Local Summer Events
Leelanau BirdFest
Join us May 30 – June 3, 2012 for the Second Annual Leelanau Peninsula BirdFest, where you can see more than a hundred different species of nesting birds, including the rare Great Lakes Piping Plover.
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Great Wakes Festival
A weekend-long (Jun 1 - 2, 2012) celebration of water sports, activities and organizations designed to raise awareness and funds for water conservation. Location: Open Space Park on West Bay
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Leland Wine & Food Festival
The Leland Wine & Food Festival is a northern Michigan tradition held on the second Saturday in June (June 9, 2012). Noon til 6pm. Come enjoy a day near the Leland Harbor and Leland's historic Fishtown tasting wines from local wineries and tasting the specialties from local restaurants and vendors.
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Glen Arbor BBQ and Brew Festival
Join us on the morning of Saturday, June 16, 2012 for the Solstice 5K and Half Marathon. Then between Noon-6pm, gather at the corner of M-22 (Western Ave.) and Lake Street, in the field across from Art’s Tavern and Cottonseed Apparel, to indulge in the finest regional breweries and restaurants, all in Glen Arbor to provide you with the finest samplings of beer and barbeque!
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TC Scoop Festival
Celebrate ice cream on June 16th between 10-6 at F&M park in Traverse City. The event benefits Big Brothers and Big Sisters. A coast guard fly over and a 100 pound sundae kick off the event.
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Summer Solstice Art Walk
The Village of Suttons Bay will host its Annual Summer Solstice Art Walk, the weekend of June 22nd. The event features galleries & shops in the village partnering with Leelanau wineries for a perfect summer evening. From 5-9 PM each gallery and shop will host an artist and their work, along with wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres, live music up and down the street. For more information visit the Suttons Bay Area Chamber of Commerce link. Enter to win a $250 shopping spree.
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Leland Art Walk - June 29th
Leland is beautifully situated on M-22 between Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau. Participating galleries stay open with appetizers and refreshments. Live Music in the village.
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Traverse City Wine & Art Festival
A popular festival (Jun 30, 2012 between 3pm-10pm) feature tastings & full glass pours from 27 of the region's best wineries paired with food for purchase by celebrated local chefs, seasoned with a diverse slate of musical performers and an exhibition and sale of artworks by some of the region’s best painters, potters, weavers and other artists.
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Music in the Park - Bill Sears Quintet
Come join us June 29th to listen to Bill Sears Quintet in, the Village of Northport, a beautiful setting along Grand Traverse Bay. Bring a picnic dinner and spread out under the stars.
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Fireworks In Leland
07/03/12 - at dusk, Leland - Fishtown
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Horse Shows by the Bay
Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival (July 4th-29th) is a prestigious annual, multi-week summer event staged at Flintfields Horse Park in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan. Horse Shows by the Bay features thousands of the nation's best horses and riders competing in the International Olympic disciplines of show jumping and dressage.
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Leland Fourth of July Parade
07/04/12 - at 3:00 pm, Leland - Downtown
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Music in the Park
Come join us July 6th for great music in the Village of Northport, a beautiful setting along Grand Traverse Bay. Bring a picnic or get dinner to go from one of our local restaurants.
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National Cherry Festival
Oldest, Biggest and Still the Champion: The National Cherry Festival (July 7th-14th). Traverse City is still proud to be America’s Cherry Capital. It celebrates that heritage every year during the first week of July with an eight-day party featuring over 150 family activities: air shows, fireworks and parades
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Leland Art Walk - July 13th
Leland is beautifully situated on M-22 between Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau. Participating galleries stay open with appetizers and refreshments. Live Music in the village.
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Music in the Park - Steve Sandner Quintet
Come join us July 20th to listen to Steve Sandner Quintet in, the Village of Northport, a beautiful setting along Grand Traverse Bay. Bring a picnic.
