The national cherry and blueberry fests may be the top contenders, but there’s more to see. Here’s a calendar of Michigan’s best fruit-related festivals for 2022.
MICHIGAN—As the state with the second most diverse agriculture in the country, it’s no surprise Michigan has plenty of seasonal events surrounding the fruit harvest.
You could likely walk into any grocery store in Michigan and find a locally sourced apple pie or something with Traverse City cherries. That’s no fluke—Michigan is known for its abundant array of locally sourced produce. And in addition to the many creative innovations for these crops, we’ve also come up with plenty of ways to celebrate them and their harvest.
For 2022, here’s a look at the best produce festivals the Mitten State has to offer.
Hartford Strawberry Festival
When: June 10-12, 2022
Where: Hartford
This southwest Michigan town loves its strawberries. In a celebration of one of Michigan’s sweetest crops, the Hartford Strawberry Festival features a Strawberry Run, car show, bed race, parade, strawberry pie-eating contest, and plenty of vendors. Make sure to check out the kids’ contests, like the crowning of the Sweetest Strawberry Baby.
For more information, visit the Hartford Chamber of Commerce website.
Strawberry Fest and Craft Show
When: June 18, 2022
Where: Coldwater
Downtown Coldwater in southern Michigan hosts this family-friendly event with plenty of opportunities to enjoy strawberries. At least five local farms bring the fresh-picked strawberries so visitors can enjoy delicacies such as strawberry pie and strawberry shortcake. More than 100 food and craft vendors sell a variety of handmade goods and two outdoor stages feature live music.
For more information, visit the Coldwater website.
National Cherry Festival
When: July 2-9, 2022
Where: Traverse City
This highly-anticipated event celebrates the primary export of the Cherry Capital, Traverse City. With almost a century worth of history, the National Cherry Festival is one of the country’s largest and most popular festivals. The festival features a variety of edible treats using Traverse City cherries, including pies, fudge, and wine. Attractions include an amusement park, porch parade, arts and crafts fair, a Make and Bake from the Grand Traverse Pie Company, and more.
For more information, visit the National Cherry Festival website.
Copper Country Strawberry Festival
When: July 9-10, 2022 (tentative)
Where: Chassell Township Park
Copper Country may be a long way to travel for strawberry shortcake, but the Copper Country Strawberry Festival makes it worth it. The Keweenaw Peninsula festival features a fish boil dinner and other local delicacies such as mini pasties. Scheduled events include multiple parades, an arts and crafts fair, and exhibitions from community groups such as the Chassell Heritage Center.
For more information, visit the Copper Country Strawberry Festival website.
Leonard Strawberry Festival
When: July 16, 2022
Where: Leonard
Sponsored by the Addison Township Firefighters, this eastern Michigan event is one day packed with fun events and a celebration of strawberries. The festival features a parade, car show, craft show, fire truck rides, and plenty of entertainment.
For more information, visit the Strawberry Festival website.
Marquette Blueberry Festival
When: July 29, 2022
Where: West Washington and Front Streets, Downtown Marquette
In the middle of the summer, the Upper Peninsula’s crown jewel, Marquette, hosts the Blueberry Festival. Downtown Marquette’s sidewalks are filled with artists, merchants, and food vendors, while its businesses offer blueberry-themed dishes and sales. Entertainment options also abound, with live music, demonstrations, pony rides, inflatable arcade games and more.
For more information, visit the downtown Marquette website.
Coloma Glad-Peach Festival
When: Aug. 5-7, 2022
Where: Marvin Street, Coloma
Coloma’s Glad-Peach Festival celebrates the locally grown peaches and gladiolus flowers of this southwestern Michigan town in the Michigan Fruit Belt. The festival takes place over three days. It features plenty of family-friendly activities, such as a classic car show, two parades, fireworks, and more. Although the Glad-Peach Festival was cancelled for 2020 and 2021, a date is set for 2022 and we’re certainly hopeful.
For more information, visit the Coloma Glad-Peach Festival Facebook page.
