Medallion Hunt
When: July 1st through the 4th. Clues revealed at 9am
Where: Clues revealed at Chamber of Commerce, Walentas and State Savings Bank
What: Treasure seekers must decipher clues in order to find the location of the Frankfort Medallion, worth $150 to whoever finds it.
Carnival
When: July 2nd through the 5th.
Thursday at 5 pm
Friday at 12 pm
Saturday at 10 am
Sunday 12-6 pm
Where: Frankfort Jr./Sr. High School
What: Schmidt Amusements Carnival, with midway games, rides and food vendors.
July 4th festivities
When: July 4th all throughout the day
Where: Throughout Frankfort
What: A full day of activities are scheduled for the 4th of July celebration in the port town of Frankfort on Lake Michigan. Festivities kick off with St. Anne’s pancake breakfast at 7:30 am, followed by a bicycle decorating contest at Graceland Fruit at 9:30. The annual 4th of July parade is at 10:00 am, with floats representing local businesses traveling down Forest and Main Street. Also starting at 10 am, Art in the Park, with arts and crafts vendors congregating in Mineral Springs Park until 4pm. The Lion’s Club Chicken Barbecue will also take place in Mineral Springs Park, starting at 12 pm. On the beach, a sand sculpture contest will be held between 12pm and 3pm. Participants are asked to sign up at the chamber office or at the entrance to the beach. Fireworks will be held at dusk at the Frankfort Beach. This year, one lucky raffle winner will be able to push the button to start the show. Visit http://www.frankfort-elberta.com/ for a full schedule and information.
Frankfort Farmers Market
When: July 4th from 8 am to 1 pm
Where: Open Space Park
What: Locally produced greens, meats and other food products will be available to purchase in a traditional farmers market setting. Come taste the difference small farming operations and hand-crafting can make.
Beulah
Celebration 2009
When: July 4th, all throughout the day
Where: Throughout Beulah
What: On Crystal Lake, Beulah will be holding a myriad of 4th of July activities. The 5k Firecracker Run starts at 8 am in Beulah Park, followed by the family walk and fun run at 8:30 am. For those who feel less like running and more like breakfast, the Hungry Tummy in the downtown area will be having a pancake breakfast buffet from 8am t o 11am. Kids games start in Beulah Park at 10:30am until noon, with face painting at 11am to 3pm. Scheduled children’s games begin at 2:30 pm with the “greased pole climb”, followed by a coin hunt on the beach at 3:30pm and a rubber duck race at 4:30pm. The annual Independence Day parade will be held in downtown Beulah at 1:30 pm. Snacks and picnic foods will be available in the park from 12 pm to whenever people stop eating. The fireworks show, which will be fired from a moving barge along the east shore of Crystal Lake, will be ignited around 10:30 pm.
Lake Ann
16th annual Lake Ann Homecoming
When: July 4th, with activities throughout the day
Where: Lake Ann
What: Lake Ann is hosting its own celebration on the 4th to honor the villages’ history.
The homecoming starts at 9 p.m. with an opening ceremony introducing the village’s officials and senior citizens. After the ceremony, things get kicked off with a vintage tractor and classic car parade through downtown Lake Ann at 11:00 a.m. Also, throughout the day, activities will be taking place such as an auction, a crafts and flea market, live music and children’s games. A barbecue lunch will be served at the Almira Township Hall from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., featuring BBQ pork, baked beans and other picnic favorites. Snack foods will also be available at vendors.
Manistee
National Forest Festival
When: July 1st-5th
Where: Manistee
What: Manistee’s popular National Forest Festival also takes place on the 4th of July weekend, bringing with it a host of events to keep visitors busy. The festival starts on the 1st of July, with a woodworking workshop and the official opening of the festival market place and food vendors starting at 10 a.m. Historical trolley tours start at 11 a.m. and the T.J. Schmidt & Company Carnival will be ready to go at 2 p.m. The festival market, food vendors and the carnival will continue every day during the festival. A variety of festivities continue over the next few days, with Texas hold em’ tournaments, art exhibits, bed races, live music, guided tours, animal exhibits, auctions, kids events and much, much more. The Scottville Clown Band will make several appearances, once during the parade at 10 am on the 4th and once on the 5th at 4pm at the beach. Fireworks will be held on the 3rd instead of the 4th.
