State of Michigan Travel Blog | Pure Michigan Blog

Sharing History: Summer at Fort Mackinac

May 29, 2013

By working as a soldier at Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, Niall Farley’s summer job in Michigan is anything but ordinary. Today he shares a little bit about what this role entails.

I wake up a little before 8am, get ready and grab my bicycle for the short ride to work. Not uncommon for college-aged folks working summer jobs in Michigan, but my summer job is anything but common.

I am a soldier at Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island.

Now in my fourth season, I’m responsible for overseeing the daily interpretative programs as lead interpreter. Dressed as a sergeant in the U.S. Army in the 1880s, I lead tours through the fort, clean, prime, load and fire a model 1841 cannon and an original Springfield 45/70 rifle.

This is the 55^th year of historical interpretive programming at Mackinac State Historic Parks. Each year, May through mid-October, we open our gates to visitors from every state and more than 50 countries. It’s one of my favorite parts of my job, seeing how much not just people from Michigan, but people from all over the world enjoy the view, the history and taking part in our interpretive programs

I was drawn to this job for a number of reasons–the chance to spend my summers on beautiful Mac ki nac Islan d, the opportunity to tell stories about this fascinating place, and of course, the hats.

During the winter, I study as an English major at Oakland University in Rochester Hills and live in my small hometown of Almont. While history has not been my area of study, I’ve become fascinated by the important events that have taken place throughout the Straits of Mackinac, and sharing them with visitors makes my every day at Fort Mackinac an enjoyable experience, it hardly seems like work.

Are you planning to explore the history at Fort Mackinac this summer? Share with us below!

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Five Stunning Pure Michigan Instagram Fan Photos from May

May 28, 2013

in Posts by Region

We’re constantly impressed by the photos fans share with us on social channels each day. This month, we saw a ton of stunning shots from the Pure Michigan Instagram community that were taken all across the state. Below is a roundup of just a few of our favorites. For more, see our March and April Instagram roundups and be sure to follow Pure Michigan on Instagram.

Photo taken by @kaityfischer in Oxford, Michigan:

Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan by @salwangeorgesphotography:

Photo taken by @lucaste on Yarrow Golf Course in Augusta, Michigan:

Pretty flowers in Dearborn, Michigan, captured by @angamime:

Breathtaking view of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Photo by @breenem:

If you’re on Instagram, follow us @puremichigan! If you’d like us to share your photos from across the state, please tag them with #PureMichigan to give us permission to repost.

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Things To Do While In Detroit For The Grand Prix

May 24, 2013

in Events,Guest Blogger

The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix is just a week away! If you’re coming to town and looking for things to do in the area outside of the race, check out the post below from Dan Fuoco of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Think about it: The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix is in town the weekend of May 31 – June 2 and your attendance is already secure. Even though the event is amazing, you find yourself between races thinking: I’m here. Now what?

That’s where you refer to the Pure Michigan Blog to direct your Detroit experience. I’ve created a list of things to do, events to attend and special experiences you can only take advantage of while in The D.

Foursquare Motor City Badge

If you’re active on Foursquare, you might want to take advantage of the Motor City Badge. All you have to do to obtain this badge is *like* foursquare Cities on Foursquare and then check-in to five (5) venues on a yet-to-be-posted recommended venue list (more than likely the most popular and obvious venues in the city). Some suggestions are:

Renassiance Center
The RiverWalk
Hart Plaza
Greektown Casino-Hotel
MotorCity Casino-Hotel
MGM Grand Casino-Hotel
Campus Martius
The People Mover
Detroit Institute of Art
Detroit Historical Museum
Detroit Library
Fischer Theatre
The Detroit Opera House
Detroit Zoo

Food

Good Times on Tap

Michigan’s beer scene is bursting at the seams as a recent poll named Grand Rapids BeerCity USA for the second consecutive year. Even better, of the top four cities in the running for the prestigious recognition, three were Michigan cities (Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor being the other two). Microbrews are popping up everywhere and Detroit is no exception. New or old, you won’t be disappointed with these two lists of top drink destinations, including this feature: Detroit 10: Beer and Bars. Need more variety? See our larger list: Detroit’s Top 20 Sports Bars… and More Scores.

“Old” is the New “New”

The newest and hottest restaurant in metro Detroit is actually a converted old mechanic’s shop. The Vinsetta Garage boasts a menu full of exciting tastes, all part of the 1970’s mechanic themed experience.

Mama Mia!

