- 9am-3pm – Car Show at corner of US-31 and Maple St.
- 9am-5pm – Arts & Crafts and Vendor Booths on Main St.
- 9:30am (Registration), 10:30am (Start) – Loop the Lake Bike Ride starting north of the Bear on US-31.
- 10am – Food trucks open on Lynn St.
- 10am-1pm – Dunk tank and popcorn at Filer Credit Union- 7685 Lake St., Bear Lake.
- 10am-4pm – Friends of the Library Book Sale at Bear Lake Library-12325 Virginia St., Bear Lake.
- 10am-4pm – Boat Wash at Hopkins Park.
- 10am-5pm – Triginta Brats, Hot Dogs, Water, Pop, & Chips at the Food Court.
- 10:30am – Free t-shirts for kids (while supplies last, library tour, and sign up for library cards at Keddie Norconk Library-12325 Virginia St., Bear Lake.
- 11am-1pm – Kids Activities & Fire trucks on display at Bear Lake Township Fire Department- 7771 Lake St., Bear Lake.
- 11am, 1pm, AND 3pm – Lumberjack Show at Bear Lake Museum Parking Lot- 7750 Main St., Bear Lake.
- 12-4pm – Live music by Sweet Charlie at Maggie’s- 7710 Lake St., Bear Lake.
- 12-4pm – Free carriage rides provided by Fantail Farm, LLC. Meet by the post office.
- 2pm – Magician John Russell performs under the tent.
- 2pm – Cornhole Tournament at Bear Lake Fire Department. $40 per team. Call (231) 864-3517 for more information or to register.
- 3-5pm – Rock painting under the tent.
- 3:30pm – Watermelon Eating Contest. Register at the Promoter’s Booth during open hours.
- 6-7:30pm – Scottville Clown Band performance at Blarney Warehouse Parking Lot. Bring your own chairs.
- 7pm (Line-up), 8pm (Step off) – Bear Lake Days Parade beginning at Bear Lake High School- 7748 Cody St., Bear Lake. Grand Marshal- Rob Iverson.
- Between Parade & Fireworks– Cook Family Concert under the tent.
- 10:30pm – Fireworks over Bear Lake.
Sunday, July 10th
- 8-11am – Bear Lake Lions Pancake Breakfast at Lakeside Cafe-7833 Lake St., Bear Lake.
- 10:30am-12pm – First Baptist Church Service with the Cook Family in Concert, under the tent.
Activities Happening on Multiple Days
- Friday at 8am through Saturday at 5pm – Kid’s Fishing Contest. Check fish in at Hopkins Park Boat Launch.
- Friday at 8am through Sunday at 12pm – Photo Contest (Visit facebook.com for categories).
- Friday/Saturday from 12-5pm AND 10am-5pm on Sunday – “Why I Love Bear Lake” Artwork Event at Saddle Up Gas & Grocery- 12991 Pleasanton Hwy., Bear Lake. Kids who drop off artwork about why they love Bear Lake will receive a free small slushy.
- Friday from 5-7pm AND Saturday from 10am-5pm – Kids Scavenger Hunt. Pick up list from Promoters Booth under the tent.
- Friday from 5-7pm AND Saturday, from 10am-6pm – Promoters Booth T-shirt Sales under the tent.
- Saturday from 10am-7pm AND Sunday from 8-11:30am – Triginta Club Silent Auction at Bear Lake Township Hall- 777 Lake St., Bear Lake.