There are many events spanning this multi-day festival, so visit the official website at http://www.manisteechamber.com/commitees/festival.htm for a full schedule and locations.
Take a Kid Fishing When: June 26th and 27th. Nightcrawler hunt starts at dusk, fishing starts around 8a.m. Where: Mineral Springs and Open Space parks. What: The 6th annual Take a Kid Fishing event gives children the opportunity to learn fishing doesn’t have to be hard or about competition. Kids don’t even need their own equipment! Volunteers teach aspiring anglers the basics of fishing and set them up with a rod, reel and some bait. The kids do the rest. Coffee and doughnuts will be available in the morning and a picnic lunch with hot dogs, chips and pop will be provided in the afternoon. Everything is free of charge. Event organizer Bob McNabb said no child will be turned away, though it is preferred they come accompanied by an adult. Call Bob McNabb at 231-352-4440 or 231-352-7251 for more information.
Frankfort Farmers Market When: June 27th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: Open Space Park What: Local growers and food producers offer a variety of organically grown produce, baked goods, fresh eggs and free range meats in a traditional farmers market setting. This week is the Lavender Festival. Learn about the properties of lavender and experience crafts, beverages, baked goods, soaps and skin care products created using lavender. Actual lavender plants will also be available for purchase.
Honor
Strawberry Social When: June 27th, from 1-3 p.m Where: Benzie County Road Commission in Honor What: Strawberry shortcake, ice cream, lemonade, and ice tea are served for a $5 donation to support the programs of the Benzie Area Historical Society. Social butterflies can also take a look at the equipment used to maintain Benzie County roads. Visit the Benzie Historical Societies Website or the Benzie County Chamber of Commerce for more information.
Benzonia/Beulah
Big Band Concert Fundraiser for the Benzie Area Zonta Club When: June 27th at 7 pm Where: Benzie Central High School Auditoruim What: The Couriers from Ann Arbor will perform music in the “Big Band” style, with guest performers from the high school. True North will open the concert. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Call Kath at 231-383-2434 for more information.
Beulah Boosters’ Family Bike and Picnic Day When: June 28th, from 9:30 am to 11am Lunch and activities from 11am to noon. Where: Beulah Downtown Park What: Bike the trail with family, then enjoy children’s activities and the “Taste of Beulah” lunch afterwards. Musical entertainment will be on hand. This event is sponsored by the Village of Beulah Boosters Club. Call 231-882-4457 for more information.
Wheels 4 Wellness Bike Ride When: June 27th, starting at 9:30 am. Where: The Beulah Village Park What: A scenic and leisurely bike ride around Crystal Lake with the intention of helping programs and organizations such as the Benzie Human Services Collaborative provide food, clothing and emergency services like heating and transportation. Registration is $40 per pair of riders, $25 for a single rider and $50 for a family. Visit www.endomanpromotions.com/events/wheels4wellness.php for more information.
Onekema
Michigan Energy Fair When: June 26th, 27th, and 28th. Events start at 12 pm Friday and 8-9 Saturday & Sunday Where: Manistee County Fairgrounds What: Created by the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association, the Michigan Energy Fair brings together exhibitors and keynote speakers to educate people about renewable energy technologies. Keynote speakers this year include Lt. Governor John D. Cherry, State Representative Dan Scripps and Scott T. Harrison, CEO of Azure Dynamics. The 3-day fair also includes live music, barbecues, banquets, workshops, children’s games and much more. Visit the Michigan Energy Fair website for more information and a full schedule.