Mario Andretti would have made a pit stop at one of Detroit’s Best Italian Restaurants. Roma Café, Detroit’s oldest Italian restaurant, is a legend of its own. From ravioli to lasagna to pasta, there is a reason Roma Café and the other establishments made our Italian-lovers list.

Paris of the Midwest

Detroit has often been referred to as the Paris of the Midwest for its array of street side eating which reflects many dining options in Paris, France and outlying cities. With warm temperatures and bustling scenery, why waste a dining experience indoors?

Tours

Ride The D

Cover more ground on two wheels… Bike it Baby! See the city via bicycle for a chance to absorb more sights. Explore gems like Eastern Market, the Dequindre Cut, the Riverwalk and the city all in one tour! These landmarks, normally too far to indulge by foot, are a mere minutes from each other by bike.

The Life of Detroit’s Auto Barons

If it’s cars you like, then you’ve come to the right place. The Motor City offers a wealth of car knowledge from its car museums (GM Heritage Center and Walter P. Chrysler Museum) to an inside look of the auto baron homes like the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House tour or the Meadow Brook Mansion tour (home of the Dodge family).

Not enough? How about an itinerary made specifically for the car-lover? You’re welcome.

Nightlife

Enter Stage Right

If you’re in to drama, comedy, or musicals, look no further than a city that has 13,000 theater seats – enough for you and a friend and some others! Sit back in a plush theater seat fit for a king while you watch a favorite performance in our theater district. Each theater has a slightly different taste that appeals to the different audiences and shows.

It’s All Greek To Me

One of Detroit’s most happening neighborhoods has to be Greektown. With a casino, plenty of Greek and American restaurants, a sweet pastry shop, and spa-tacular retreats, it’s virtually impossible to skip this area. Traditional Greek music fills the air as you walk down the main corridor and embody a new culture. This is one adventure you won’t want to skip.

Batter Up!

If there is one thing people will travel for, it’s a chance to witness the 2012 AL Champion Detroit Tigers at home plate. The team brings their A-game every night and with a batting line-up that includes Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder, you’ll want to sit near the outfield for a chance to snatch a home run ball.

Of course, sitting behind home plate as a Justin Verlander fastball screams over the plate isn’t such a bad way to view the game, either.

Things To Do

Family-Friendly Atmosphere

The Grand Prix has a wonderful family-friendly component to the weekend and we thought we should extend the gesture and give you an idea of 8 Family-Friendly Detroit Activities.

Or you can turn the experience into a game and attempt to complete all 28 Things To Do Before Your Kids Grow Up.

Musically Inclined

The Motown Sound refers to a beat untouchable by new artists. Although he wasn’t singing with Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder or The Temptations, another Detroit native has made learning music culture his mission as part of the Detroit Historical Museum’s Kid Rock Music Lab. This hands-on interaction offers individuals the ability to make music and learn basic beats.

The Heart of Art

Museum-lovers will marvel in the exquisitely curated Detroit Institute of Arts as soon as they enter the grand entrance. One of the top art museums in the nation, the Detroit Institute of Art offers has multiple eras of history and art all in one location.

Belle Isle Nature Zoo (open during Grand Prix) is the perfect fun destination for the entire family, community or school group. Enjoy the native plants and animals found in Michigan and feed the deer. Rent space for a variety of events at reasonable rates.

Racing Events

2013 Grand Prixmiere: The Can’t Miss Event of the Summer at the Belle Isle Convervancy. The 2013 Grand Prixmiere will be the toast-of-Detroit at DTE Energy’s Town Square celebrating the 2013 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. The evening, hosted by the Belle Isle Conservancy, will welcome an eclectic crowd of Grand Prix drivers, racing officials and team owners alongside the A-listers of Metro Detroit and across the country. All proceeds support Belle Isle Conservancy’s mission to protect, preserve, restore and enhance the natural environment, historic structures and unique character of Belle Isle as a public park for the enjoyment of all – now and forever.

Quicken Loans Grand Prix Fest Powered by Chevrolet is a free event. The beautiful Campus Martius Park and Cadillac Square area in vibrant downtown Detroit will come alive with the sights and sounds of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix on Wednesday, May 29 to start the region’s race week engines.

The Street Fest will feature a sampling of the activities and excitement that will be present all weekend long at the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, May 31-June 2. Drivers and cars from all three racing series competing at the Grand Prix – the IZOD IndyCar Series, GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and Pirelli World Challenge Series – will be represented at the festival, located near the headquarters of Quicken Loans and many other downtown Detroit businesses. Pit stop demonstrations, autograph sessions and Q&A sessions with some of the sport’s best drivers will be featured along with food trucks, Grand Prix and race team merchandise, as well as interactive and special vehicle displays.