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Inland Seas Summer Festival: Celebrating the Great Lakes
Inland Seas Summer Festival & 5K Road Race/Walk will be combined with the Leelanau Wine, Food and Music Festival on Saturday July 21, 2012. Join us for the Classic Boat Show, Model Boats & Lighthouses, wooden boat building, workshops and demonstrations all day long. The event will be in the Suttons Bay Marina Park.
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Running Bear 5K Run/Walk & 1/2 Mile Kids' Run
Join the Glen Arbor Women's Club for the 6th Annual Running Bear 5K Run/Walk & 1/2 Mile Kids' Run on Tuesday, July 24th. Registration: 7:30-8:45 a.m. 5K Run/Walk: 9:00 a.m. 1/2 Mile Kids'Run: 9:05 a.m. Join us for a day of fun for the whole family!!
Event Website
Kayaking 101
Have you ever wanted to try Kayaking? Well here is your chance to learn at one of the most beautiful locations in Michigan. Join the experienced instructors of Crystal River Outfitters at Leelanau State Park on July 18th at 4:00 p.m.
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Music in the Park - Jeff Tucker
Come join us July 27th 7pm in Northport at G.M. Dame Marina Park. Enjoy a mix of rock, pop, and country with references to Americana and jazz music from Jeff Tucker and On The Beach.
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Traverse City Film Festival
Summertime is “outside time” in Traverse City, so it might seem odd that one of the area’s most popular new summer festivals takes place almost entirely indoors. Founded in 2005, the Traverse City Film Festival (July 31st-Aug 5th) has been able to lure movie buffs away from the beaches and golf courses with an outstanding selection of independent, foreign, and documentary films.
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Music in the Park - New Third Coast
Come join us August 3rd 7pm in Northport at G.M. Dame Marina Park. Enjoy the unique Power Folk music of the New Third Coast trio.
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Leland Art Walk - August 3rd
Leland is beautifully situated on M-22 between Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau. Participating galleries stay open with appetizers and refreshments. Live Music in the village.
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Suttons Bay Art Festival
This annual art fair takes place at the beautiful Suttons Bay Marina Park on the first weekend of August (8/4). One hundred artists along with community groups, food vendors and a children's area make this the perfect place to spend an art-filled weekend at the beach. Join us on Sunday morning for a pancake breakfast in the park (free to exhibiting artists).
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Suttons Bay Sidewalk Sale
Enjoy local bargain shopping throughout the many businesses in downtown Suttons Bay on August 10th all day long!
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Music in the Park - Ray Kamalay and Don Julin
Come join us August 10th 7pm in Northport at G.M. Dame Marina Park. Favorite artists Ray Kamalay and Don Julin take the stage together for a great night of music. .
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Meteors & S'mores
Enjoy some s'mores while gazing skyward at the Perseid meteor shower on August 12th. For more information about this event, please call the park at 231-386-5422.
Event Website
Kayaking 202
So you have already been kayaking and want to learn a little bit more so that you can take further adventures? Kayaking 202 may be just the class to get you on your way. Join the experienced instructors of Crystal River Outfitters at Leelanau State Park on August 14th at 4:00 p.m. Cost is $12 per person.
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Music in the Park
Come join us August 17th 7pm in Northport at G.M. Dame Marina Park. Bring a picnic dinner.
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Rubber Ducky Festival
The Village of Bellaire's "12 Days of Summer" (Aug 18th) observance culminates with a parade, a foot race, an arts & crafts show on the Courthouse Lawn, and Rubber Ducky Race in which 2,000 Rubber Ducks are dumped into the Intermediate River.
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Traverse City Summer Microbrew & Music Festival
The Traverse City Microbrew & Music Festival (Aug 24th-25th) will take place on the front lawn of The Village at Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City. This event aims to be one of the greatest in the state with beers from around the Midwest, focusing especially on Michigan brews. Outside of great craft beer, we will feature acclaimed musical guests.
Event Website