Best Festivals in Harbor Springs
Some of the best festivals in the US take place in Harbor Springs, Michigan. These festivals light up our hearts and make us enjoy life more. Events throughout the year invite people over the world to have fun and participate in cultural traditions. If you plan on visiting Michigan this year, you need to know about some of the best festivals that you could attend to make memories on your trip. A lot of these celebrations are hosted in warm weather, however, you can attend enjoyable festivals in the fall and winter months as well.
Zoo-de-Mack Bike Ride
Are you visiting Michigan in May with your family? Do you love outdoor activities and bike rides? Do you want to see as much of the state as possible in a day? This event is for you!
Zoo-de-Mack Bike Ride is a traditional 51-mile bike ride event that takes you around Northern Michigan. The event starts at Zoo Bar at Boyne Highlands, from where you will ride to Harbor Springs and then to Mackinaw City.
The ride is eventful and allows you to take in gorgeous views and sights around Northern Michigan. You will join hundreds of cyclists taking a ride along a trillium-filled forest and Lake Michigan. Once you arrive at Mackinaw City, tired from riding a bike, you will be able to relax on a ferry trip to Mackinac Island.
A Taste of Harbor Springs
If you are a foodie and enjoy tasting a variety of delicious meals, this festival is something you can genuinely enjoy. The Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce has been hosting A Taste of Harbor Springs event for 20 years now.
The festival takes place on September 16th. Therefore, you can enjoy some of the most delicious food provided by restaurants, wine distributors, and food retailers in Harbor Springs. The festival takes $2000 each year to give out two scholarships to culinary students. You must purchase a ticket before the event if you wish to attend.
Attendance is limited as there are only 750 tickets available. Therefore, if you want to taste delicious meals from Harbor Springs on the waterfront, you should purchase tickets in advance. You will not regret it, as attending A Taste of Harbor Springs is one of the best experiences for visitors and residents alike.
Festival of the Book
Harbor Springs Festival of the Book is a three-day festival that readers are the most excited about. If you wish to attend an event where readers and writers gather to celebrate literary achievements and interesting stories, you should try to book a rental property in Harbor Springs around September 22nd-24th.
Registration in advance is mandatory if you want to enjoy the festivities. You can register in July and review all of the information and the schedule of events in August. If you are an author and want to get your stories known, you can submit your application to the authoring committee from January 1st to April 30th.
Between the Covers hosts a presentation of submitted books which will be available for sale at the festival bookstore. Between the Covers donates 20% of the sales back to the festival at the end of the event.
July 4th
July 4th is one of the most precious holidays for American patriots. Cities in Northern Michigan all celebrate Independence Day in a variety of forms. Harbor Springs celebrates the 4th of July like no other city, as residents are looking forward to the day all year round and visitors come to attend the festivities from all around the world.
The day starts with a morning run in Harbor Springs. Everyone can join the marathon and enjoy an active sunrise. If you love art, you will be thrilled to know that there is a whole day of an art show in the city on July 4th.
Citizens love to see the fabulous parade in the streets of Harbor Springs. You can enjoy live music on the waterfront. At the end of the day, you can relax and take in the beauty of fireworks shot from a barge on the harbor. Later in the night, The Harbor Springs Lyric Theater hosts a movie screening.
Halloween
Harbor Springs hosts a variety of events on Halloween. Therefore, if it’s your favorite holiday, we suggest you book a trip to Harbor Springs in October.
If you love a good scare, and you want to let your family have a fun and thrilling Halloween experience, you should visit Pond Hill Farm on the holiday. Pond Hill Farm hosts Haunted Vineyard & Friday Family Fright Nights. You can enjoy hot cocoa, wine, or your favorite type of drink by the bonfire at night.
Harbor Springs also hosts a Fall Festival in October. You can enjoy live music outside and join a donut-eating contest. Purchase fresh and delicious products at the farmer’s market during the Fall Festival.
Goodhart Farms Nature Preserve makes saving the planet fun as it hosts a tree-planting event. Planting a Haunted Forest is an event that people of all ages can get on board with. Wear spooky costumes and plant 75 white pine trees with cider.
Harbor Springs lets your family get a little competitive as there is a Halloween costume contest for kids on the holiday.
Final Thoughts on the Best Festivals in Harbor Springs
There are multiple festivals held in Harbor Springs throughout the year. If you are considering a trip to Northern Michigan to enjoy festivities, we suggest you plan in advance and make sure you visit in time for one of the festivals. Usually, people all around the country visit Harbor Spring for big events and it might be difficult to find the perfect place to stay. Therefore, reaching out to property management companies to help you book the best properties available is advised. You can have a lot of fun during the festivals, so ensure you are prepared!