Enjoy deals through the Detroit Grand Prix VIP Package at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. It’s time to rev up those engines with the Detroit Grand Prix VIP Package! Rest up in the luxurious guest rooms at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center before spending the next day in the middle of all the excitement. Experience the thrills of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix with the exclusive chance to see all of the cars and drivers close up in the Paddock. Book now and be a part of the action! Detroit Grand Prix VIP Package includes: *Overnight accommodations for two at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center *2 one-day passes to the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, with exclusive Paddock Passes *Breakfast for two at the hotel 24 hour cancellation policy. Grand Prix tickets with Paddock passes are valid on the day of hotel check-out. For more information visit www.DetroitGP.com.

Dan Fuoco is the Interactive Marketing Manager for the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (VisitDetroit) and is responsible for building and engaging with VisitDetroit’s social media and blog communities. You can find him geeking out over: social media infographics, muscle cars and Detroit. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram and periodically on Pinterest.

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Eight Ways to Spend a Long Weekend in Michigan

May 23, 2013

in Guest Blogger,Holiday

Memorial Day weekend starts tomorrow! If you’re still looking for ways to spend it, check out the ideas below from Erin Bernhard of The Awesome Mitten.

Grand Traverse Bay. Courtesy of The Awesome Mitten.

Memorial Day weekend often marks the beginning of summer in many Michigan towns. All over our great state, Michiganders spend the weekend putting in boats and docks, firing up grills, and finishing yard work. Memorial Day is also a patriotic holiday, commemorating lost soldiers and veterans who dedicated themselves to defending this country, so there are parades and American flags galore! We celebrate the end of a long, cold winter by breaking out shorts, sundresses and flip flops, crossing our fingers that it doesn’t snow in June (and knowing full well that it might). And the best part? Having an extra day off of work! Let us help you plan your long weekend with our top eight favorite ways to celebrate Memorial Day.

Throw some shrimp on ‘the barbie.’ From Marquette to Milan, grill chefs will rejoice next weekend as they celebrate the beginning of barbeque season. Whether you’re of the charcoal or propane persuasion, you know that almost everything tastes better grilled. Hit your local farmer’s market and stock up on seasonal asparagus, rhubarb, and mixed greens to complement your choice of meat. Create a make-your-own burger bar with mushrooms, caramelized onions, tomato, lettuce and condiments OR throw together some shish kebobs with steak, chicken, bell peppers, pineapple, and cloves of garlic. Invite twenty of your closest friends to bring a dish or drinks to pass, pull your bocce ball and croquet sets out of the basement, and bam! You have yourself a party.
Get outside. Generally, Michigan in late May is warm enough to go out and play. Whether you take a quick spin around the neighborhood on your freshly tuned bike or throw the kayaks on top of the car for a weekend-long adventure, make sure you enjoy the outdoors at some point this weekend. Pop over to the sunrise coast and hike somewhere off of historic US-23, or head up north to Keweenaw National Historical Park. There are plenty of outdoor treasures across the state; if you don’t feel like leaving home, you don’t have to look any further than your own backyard.
Celebrate. Michigan has an incredible amount to offer and Memorial Day weekend is a great time to celebrate every little thing. In northwest Michigan, the cherry blossoms are blooming along M-22. Mackinac Island is preparing for the Lilac Festival that begins on June 7, and visiting over Memorial Day is a great way to beat the crowds. Recognize our military heritage by attending a parade in a new town or check out a festival that celebrates Michigan food, drink, nature, or history.
Break out your orange and blue. This weekend, the Detroit Tigers face the Minnesota Twins at home in Comerica Park. Get tickets on Friday to check out the fireworks and Polish-American Heritage Night, or go on Sunday for Kids Day. If you’d rather be wearing red and white, the Red Wings face the Chicago Blackhawks in round two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs during Memorial Day weekend; get tickets for Monday’s game three at Joe Louis Arena to watch Datsyuk and Zetterberg up close.
Chill out, but not literally. But what good is a long weekend if you don’t get to relax? If you’ve already finished the yard work, sometimes there’s nothing better than a hammock or blanket in the sunshine, a glass of ginger-mint lemonade, and a copy of The Great Lakes Book Project or anything by Jim Harrison, either of which will make you yearn for the lakes and land that are much closer than you think.