National Blueberry Festival
When: Aug. 11-14, 2022
Where: South Haven
While perhaps not as well-known as its cherry cousin to the north, the National Blueberry Festival is one of the oldest continuously-running fruit festivals. Van Buren County is the nation’s foremost blueberry producer, and South Haven is the “Blueberry Capital of the World.” The National Blueberry Festival celebrates the cerulean crop with free outdoor concerts, a parade, arts and crafts show, sand sculpture contest, pie-eating contest, youth pageant, and much more.
For more information, visit the National Blueberry Festival website.
Howell Melon Festival
When: Aug. 11-14, 2022
Where: Howell
Michigan melons? Yep, in the southeastern town of Howell, this unlikely delicacy is grown to perfection. The Melon Festival celebrates the specialty crop with treats like melon ice cream and events like the Howell Melon Run. Visit with hundreds of vendors on the sidewalks as you enjoy live entertainment and demonstrations.
For more information, visit the Howell Melon Festival website.
Montrose Blueberry Festival
When: Aug. 14-21, 2022
Where: Montrose
This Flint-area town may be small, but they know how to plan a party. The Montrose Blueberry Festival features a Blueberry Store and many more sources of family fun. The week-long festivities include a carnival, classic car show, parades, blueberry pancake breakfast, flea market, arts and crafts show, craft beer and wine tasting, Royal Tea Party, trivia night, and much more.
For more information, visit the Montrose Blueberry Festival website.
Wild Blueberry Festival
When: Aug. 19-21, 2022
Where: Paradise
The Tahquamenon Falls State Park is great to visit any time of year, but in August, the nearby Upper Peninsula town of Paradise offers this hidden gem of an event. The Wild Blueberry Festival features a variety of entertainment, local food, and an arts and crafts fair.
For more information, visit the Wild Blueberry Festival website.
Romeo Peach Festival
When: Sept. 2-5, 2022
Where: Romeo
You don’t have to “move in to the country” to eat a lot of peaches at the Romeo Peach Festival. The second-oldest festival in the state, the Romeo Peach Festival is a Detroit Metro tradition for Labor Day. The biggest events are the Floral Parade and the Peach Queen Pageant, but there’s plenty of activities happening throughout the festival, including carnival rides, car shows, and fireworks. Over 100 vendor booths feature local food, crafts, and plenty of peaches.
For more information, visit the Romeo Peach Festival website.
Art and Apples
When: Sept. 9-11, 2022
Where: Rochester Municipal Park
They may make an unlikely combo, but the Art and Apples Festival is one of the top fine art festivals in the country. The festival draws over 200 artists both near and far to showcase their art and compete for Artist Awards. The weekend features a variety of live entertainment from multiple genres of music and dance. Many art-related demonstrations and kids’ activities are also scheduled, like face painting and glass blowing demonstrations. And, of course, there’s plenty of apples and vendors selling apple products.
For more information, visit the Paint Creek Center for the Arts website.
St. John’s Applefest
When: Sept. 2022 (tentative)
Where: St. John Parish, Fenton
If you can’t get enough apple pie, St. John’s Applefest is the festival for you. The humble town of Fenton gives away over 2,000 pies with apples from local orchards annually. Plenty of other apple goodies are also available, including cider, dumplings, and apple crisps. A variety of events are scheduled, such as the Apple Pie Baking contest, Texas Hold’em tournaments, raffles, live music, carnival rides, and so much more.
For more information, visit the St. John Parish website.
Michigan Apple Fest
When: September 23-24, 2022
Where: Sparta
Sparta, just north of Grand Rapids, is a town known for its love of apples. The Michigan Apple Fest celebrates all kinds of food and beverages made with apples just in time for the harvest. It features plenty of live entertainment, a carnival, and activities for kids.
For more information, visit the Michigan Apple Fest website.
Four Flags Area Apple Festival
When: Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2022
Where: Lake and 17th Street, Niles
This four day apple festival in southwestern Michigan is one of Michigan’s top festivals and celebrates the apple harvest. The festival features plenty of food vendors, over 100 arts and crafts booths, parades, carnival rides, contests, and free entertainment.
For more information, visit the Four Flags Apple Festival website.
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