Empire
Free programs offered by the Park Service
When: Saturday, June 27th, at 1 p.m. Where: Heart Visitor Center in Empire What: Each Saturday afternoon in June, the National Park Service offers free programs to help park visitors explore the area. This Saturday, the NPS has scheduled a walking tour of the lakeshore. Learn about the workings of a beach ecosystem as you explore the Lake Michigan’s sand and surf. Visit Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore's official website for more information.
Champion Hill Nordic Ski Trails, Beulah, Michigan, 1-11-09 – “Langlauf“ is German for “cross-country ski run”. Top Nordic Ski racers from the state and region converged here to compete in this challenging 15 kilometer freestyle event. Champion Hill Nordic Ski Trails, situated in the highest terrain of Benzie County, is a new venue to the “Michigan Cup” race series this year. Racers called Champion Hill a “world cup level” course that ”flowed like an olympic venue”. Others commented on the scenic beauty of the forested hills and the spectacular views from the higher elevations of the trails here. Junior racers competed on a 5 kilometer race course.
Friday in Benzonia, a half dozen or so sites will be featured in the "Haunts of Benzie County Tour." At each residence, a ghost representing a local, historical character will tell his story.
"Folk lore and ghost stories and legends are something that I think are easily lost, especially nowadays. It seems like these are pieces of history that aren't necessarily easily passed down. Everyone loves a good ghost story," said Blake Compton, a volunteer at the Benzie Area Historical Museum.
Click through to read some of the creepy tales and don't forget about the Manistee Ghost Ship on the SS City of Milwaukee in Manistee!
The annual Fall Festival offers two weeks of fun in Frankfort, Beulah, Benzonia and the surrounding area. The Benzie County Visitor's Bureau has a page of information on the festival and for more details visit the Frankfort-Elberta Chamber.
Weekend of October 4-5
Fall food takes center stage with the Fall Soup Contest on Saturday (Oct 4) in Beulah Park and the Honor Lions Club Hillbilly Breakfast from 8:00 – 12:30 and Darcy Memorial Library of Beulah Cookie Bake Sale at the Trailhead in Beulah. 10am -2pm on Sunday (Oct 5).
There's also a Sidewalk Art Contest and a Fall Market in Beulah on Saturday and the Crystal Lake Elementary FallFest Fundraiser in Benzonia on Saturday with a full lineup of fun for families including a produce & products market, cider press, carnival with prizes, food, refreshments, petting zoo and fire truck rides.
Crystal Mountain offers scenic chairlift rides to view the fall colors (4-6 PM both Saturday the 5th & 12th) and a haunted forest (6:30-9:30 PM) on Saturday and then hosts the Betsie Valley Run on Sunday with a 10K Run and Half Marathon Walk & Run.
At 11 AM on Saturday, October 11 2008, the Fall Festival Parade and Mutt March will take place in downtown Frankfort (costume judging for the Mutts is at 10 AM). Other events following the parade include a Pumpkin luncheon at the Recreation Center, performances by the internationally acclaimed Scottville Clown Band and a ton of fall fun at the Open Space including:
Giant Pumpkin weigh-in (guess the weight and win a bike!)
A hay wagon ride through Frankfort with a storyteller
The Pumpkin Regatta
Activities for kids including games, pumpkin decorating, face painting, balloon man, straw maze, fortune teller, pumpkin bowling and pumpkin hillbilly golf!
On Saturday a really cool feature is the Pumpkin Chuckin' Catapults and the Giant Pumpkin Drop on a Car at 3:00 PM in Frankfort! Check out the video below to see what happens when a 500 lb. pumpkin is dropped on a vehicle from over 100 feet in the air.
Explore photos of Frankfort, Manistee, The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and along the Lake Michigan shore in the BetsieBay.net group on Flickr (view full screen!)
Celebration 2009
When: Saturday, June 27th, at 1 p.m.