Fishtown. Courtesy of Ken Scott Photography (facebook.com/KenScottPhotos).
Embrace the season. The last weekend in May is exciting for many reasons, but topping the list is the opening of seasonal shops and businesses and extension of hours for summertime. Because the sun sets later, restaurants and local shops are open longer to accommodate a higher level of patronage. You’ve waited all winter to walk to your corner ice cream shop at 8:30pm for a cone, and summer is the season for that. Small tourist towns like Leland’s Historic Fishtown and Saugatuck are open for business and ready to provide you with all the fudge, souvenirs, great food and drink, and goods you can handle.
Raise a glass. Last week, Grand Rapids was named Beer City USA for the second year in a row. Michigan brewing is at a record high and Michiganders statewide are happy to help pick up the slack. Bell’s Oberon opening day, a state holiday, was March 25^thbut enjoying the ale has been somewhat lackluster this year, considering the influx of wintry weather over the last two months. Fear not! Memorial Day brings the promise of the type of wonderful weather that good summer ale will always compliment. So, crack open a cold one; cheers to craft brewing in Michigan.
Predict the unpredictable. We all know the old adage: if you don’t like the weather in Michigan, wait five minutes. For as much as we always hope for bright sunny days over Memorial Day weekend, all Michiganders know to prepare for rain. Not sure what to do if you can’t be outside? Watch a movie! Michigan has been featured in films for years, and there are plenty of made-in-Michigan films available for rental or purchase. Even if you can’t enjoy the great outdoors yourself, you can still get a glimpse through some wonderful films.

This is only the beginning of ways to spend your long weekend. How do you do Memorial Day?

Erin Bernhard is the Managing Content Editor for The Awesome Mitten. She’s a northern Michigan twentysomething who loves good microbrews, great wine, summertime grillouts, and well-roasted coffee. She is also a dedicated yoga practitioner, social media and marketing enthusiast, reader and writer, local food junkie, and outdoors explorer–and she’s always adding to the list. She is located in Traverse City and loves helping to make her hometown shine. Follow her on Twitter (www.twitter.com/errnbrrn), connect with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/erin.bernhard) and feel free to email (erin@awesomemitten.com) her anytime!

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Pure Michigan June 2013 Events Roundup

May 23, 2013

in Monthly Event Roundup

June means the official start of summer in Pure Michigan! And with school out for the year and warm weather here to stay, it’s the perfect time to experience some of the great things going on around the state.

Below is a roundup of a few of the many events going on around Michigan in June. Please visit michigan.org for a complete listing of things to do across the state.

Week of June 2

Art & Orchard Festival
June 6-June 8, 2013, Washington
Washington’s Art & Orchard Festival will be the second weekend in June, June 6-9, 2013. The event will feature a carnival on Friday, live music, an arts & crafts show, fireworks Saturday night, petting zoo, beer tent and food station.

Cereal City Festival
June 7-8, 2013, Battle Creek
The Cereal City Festival is an event celebrating the Battle Creek community and its rich and varied past. A parade kicks off the festival on Friday, June 8th and the fun continues with the Cereal City Classic 5k/10k run and the World’s Longest Breakfast Table on Saturday morning. Throughout the day enjoy exciting events, bands and activities! Click here for more information.

National Asparagus Festival – Hart
June 7-8, 2013, Hart
Salute the shoots with a parade, 5K run, rodeo and crafts fair in downtown Hart. The National Asparagus Festival is held every year during the second weekend of June. For more information, visit the National Asparagus Festival website or call (800) 874-3982 or (231) 861-8110.

Mackinac Island Lilac Festival
June 7-16, 2013, Mackinac Island
The idea of the festival was to bring people to the island to enjoy a great horse drawn parade amidst the lovely lilacs that fragrance the island in June. Now this ten day festival includes a comedy show, afternoon tea at the Grand Hotel, music, walking tours, hayrides, arts and crafts, 10K run, Lilac Festival Queen, dancing, wine tasting, bingo, lilac strolls and much more. Visit the website for more information.

Leland Wine & Food Festival
June 8, 2013, Leland
Michigan’s oldest wine festival takes place at the Leland Harbor. Everyone has a chance to go see 17 wineries of the Leelanau & Old Mission Peninsulas on Saturday, enjoy great food and music and kick off the summer festival season in style! No need to purchase advance tickets – just show up rain or shine at the big tent in Leland’s picturesque Fishtown district. Admission is $15 and includes an etched wine glass and two tickets for wine tasting. For more information, call the Chamber of Commerce at (877) LELAND1 or (231) 256-0079.

