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25 Michigan events to check out this weekend (Sept. 12-14)

By Karel Vega

September 11, 2025

Music and culture are the main themes of this weekend’s Michigan events, with your choice of adventures as wide-ranging as a major Mexican festival in Grand Rapids, a Grateful Dead celebration in Lansing, a Japanese festival in Saginaw, and much, much more.

As always, I’d love to hear your suggestions! If you know of an upcoming event you want me to highlight, send me a note here (please send suggestions at least one week before the event).\

Michigan events to check out this weekend

West Michigan

🍀 Michigan Irish Music Festival

Sept. 11-14

Heritage Landing (1050 Seventh St., Muskegon)

💃 Fiesta Mexicana

Sept. 12-14

Calder Plaza ( 320 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids)

🎺 South Haven Jazz Festival

Sept. 12-13

Huron Street Pavilion (546 Phoenix St., South Haven)

🛣️ M-45 Celebration

Saturday, Sept. 13, 8 a.m.-dusk

Allendale Township Park (11069 68th Ave., Allendale)

🍹 Grand Rapids Margarita Fest

Saturday, Sept. 13, 6-10 p.m.

DeVos Place (303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids)

🏃‍♀️ LMCU Bridge Run 2025

Sept. 13-14

Sixth Street Bridge Park (647 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids)

Northern Michigan/UP

🏳️‍🌈 Mackinac Island Pride

Sept. 11-14

Mackinac Island

🛶 Paddle Antrim Festival

Sept. 11-13

Chain of Lakes Water Trail

🔥 Balloons Over Bay Harbor

Sept. 12-14

Village at Bay Harbor (4220 Main St., Bay Harbor)

🪓 Paul Bunyan Days

Sept. 12-14

Furtaw Field (4986-4998 N. State St., Oscoda Township)

🥳 The Village of Calumet’s 150th Block Party Celebration

Saturday, Sept. 13, 3-11 p.m.

Sixth Street, Calumet

🍻 Cadillac Craft Beer Festival

Saturday, Sept. 13, 3-9 p.m.

City Park (131-199 W. Harris St., Cadillac)

Mid/South Michigan

🎶 Grateful Dead Jubilee

Saturday, Sept. 13, 12-8 p.m.

Horrocks Farm Market (7420 W. Saginaw Highway, Lansing)

🍂 Lee Township Fall Festival

Saturday, Sept. 13, 12-4 p.m.

Lee Township Park (566 S. Nine Mile Road, Midland)

🍵 Japan Festival in Saginaw

Sunday, Sept. 14, 1-4 p.m.

Japanese Cultural Center, Tea House, and Gardens of Saginaw (527 Ezra Rust Drive, Saginaw)

🐲 Capital City Dragon Boat Race

Sunday, Sept. 14, all-day event

Grand River Park and Boat Launch (3205 Lansing Road, Lansing)

Southeast Michigan/Thumb

😎 Troy Family Daze

Sept. 11-14

Troy Civic Center (3425 Civic Center Drive, Troy)

🍎 St. John Applefest

Sept. 11-14

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish (600 N. Adelaide St., Fenton)

🍸 Michigan Craft Distillers Festival

Sept. 11-13

8 N. Monroe St., Monroe

🍁 Made in Michigan Festival

Sept. 12-13

Downtown Allen Park

🍺St. Joseph Oktoberfest

Sept. 12-14

DeSales Park (1828 Jay St., Detroit)

🦆 Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival

Sept. 13-14

Pointe Mouillee State Game Area (37205 Pt. Mouillee Road, Brownstown Township)

🌶️ Harvest Festival & Chili Cook-Off

Saturday, Sept. 13, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Visitor Center & Downtown (42 S. Huron Ave., Harbor Beach)

🧟‍♂️ FrankenFest Detroit

Saturday, Sept. 13, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Historic Fort Wayne (6325 W. Jefferson Ave., Detroit)

🍄‍🟫 Ypsi Vegan Fest

Sunday, Sept. 14, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

301 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti

Author

  • Karel Vega

    Karel Vega is The ’Gander’s newsletter editor. Coming from a long background in public radio, Karel strives to find stories that inform and inspire local communities. Before joining The ’Gander, Karel served as managing editor at WKAR, the NPR affiliate in East Lansing, Michigan.

    Have a story tip? Reach Karel at [email protected]. For local reporting in Michigan that connects the dots, from policy to people, sign up for Karel’s newsletter.

CATEGORIES: THINGS TO DO
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