Festivals & Events in Northern Michigan
Calendar of Events for Northern Michigan- Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Boyne City, Mackinac Island, Mackinaw City, and more!
Northern Michigan Guides Stock Photo
(Scroll down to see more events in December.)
Music, dance, art, and theater all come together for an event celebrating the New Year at the Crooked Tree Arts Center in downtown Petoskey.
The holiday season in Northern Michigan includes Christmas tree lightings, decorated stores, parades, merchant open houses, and more.
Sip & Shop Holiday Bazaar
Shop for unique gifts, including artwork, crafts, artisan foods, with wine tasting and live music. Veterans Park Pavilion- 207 N. Lake St., Boyne City.
Colonial Christmas at Fort Michilimackinac
The event includes refreshments, story-tellers, crafts, games, and more. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children age 5-12, and free for children younger than 12. Fort Michilimackinac- 102 W. Straits Ave., Mackinaw City.
Petoskey Open House, Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting
The event includes merchants open late, marching bands, floats by local businesses, marching characters, and much more. The parade is wrapped up by its most popular participant, Santa Claus. Downtown Petoskey.
Christmas Cookie Walk
Choose from thousands of homemade cookies in an infinite variety for only $7/pound. Come early for the best selection. 1st Congregational Church- 101 State St., Charlevoix. Call Stacy at (231) 547-9122 for more information.
Harbor Springs Merchant Open House
The event includes merchants open late and offering specials, Downtown Harbor Springs.
Sleigh Rides to “the North Pole”
Take a sleigh ride to “the North Pole” on a horse-drawn sleigh to meet Santa and enjoy hot cocoa, cookies, and crafts at Santa’s Workshop. Meet the therapy horses, staff, and volunteers of Northern Michigan Equine Therapy. $15/person with proceeds benefiting therapy scholarships. Sleigh rides are every half hour and require reservations. For reservations or more information, email nmequine@gmail.com. Northern Michigan Equine Therapy- 05025 Church St Boyne City.
Alanson Downtown Holiday Open House
The event includes a visit from Santa escorted by the Alanson Fire Department. Refreshments will be provided at the Village Hall- 7631 US-31, Alanson, courtesy of the Alanson Area Public Library. Downtown merchants will open their doors to offer warm holiday greetings the Petoskey Steel Drum Band performs on River Street at 6:30pm.
Holidays Lasers on the Ore
A light display, operated by Fresh Coat Light Lab, will transform the Ore Dock with the colors of the season. Free and open to the public. Marquette Ore Dock- Lake Shore Boulevard on Presque Isle Harbor, Marquette.
Mackinaw City Christmas in Mackinaw
The event includes a parade at followed by the tree lighting, then cookies will be provided by the Mackinaw Woman’s Club and cocoa provided by Audie’s Restaurant. Parade will go north on Huron to Central Ave, west on Central Ave to Nicolet Street and Indian Pathways Park. Visit mackinaw-city.com for more info.
Candlelight Hike at Mt. McSauba
Self-guided hiking, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing along a candlelit trail ending with a fire and hot cocoa. Trek begins at the sledding hill parking lot. For more information, contact the Charlevoix Recreation Department at (231) 547-7183. Mt. McSauba- 09223 McSauba Rd., Charlevoix.
New Year’s Eve Party
Many activities for all ages at Crooked Tree Art Center, just outside it in the square, and at the nearby Petoskey District Library. Crooked Tree Art Center- 461 E. Mitchell St., Petoskey.
Calendar of Events for Northern Michigan- Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Boyne City, Mackinac Island, Mackinaw City, and more!
This 25-year-old rite of spring in Northern Michigan is a bike ride from the Zoo Bar at Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, to Mackinaw City.
At this Boyne City festival, hundreds of mushroom lovers from around the country come to seek that elusive delicacy-the marvelous morel.
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The Charlevoix Circle of Arts is a vibrant, cultural center in downtown Charlevoix that presents six major visual exhibits annually.
Beaver Island is located 32 miles offshore of Charlevoix, Michigan and is the largest island in Lake Michigan.
Fort Mackinac is open from May-October and includes buildings restored their original look after the fort’s occupation by the British
A visit to Northern Michigan is not complete without a walk along the Lake Michigan in search of Petoskey stones.
Petoskey State Park is one of the premier destinations for campers and outdoor lovers and is tucked away between Petoskey and Harbor Springs.
This Inland Waterway covers 38.2 miles from outside of Petoskey to Cheboygan. Find state parks, fishing, swimming, and more along the way.
With woods, dunes, and frozen lakes, the trails near Charlevoix and Boyne City are the places to cross country ski from December-March.
The Headlands, just west of Mackinaw City, is one of six International Dark Sky Parks in the U.S. and one of nine in the world.
Within the historic Chicago/West Michigan railroad depot in Petoskey, the Little Traverse History Museum is a history filled gem.
Just a short drive from Harbor Springs or Petoskey are more than a dozen Northern Michigan cross country ski trails in Emmet County.