Orion Music + More
June 8-9, 2013, Detroit
Make your way to Detroit June 8-9, 2013, for the Orion Music + More concert event. The lineup includes Metallica, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Deftones, Rise Against, The Dillinger Escape Plan. The event includes thirty-plus acts over five stages, a custom car and automotive show, Metallica Museum, and more. Two day passes are $150. For tickets, complete lineup details, and more, visit the website link.

Week of June 9

Ann Arbor Restaurant Week
June 9-14, 2013, Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor Restaurant Week offers one price dining, one week, several options. Extraordinary three course dinner menus and fixed price fare lunch menus from Ann Arbor’s best restaurants. Experience cuisine that delights your palate and defines the art of dining in Ann Arbor. Now is your chance to discover new restaurants and enjoy favorites at a discounted price. Make reservations early at participating restaurants as tables fill fast during this gastronomically great event. For more information, visit the website link or call (734) 668-7112 ext 22.

Hamburg Family Fun Fest
June 12-15, 2013, Hamburg
The Hamburg Family Fun Fest brings family fun to the park like never before, attracting more than 50,000 attendees. Feature attractions include amusement rides, circus, petting zoo, talent competition, classic car show and arts & crafts just to name a few. A variety of concerts will also be held throughout the weekend on two stages. Click here for more information.

Heritage Coast Grand Prix
June 13-26, 2013, Tawas
Head to the Heritage Coast Grand Prix in Tawas for beautiful beaches, family fun and revved up racing. The event includes four fun-filled and family-oriented days of activities. Check out the boats, meet the drivers and experience the thrill of the races. Visit the website for more information.

Jazzin on Jefferson
June 14-15, 2013, Detroit
Jazzin’ on Jefferson is a free street music festival organized by the Jefferson East Business Association. For a schedule of main stage performances, visit the website link.

Pinconning CheeseTown Festival
June 14-15, 2013, Pinconning
Highlights of the festival include a mac & cheese dinner contest, the ultimate wine & cheese party, the cheesy CheeseTown parade, a teen concert, arts & crafts, fireworks, a beer tent with lots of live music, and in honor of Father’s Day weekend, a CheeseTown dad contest. The event is held at Doc Letchfield Park on M-13 in Pinconning. The event is in conjunction with the 30th Annual CheeseTown Challenge Race (5 mile race, 2 mile fun run/walk, and Little Meeces Race). For more information on this event, call (989) 879-2816.

Week of June 16

Quicken Loans 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
June 16, 2013, Brooklyn
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to the Irish Hills on Father’s Day with the running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 400. NASCAR stars, such as former MIS winners Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Jimmy Johnson return to MIS for another action-packed day of side-by-side racing. Forty-three drivers, 200 laps. Call (800) 354-1010 or visit the website for ticket and camping information.

East Jordan Freedom Festival
June 19-23, 2013, East Jordan
The East Jordan Freedom Festival is a family friendly festival with something for everyone including live music, parades, kids games, carnival, block party and fireworks over the south arm of Lake Charlevoix. For more information, call (231) 536-7351 or visit the website link here.

FinnFest USA 2013
June 19-23, 2013, Hancock
Hear the music, feel the summer breezes, smell the birch wood of the kokko and be where every Finn needs to be in June of 2013. For five days the Copper Country will host FinnFest USA 2013 – a festival spread across the region, with a variety of programming sure to interest everyone! Tori market, concerts, performances, dances, exhibits and gallery shows, local tours, sports and games, a parade, midsummer bonfires, street theatre, special guests and VIPs and much, much more! For more information, visit the website or call (906) 487-7205.

Kalamazoo Island Fest
June 20-22, 2013, Kalamazoo
Get ready for some good times with three days and nights of reggae music rocking downtown Kalamazoo. A great variety of quality Jamaican and Caribbean-inspired cuisine will be served. Food, drinks, beer and wine will be available. The live reggae music line-up runs all day and ranges from the top local talent to well-known regional and national headliners presented outdoors throughout the day. For more information visit the website or contact (269) 385-6200.

Summer Solstice Jazz Festival
June 21-22, 2013, East Lansing
This free two day jazz festival in the heart of downtown East Lansing features high-caliber local, regional, and national talent presented by the City of East Lansing, Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, and the Michigan State University College of Music. For additional event information, visit the web link or call (517) 319-6927.

