Races in West Michigan
West Michigan is a popular location for various races and runs… including the Lakestride Half Marathon and the Lighthouse Triathlon.
Photo by Todd & Brad Reed Photography
The lakeshore communities of West Michigan do a fantastic job of hosting events and activities that include the whole family. There’s so much happening that is geared specifically toward kids and families as a whole, and that’s part of what makes being here so amazing!
Every season in West Michigan has it’s unique, fun things to do for kids of all ages- from babies up to the “young at heart”. Indoors or outdoors, no matter the time of year, there’s always something great going on along the lakeshore for families to experience together!
In addition to the following list, check out all the special events and programs provided by Sandcastles Children’s Museum and the Ludington and Scottville branches of the Mason County District Libraries.
Win & Bette Matteson Annual Big Fish Contest
Sponsored by the Pentwater Sportfishing Association. For more information or to register, visit pentwaterpsa.org/annual-big-fish-contest.
Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival
Annual Festival with fun for the whole family. Downtown Grand Haven. For tickets or more information, visit tickets.coastguardfest.org.
Pentwater Civic Band Concerts
Weekly Summer Civic Band Thursday night concerts begin on the Village Green- 327 S. Hancock St., Pentwater.
Annual Old Engine Club Show
This annual 3-day show has different events each day including daily tractor pulls featuring antique tractors, garden tractors, and doodle bugs. Times are 9am-7pm on Thursday and Friday, and 9am-6pm on Saturday. Daily events include tractor parades, large flea market, arts and crafts and swap meet. For more information, visit facebook.com.
Onekama Days
Annual festival in Onekama with fun for the whole family.
Muskegon Party in the Park
Live music featuring Indika, kids activities, food/drink trucks, and more. Hackley Park- 350 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon.
Friday Night Live
Free event with live music, non-profit organization booths, and food. Front Street between Union Street and Park Street, Traverse City.
Pentwater Movies on the Green
Free movie featuring Minecraft on the Village Green- 327 S. Hancock St., Pentwater.
Copemish Heritage Days
Annual community festival featuring a parade, live music, 5k, and more. For the most updated information, visit copemishheritagedays.com.
COVE Benefit Beach 5k/10k Run/Walk
Charles Mears State Park- 400 W. Lowell St., Pentwater.
Northwestern Michigan Fair
Multi-day event with fun for the whole family. 3606 Blair Town Hall Rd.- Traverse City.
Western Michigan Fair
Multi-day event with fun for the whole family. Mason County Fairgrounds- 5302 W. US-10, Ludington.
Downtown Ludington’s Movies in the Park
Free outdoor movie and Baby Badger rides for kids from 7:30-8:45pm when the movie begins. Featuring “Despicable Me 4”. Concessions available for sale. Rotary Park- corner of Ludington Ave. and Lewis St.
Swim for Grand Traverse Bay
Celebrate clean, healthy water in Grand Traverse Bay with a unique open water swim event to benefit The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, a non-profit that works to protect the bay and its 1,000-square-mile watershed. Registration is $45 and required. Register by visiting runsignup.com. Greilickville Harbor Park- 13132 S. West Bay Shore Dr., Traverse City.
Great Lakes Surf Festival
This event is a celebration of Great Lakes surf culture and is open to all types of board sports disciplines that enjoy the surf. It includes music, various lessons, awards, giveaways, and more. Visit greatlakessurffestival.com for more information.
Backpack Blowout
Children will receive free backpacks and school supplies. There will also be free walking taco dinner, games for all ages, raffles with prizes, books for children, various children’s activities and more. Children must be present. Trinity Lutheran Church- 5631 W. Stony Lake Rd., New Era.
Manistee County Fair
Fun for the whole family at the Manistee County Fairgrounds- 7587 1st St., Onekama.
Back to School Backpack Bonanza
Mason County students in grades Kindergarten-12th grade (with a parent/guardian) are invited to play a round of free mini golf and receive a free backpack and school supplies. Children must be present. There will also be free face painting and temporary tattoos. The event is limited to 400 students. Ludington Area Jaycees Mini Golf at 900 W. Ludington Ave., Ludington. For more info, visit facebook.com.
Bus Day to Big Point Sable Lighthouse
Free concert from 1-3pm. Bus transportation from 12pm-5pm. Big Sable Point Lighthouse in Ludington State Park- 8800 M-116, Ludington.
Downtown Ludington’s Movies in the Park
Free outdoor movie and Baby Badger rides for kids from 7:30-8:45pm when the movie begins. Featuring “Minecraft”. Concessions available for sale. Rotary Park- corner of Ludington Ave. and Lewis St.
Pentwater Homecoming Celebration
Pentwater’s biggest event of the year includes fun for the whole family!
Muskegon Party in the Park
Live music featuring Let There Be Rock wsg Psychotic Paradise, kids activities, food/drink trucks, and more. Hackley Park- 350 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon.
Pentwater Movies on the Green
Free movie featuring Frozen on the Village Green- 327 S. Hancock St., Pentwater.
The Monster Fishing Tournament
Monster Ladies/Kids prelim on Friday. Weigh your best 5. $100/team. $10,000 Cash Purse (30 boat min). All Big Checks Doubled. All 333 Choice & Combo Prizes Awarded. Additional Cash Payouts Based on Registration. Sequestered Weigh In Day 1. $400 Entry. For more information, visit tournamenttrail.net/tournaments.
