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Bear Lake Days

July 2027

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, 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 what happened in 2026:

Activities Happening on Multiple Days

Tuesday-Sunday at 9am – Tiny Worlds Garden Workshop at Pleasanton Valley Greenhouses- 14758 Pleasanton Hwy. Cost is $22. Call (231) 864-3517 to register.
Friday at 8am through Saturday at 6pm – Kid’s Fishing Contest, Check-in fish from 11am-12pm and 5-6pm both days at Bear Lake Hopkins Park Boat Launch- 12376 Virginia St.
Friday at 12pm through Sunday at 5pm – “Why I Love Bear Lake” Artwork Event at Saddle Up Gas & Grocery- 12991 Pleasanton Hwy. Kids who drop off artwork about why they love Bear Lake will receive a free small slushy.
Friday from 5-7pm & Saturday from 10am-6pm – Promoters Booth T-shirt Sales under the tent.
Saturday from 10am-7pm & Sunday from 10am-1pm – Triginta Club Silent Auction at the Michael W. Smith Community Center (aka old Lions Club)- 7748 Lake St.

Tuesday

4:30-7pm – Spaghetti Dinner to benefit Bear Lake Days Fireworks at the Bear Lake Community Church- 7861 Main St.

Wednesday

11am-2pm – The Spinning Mug Mobile Espresso Bar on Maggie’s Deck- 7710 Lake St.

Thursday

4-5pm – Golf Scramble Pre-Registration at Wolf River Golf Park. 18-hole, 4-person scramble.
7-9pm – Bear Lake Days Pre-Party at Grille 44- 12951 Pleasanton Hwy. Featuring live music by Fred Drachus.

Friday

8am – Golf Scramble Registration at Wolf River Golf Park, $65/person. Limited to 80 golfers. Shotgun start at 9am. For more info, contact Robb at (614) 581-3354.
10am-12pm – Emoji Pots & Plant Pals at Pleasanton Valley Farms. Kids of all ages can make their own creation for $10 while supplies last.
11am – Detroit Coney Dog Food Wagon at Maggie’s.
3-6pm – Iron Fish Spirit Tasting at Saddle Up.
4:30-6:30pm – Pig Roast at Bear Lake Community Church. Cost is free-will offering and proceeds benefit the Bear Lake Community Services Food Pantry.
4:30-6:30pm – Bake Sale at Bear Lake Community Church.
6-8pm – Horse Pull at Correct Compression- 11903 Chippewa Hwy. Bring your own chairs, concessions available, 50/50 raffles.
7pm – Boat Parade beginning at Hopkins Lake Boat Launch- 7798 Hopkins Dr. Line up at 6:45pm.

Saturday

All Day – Sidewalk Chalk Art in the Filer Credit Union parking lot- 7685 Lake St.
7am – 5k Walk/Run beginning at Hopkins Park- Hopkins Dr. Registration begins at 7am, Fun Run begins at 8am, 5k begins at 8:15am.
9am-3pm – Car Show at corner of US-31 and Maple St. Registration from 8-11am with cost of $15. Contact Bob at (231) 233-2435 or Ken at (231) 233-8870 to register.
9am-5pm – Arts & Crafts and Vendor Booths on Main St.
9am-5pm – Visit the Bear Lake Historical Museum– 7750 Main St.
9am-5pm – “What makes Bear Lake, Bear Lake?” Adult Essay Contest – Short stories/paragraphs may be submitted to the Bear Lake Historical Museum.
9:30-10:30am – Loop the Lake Bike Ride Registration starting north of the Bear on US-31.
10am-? – Food trucks open on Lynn St.
10am-2pm – Free Books at Keddie Norconk Library -corner of the Bear Lake Museum. Weather permitting.
10am-2pm – Bounce House in the Bear Lake Township Hall lot grassy area- 7771 Lake St.
10am-2pm – Foam Party in the Bear Lake Township Hall lot.
10am-4pm – Friends of the Library Book Sale in the parking lot of Filer Credit Union- 7685 Lake St.
11am-12:30pm – Kids Games behind Bear Lake Township Hall.
11am-1pm – Free Photo Booth with Up North Photo Booth at the Bear Lake Township Hall.
11am-1pm – Kids Activities & Fire trucks on display at Bear Lake Township Fire Department- 7771 Lake St.
11am-1pm – Fairy Hair by Shanna on Maggie’s Deck.
11am-1pm – Ceramic Piggy Bank Painting for kids up to age 12 in the Filer Credit Union parking lot.
12-1pm – Abloom Nymphaea Salon Open House– 7686 Lake St. Giveaways, snacks, drinks, and complimentary hand massages.
12-3pm – DJ Bingo on Maggie’s Deck.
12:30-1pm – Greased Watermelon Contest at Public Access by Blarney Castle- 12218 West St. Bring your own towel. Prizes will be awarded.
1pm – Free Throw Contest at the Harry D. Cosier Memorial Courts- Wise St. Age groups: 9 and under, 10-13, 14-17, and 18+. $2 per shot. Medals for top two girls and boys in each age bracket. Proceeds benefit the Bear Lake Girls Basketball Team.
1-4pm – Free carriage rides provided by Fantail Farm, LLC. Meet by the Bear Lake Post Office- 7777 Main St.
1:30-2:30pm – Watermelon Eating Contest under the tent.
3pm – Show by Magician John Russell under the tent.
6-8pm – Live music featuring Almost Famous in the Filer Credit Union parking lot.
7pm – Bear Lake Days Parade Line-up beginning at Bear Lake High School- 7748 Cody St. Parade begins at 8pm.
After the Parade – Live music featuring The Cook Family Band under the tent.
10:30pm – Fireworks over Bear Lake.

Sunday

8-11am – Bear Lake Pancake Breakfast at Lakeside Cafe-7833 Lake St. $12, cash or check only.
10:30am-12pm – First Baptist Church Service under the tent.
12:30-1pm – Ice Cream Social under the tent.
1-3pm – Euchre under the tent at Maggie’s. Bear Lake Bucks prizes.