August in Michigan: 10 can’t-miss festivals & events

Enjoy the last days of summer in Michigan at these events and festivals happening in August.

There’s no time like summertime in Michigan. The beaches are open, the weather is warm, and there are countless fun festivals and exciting events to attend. Summer will be over before you know it, though, so to help you make the most of the season’s final days, we’ve put together a list of some of the top events and festivals happening in Michigan this August. 

From art fairs and sand sculpting competitions to tasting events and music festivals, there are plenty of can’t-miss happenings to keep you entertained all month long. 

August events in Metro Detroit

Detroit Bourbon and Blues Festival 

2810 Russell St., Detroit

On August 25, Detroit’s iconic Eastern Market will be transformed into a vibrant venue highlighting bourbon and blues music. The Detroit Bourbon and Blues Festival is an immersive tasting and live music experience you won’t want to miss. Sample carefully curated bourbons and whiskeys, savor treats from local food trucks, and immerse yourself in the sounds of blues music.  

There will be two General Admission sessions and a VIP Bloozy Brunch event. 

Hour Detroit Food & Wine Show

1 Washington Blvd., Detroit

Make sure you bring your appetite to the Hour Detroit Food & Wine Show. Held at Huntington Place on August 13 and 14, the culinary event of the summer features food from top chefs, artisans, and producers, as well as more than 150 wine, beer, and spirits tasting options, live music, and an exhibit of Hour Detroit magazine covers.  

Some participating food vendors include Zingerman’s Delicatessen, Detroit Vegan Soul, Pietrzyk Pierogi, and M. Street Baking Co. Beverage exhibitors include Burgdorf’s Winery, Michigan Wine Collaborative, Detroit Vineyards, and Raw Organic Juice Bar.

Woodward Dream Cruise

Woodward Avenue

Celebrate classic car culture with other automobile aficionados during the Woodward Dream Cruise. This free, one-day event attracts more than one million attendees annually and showcases tens of thousands of muscle cars, custom automobiles, and collector vehicles. Participants cruise along Woodward Avenue through nine Metro Detroit communities showing off their cool cars to spectators.

This year’s celebration will be held on August 17 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information on the best places to park along the route, click here. 

August events in Southwest Michigan

National Blueberry Festival

1301 M-43, South Haven

Michigan is one of the country’s leading producers of blueberries, and every August people gather in South Haven at the National Blueberry Festival to celebrate the fruit. This year’s festival will take place from August 8-11 and will feature all sorts of activities, including concerts, a parade, pie-eating contests, blueberry pancake breakfasts, and more. 

August events in the Thumb Area

Blue Water SandFest

2802 Omar St., Port Huron

Blue Water SandFest, Michigan’s only major sand sculpting competition, takes the classic summer pastime of building sandcastles to an entirely new level. More than 20 semi-pro sculptors will show off their skills in this annual competition, using sand to create giant turtles, dragons, castles, and other works of art.   

This three-day event, which runs from August 2-4, will also feature free sand sculpting lessons and demonstrations, live music, a beer garden, a kids’ zone, and plenty of food. The festivities take place at ​​Fort Gratiot Light Station County Park, home to the oldest lighthouse in Michigan, which you can tour during the event. Attendees also have access to the beach right behind the lighthouse, so you can easily move between the beach and the festival. 

August events in mid-Michigan

Great Lakes Beer Festival

825 E. Main St., Midland

If your ideal summer day includes a few cold pints, mark your calendar for the third-annual Great Lakes Beer Festival. This festival celebrates Michigan’s craft beer scene by bringing together more than 70 breweries and cideries under one roof at the Dow Diamond baseball stadium. 

The event is scheduled to take place on August 17 from 2 to 7 p.m. and will also feature live music, delicious food, and fun activities including a cornhole tournament. 

August events in Northern Michigan

Charlevoix Waterfront Art Fair

307 Bridge St, Charlevoix

Art lovers won’t want to miss the Charlevoix Waterfront Art Fair, one of the oldest and most prestigious juried art fairs in Michigan. Top artists from across the country, as well as local talent, gather in Downtown Charlevoix to show off their best work, including paintings, jewelry, ceramics, photographs, and sculptures.

This year’s fair will be held on August 10 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Hoxeyville Music Festival

11130 W 48 1/2 Rd, Wellston

Hoxeyville, one of the Midwest’s preeminent Americana and Roots festivals, returns to Wellston on August 8 for four days of music, camping, and outdoor fun. National touring artists and Michigan performers put on a spectacular show on one of two stages. Some of this year’s headliners include Sam Bush, Lindsay Lou, and Myron Elkins. 

The festival grounds are situated on 200 acres of farmland surrounded by the Manistee National Forest, and nearby mountain biking trails and the Pine River provide plenty of opportunity for outdoor exploration. 

August events in the Upper Peninsula

Mackinac Island Fudge Festival 

7274 Main St., Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island is famous for its fudge, so it makes perfect sense to dedicate an entire weekend to celebrating the sweet treat. This year’s Mackinac Island Fudge Festival, held on August 23-25, celebrates the island’s famed confection with a fun lineup of events, including fudge-making demonstrations, family-friendly games, and more. There will also be lots of food (fudge!) and fudge-inspired cocktails to satisfy your sweet tooth.  

Upper Peninsula State Fair

2401 12th Ave. N., Escanaba

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is unique, and once a year at the Upper Peninsula State Fair, the region’s culture and heritage are put on display for everyone to experience. There will be carnival rides, tons of animals on display, a plethora of food to enjoy, themed days, cooking contests, and much more. 

If you want to experience “Pure Fun, Pure Goodness, and Pure Michigan,” the Upper Peninsula State Fair is the summer event for you. The 2024 fair takes place from August 12-18 at the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds. 

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.