Detroit River Days
June 21-23, 2013, Detroit
The 2013 festival will continue to celebrate Detroit’s maritime, ecological and culinary culture while again featuring many proven crowd-favorite, family-friendly activities and programming elements from previous festivals. Interactive exhibits, large-scale sand sculptures, strolling entertainers, eco-friendly kids’ zones, carnival rides, and live concerts with performances featuring more than 50 local, national and international music acts will be back this year. More information is available online.

Week of June 23

Ford Fireworks
June 24, 2013, Detroit
The Parade Company is excited to pump up the City of Detroit, on June 24th as we produce the 55th Ford Fireworks presented by Target, along the Detroit River. This event attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators for one of the most anticipated summer nights in Detroit and one of the nation’s largest fireworks displays. Visit the website here.

St. Ignace Car Show Weekend
June 26-27, 2013, St. Ignace
This annual event is one of the largest all-make, all-model shows in the country. Hundreds of antique, custom, and celebrity automobiles are on display all day Saturday. Car enthusiasts can examine vehicles up close and see them in action during Kewadin Casino Cruise Night on Thursday evening, and the Down Memory Lane Parade on Friday evening. Contests, exhibits, vendor booths and more make this a fun, family event. For more information call (906) 643-8087 or visit the website.

Michigan Challenge Balloonfest 2013
June 28-30, 2013, Howell
Join us for the state championship of hot-air ballooning, June 28-30 in Howell. It’s a weekend full of high-flying fun for the whole family. Enjoy thrilling skydiving jumps, music, carnival, family entertainment, downtown activities and more. Don’t miss the fun including Play 1st Mobile Gaming, SmashZone and five scheduled balloon launches, Annabelle Road and the fabulous balloon glow on Saturday evening and the MediLodge Fireworks on Friday night. For more information on this event, visit the website link or call us at (517) 546-3920.

Grand Haven Art Festival & Fun Day
June 29-30, 2013, Grand Haven
The work of 150 of the finest artists in the country will be on display and for sale during the 51st Annual Grand Haven Art Festival & Family Fun Day, June 29 – 30, 2013. The festival will take place along Washington Avenue in downtown Grand Haven, transforming the area into an outdoor art gallery. Admission and parking are free and open to the public. Presented by The Chamber of Commerce Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg. (616) 842-4910.

National Cherry Festival 2013
June 29–July 6, 2013, Traverse City
Get your planner out and write down the dates for a great week or family fun when you attend the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City on June 29–July 6. There will be colorful parades, marching bands, music shows, sporting events, amusement rides along with carnival games on the midway and food items, pie eating contests and loads of luscious cherries prepared every way you can think of. For more information, visit the website link or call the Cherry Festival office at (800) 968-3380.

Week of June 30

Log Cabin Days & Antique Car Show
June 30, 2013, Michigamme
Tour the museum and the Dompierre House and walk around to see all the antique cars on display from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information contact (906) 323-9016.

Coast West Music Fest
July 1-6, 2013, Muskegon
This event is a multi-day music festival with three stages, fireworks on July 4, food and refreshments. Acts announced so far: O.A.R., Josh Turner, Leann Rimes, Cheap Trick, Buddy Guy, Johnny Lang, Allen Stone, Chicago and Foghat! For more information visit the website link.

Light up the Lake Fireworks & Parade
July 3-4, 2013, South Haven
At the south pier over Lake Michigan, watch a spectacular fireworks display July 3 and listen to the Light Up The Lake soundtrack LIVE on SuperHits 103.7 COSY-FM! The fireworks shoot off synchronized to the music! Parade will be held July 4 at 11am through downtown featuring local marching bands, pageant winners, patriotic floats, fire trucks, & lots of candy! Questions, call (269) 637-5252 or (800) SO-HAVEN.

Fourth of July Celebration
July 4-6, 2013, Cedarville
Enjoy the spectacular view of fireworks over Cedarville Bay from the Cedarville’s downtown waterfront park or the lawn of the Great Lakes Boat Building School on July 4. Earlier that day, our parade, kids games, hot dogs and burgers, Up in Smoke BBQ, races and contests, and more wind down into early evening with music on the bay by Dance Commander DJ and a Jersey Mud eating contest. For more information, call (906) 484-3935

Cedar Polka Fest
July 4-7 2013, Cedar
The Cedar Polka Fest is held yearly in Cedar, Michigan, under the big tent on the tennis courts. Highlights include a parade on Saturday at noon, softball tournament, a polka mass and polka under the big, big tent with the big names of polka. For more information on this event call (231) 228-3378 or visit the website.

These are just a few of the many events happening next month in Pure Michigan. Please visit michigan.org for a complete listing.

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