21 Michigan events to check out this weekend (Sept. 26-28)

Channel your inner lumberjack at the Fire & Flannel Fest in Downtown Wyandotte this weekend. (Aja Koska/Getty Images Signature)

By Karel Vega

September 25, 2025

After a stretch of rain these past days, it looks like we’ll be getting a nice break just in time for this weekend’s events.

Highlights include an Oktoberfest celebration in Grand Rapids, a festival all about elk Up North, and a lumberjack-inspired party in Metro Detroit.

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

🎸 Sounds of the Zoo

Through Sept. 28

Downtown Kalamazoo

🍻 Oktoberfest Grand Rapids

Sept. 26-27

Riverside Park (3061 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids)

🌾 Harvest Fest 2025

Sept. 26-28

Downtown Rockford

🎤 Parktoberfest

Sept 26-28

Park Theatre (248 S. River Ave., Holland)

🍺 Beer City Brewers Fest

Saturday, Sept. 27, 3-8 p.m.

Calder Plaza (320 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids)

🌎 International Festival of Holland

Saturday, Sept. 27, 4-8 p.m.

Downtown Sparta

Northern Michigan/UP

🍻 TC Germanfest

Friday, Sept. 26, 6-10 p.m.

Trinity Lutheran Church (1003 S. Maple St., Traverse City)

🫎 41st Annual Elk Festival

Sept. 26-28

Downtown Atlanta

🎶 Leelanau UnCaged

Saturday, Sept. 27, 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.

Village of Northport

🍺 Iron Mountain Oktoberfest

Saturday, Sept. 27, 12-10 p.m. (CST)

Downtown Iron Mountain

🎃 St. Ignace Annual Fall Fest & Great Pumpkin Roll

Sunday, Sept. 28, 12-3:30 p.m.

Little Bear East Arena (275 Marquette St., St. Ignace)

Mid/South Michigan

🐟 5:01 Dam Jam Music Festival

Sept. 25-27

Rotary Park (325 Riverfront Drive, Lansing)

🔥 Frankenmuth Fire Arts Festival

Sept. 26-27

Heritage Park (601 Weiss St., Frankenmuth)

🎛️ Big Fam Music Festival

Sept. 26-28

The Groves of Michigan (13500 US-12, Brooklyn)

🍽️ Farm to Fork

Saturday, Sept. 27, 12:30-9 p.m.

Downtown Union City

🪑 Midland Antique Festival

Sept. 27-28

Midland County Fairgrounds (6905 Eastman Ave., Midland)

🥁 2nd Annual Dance by the River Pow Wow

Sept. 27-28

Adado Riverfront Park (300 N. Grand Ave., Lansing)

Southeast Michigan/Thumb

🪵 Fire & Flannel Fest

Sept. 26-27

Downtown Wyandotte

🍂 St. Mary’s Fall Festival

Sept. 26-28

St. Mary Parish (415 N. Sixth St., Saint Clair)

🌍 Westland Multicultural Festival

Sept. 26-27

Central City Park (36601 Ford Road, Westland)

🎃 South Lyon Pumpkinfest

Sept. 27-28

Downtown South Lyon

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.

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