Photo by Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre
Any season, any time, Benzie County is a great place to be. There’s always something fun going on, no matter what time of year. From arts & crafts fairs to film festivals, you’ll never be bored in Benzie County!
Here we’ve condensed the most popular annual happenings, so you can see at a glance which time of year you may want to visit our wonderful area. Welcome to Benzie County!
The Frankfort-Elberta area is host to several arts and crafts fairs through the summer months as well as a holiday fair in late November. With its beautiful location along Lake Michigan, Frankfort attracts thousands of visitors every summer.
The Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre brings two Shakespearean plays to the beautiful outdoor venue of Tank Hill in Frankfort each summer.
Held in Honor each August, the National Coho Salmon Festival celebrates the birth of a great fishing location as well as the economic boost the fall salmon run brings to the area each year. The event includes a parade, car show, arts & crafts fair, and more.
The Winterfest in Beulah is held each February and includes fun for the whole family. Events include a cookie sale, poker run, horse-drawn carriage rides, rubber duck race, parade, fireworks, and more.
Held in downtown Beulah, the Benzie County Fallfest is always held on the first Saturday in October. There are a variety of events, like pumpkin decorating, kids games/activities, a classic car & motorcycle show and more.
The Frankfort Film Festival is held each October at the historic Garden Theatre in downtown Frankfort. Traditionally, eight films are shown as part of the festival. 2021 will mark the festival’s 13th year.
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The Pere Marquette River area is rich with wildlife, offering great outdoors hunting and fishing opportunities.
The spring/fall runs of steelhead and salmon, the resident brown trout and “brookies” make the PM River extremely popular for fishing.
The colorful attire and crazy antics of the Scottville Clown Band amuse people, but they also have extraordinary musical talent.
West Michigan boasts numerous museums to learn about the area’s rich history and to expand knowledge through activities and exhibits.
Michigan has a public ORV trail system for four different riding opportunities–motorcycles, ATVs, ORVs, and scramble areas.
Scottville Riverside Park, along the Pere Marquette River, has over 50 modern sites and is popular for camping and fishing.
The Traverse City Opera House has a 700-seat theater which offers a place for quality arts and cultural entertainment.
Beautiful color emerges come Fall. Take it all in with an afternoon drive, or stroll, through the many forests of West Michigan.
Much of West Michigan is bicycle-friendly, and you’ll find many nice paths on which to ride. It’s great exercise with great scenery to enjoy.
Pet live animals, enjoy fresh produce and dairy products, and more! Lots of experiences are available for the family when you visit the farm!