Horse Shows
MCE Equestrian Speed Show at Mason County Fairgrounds- 5302 W. US 10, Ludington.
Arts & Drafts Festival
This annual event includes an art fair, Arts & Dash 5K, Arts & Wheels Car Show, a children’s activity, area and a beverage tent featuring live music. For details and to sign up for various events, visit nortonshoresparksandrecreation.com.
Shelby Fruit Festival
This event includes live music, car show, food trucks, big wheel race, craft vendors, book walk,
free rides & activities for children, and more. 4101 Buchanan Rd., Shelby. For more info, visit facebook.com.
Michigan’s Free ORV Weekend
Michigan residents and out-of-state visitors can ride DNR-designated routes and trails without purchasing an ORV license or trail permit.
Horse Shows
Mason County Saddle Club at Mason County Fairgrounds- 5302 W. US 10, Ludington.
Lake Michigan Carferry Shoreline Cruise
Lake Michigan Carferry cruise along the Ludington shoreline. Tickets include food and live entertainment and a cash bar is available. Shoreline cruises will sail rain or shine. Children 4 & Under are free. No passes will be accepted for this event. Tickets are non-refundable. 701 Maritime Dr., Ludington.
Diapers & Desserts
Families with children ages 3 and under are invited to attend. A parent or legal guardian must be present to receive diapers for the child(ren). We will have diapers up to size 6 available. Car seat safety checks will be available upon request. Sponsored by the First Methodist Church of Scottville. West Shore Family Support- 603 E. Tinkham Ave., Ludington.
Downtown Ludington’s Movies in the Park
Free outdoor movie and Baby Badger rides for kids from 7:30-8:45pm when the movie begins. Featuring “Wonka”. Concessions available for sale. Rotary Park- corner of Ludington Ave. and Lewis St.
Cedar Polka Fest
Annual festival with fun for the whole family include live music, food, car show, 5k, and more! Visit cedarpolkafest.org for more information. Festival Grounds- 3075 E. Sullivan St., Cedar.
Muskegon Party in the Park
Live music featuring Rockstar, kids activities, food/drink trucks, and more. Hackley Park- 350 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon.
Young Eagles Rally
The event offers free airplane rides for children ages 8 to 17 at the Wexford County Airport- 8040 E. 34 Rd., Cadillac. Pilots and ground support personnel participating in the event donate their time, their planes and fuel. For more info, visit chapters.eaa.org.
Annual Grant Fire Department Chicken Dinner
Tickets are $15 and include 1/2 BBQ chicken, baked potato, baked beans, dinner roll, corn on the cob, sweet & sour cabbage, dessert, and drinks. There will also be a classic car show. 835 W. Hoague Rd., Manistee.
Oceana County Fair
Oceana County Fairgrounds- 1025 S. State St., Hart.
Horse Shows
Shoreline All Breed Youth Show at Mason County Fairgrounds- 5302 W. US 10, Ludington.
Brethren Days
The village of Brethren hosts in annual festival with activities for the whole family.
Bus Day to Big Point Sable Lighthouse
Free concert from 1-3pm. Bus transportation from 12pm-5pm. Big Sable Point Lighthouse in Ludington State Park- 8800 M-116, Ludington.
“Honoring Our Elders” Traditional Pow-Wow
Native American social celebration with drumming, singing, dancing, storytelling, food, raffles, and arts and crafts vendors. Suggested admission is $5/person, $20 carload max. For more information, visit oceanacountyfair.com.
LaborFest
Car show, parade, live music, and food/beverage tent. First Street Beach, Manistee. Visit saltcityrb.com for more information or tickets.
West Michigan is a popular location for various races and runs… including the Lakestride Half Marathon and the Lighthouse Triathlon.
This service is provided to area residents each August in cooperation with the Michigan Water Stewardship Clean Sweep Program.
Spend a Friday afternoon and evening strolling around the galleries in the quaint harbor village of Pentwater.
Ludington has many businesses to help you enjoy crafting and appreciate the finished product. Let them help you create your own masterpiece!
The Suds on the Shore Craft Beer & Wine Festival is held each August at Ludington’s Rotary Park to benefit the United Way of Michigan.
Each August, the “Two Lake Town” of Onekama near Manistee hosts it’s annual Onekama Days celebration with fun for the whole family.
The popular Gold Coast Artisan Fair is usually held the second weekend of August at Ludington’s Rotary Park.
Farm Markets & U-Pick farms offer locally grown and organic produce, flowers, plants, seeds, and more in West Michigan.
The harbor village of Pentwater offers “Movies on the Green” during June-August. Films are shown on the Village Green in downtown Pentwater.
West Michigan fishing tournaments give anglers a chance to add a little money to their pocket in addition to the fish in their bucket.
Along the Lake Michigan shoreline between Ludington and Manistee, you’ll find natural splendor- the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness area.
Enjoy the happiest of holidays in West Michigan! From Manistee to Ludington and every city in-between, there is holiday cheer all around!
Take one of the most scenic drives in the nation as you travel across M-22 in West Michigan. A long winding road of adventure awaits!
The colorful attire and crazy antics of the Scottville Clown Band amuse people, but they also have extraordinary musical talent.
The spring/fall runs of steelhead and salmon, the resident brown trout and “brookies” make the PM River extremely popular for fishing.
Beautiful color emerges come Fall. Take it all in with an afternoon drive, or stroll, through the many forests of West Michigan.