Labor Day weekend in coming up and Michiganders are taking full advantage of the extra day for events.
Highlights this week include a tabletop gaming convention in Grand Rapids, a chicken wing festival in Lansing, and music across Detroit.
As always, I’d love to hear your suggestions! If you know of an upcoming event you’d like me to highlight, please send me a note here (suggestions should be submitted at least one week before the event).
West Michigan
Sept. 4-5
Hackley Park (350 W Webster Ave., Muskegon)
“Celebrate Polish heritage, culture, and tradition at the 11th annual Muskegon Polish Festival on September 4 and 5, 2026, at Hackley Park in downtown Muskegon. This Labor Day weekend festival welcomes visitors to enjoy authentic Polish food and beverages, live polka music, cultural exhibits, vendors, and activities for all ages.”
2. The Found Cottage Mercantile Market
Sept. 4-5
Ottawa County Fairgrounds (1286 Ottawa Beach Road, Holland)
“Discover more than 140 handpicked vendors offering vintage finds, timeless antiques, curated clothing, handmade goods, and mouthwatering bites from local food trucks. Celebrate our 9th year of the Mercantile Market with two unforgettable days at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds!”
Sept. 4-6
DeVos Place (303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids)
“GrandCon is Michigan’s premiere regional tabletop gaming convention held every year in the beautiful city of Grand Rapids. It’s a weekend (3 full days) experience and a place where several aspects of the hobby gaming industry are represented under one roof. We celebrate by playing board games, card games, miniature games, role-playing games, mingling with guests of the industry and community, and shopping vendors. Our goal is to create a Fun-For-All-Ages event!”
Northern Michigan/UP
4. Orbion x Copper Harbor Trails Fest
Sept. 4-6
Copper Harbor
“The annual Labor Day Weekend event features races, music, beer, and good times over three days of action! This all-ages event has something for everyone, whether you’re a cross-country lover, blazing-fast downhiller, enduro expert, sure-footed trail runner, or aspiring young ripper.”
Saturday, Sept 5, 1-11 p.m.
Douglas Park (181 S Lakeshore Drive, Manistee)
“Organized by Salt City Rock and Blues, the event is intended to commemorate the region’s labor history while raising funds for a proposed band shell at the beach The celebration is set to open with a parade at 12:30 p.m., followed by live performances from seven Michigan-based bands throughout the day. Food trucks, a beverage tent and cornhole games are also expected to be available.”
6. Mackinac Bridge Annual Labor Day Walk
Monday, Sept. 7, walk begins at 7 a.m.
Mackinac Bridge
“Every Labor Day morning, the iconic Mackinac Bridge becomes a foot-path of celebration as thousands of participants gather at either the north end in St. Ignace or the south end in Mackinaw City to mark an enduring Michigan tradition. This unique event offers an unforgettable chance to walk across one of the most stunning landmarks in the state, connecting the Upper and Lower Peninsulas above the shimmering waters of the Straits of Mackinac.”
Related: Free Labor Day events across Michigan you don’t want to miss
Mid/South Michigan
7. Michigan Chicken Wing Festival
Sept. 5-6
Adado Riverfront Park (201 E Shiawassee St., Lansing)
“The Michigan Chicken Wing Festival includes a main stage featuring musical acts from all genres, live entertainment, cornhole, a kids zone with inflatables, community empowerment vendors, a health and wellness pavilion, give-aways, a VIP beer, wine, and spirits tent, a chicken wing eating contest and a people’s choice vendor contest. This fun and exciting event has something for everyone!”
Sept. 5-6
Courthouse Square Museum (100 W. Lawrence Ave., Charlotte)
“Mid-Michigan’s favorite oddities festival is presented by Scream Queen Productions and The Courthouse Square Association. Admission to the grounds is free for all ages. Admission to the historic Courthouse Square Museum is $5/person. Come be a part of the spooky festival with heart!”
Sunday, Sept. 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Uncle John’s Cider Mill (8614 US-127, St Johns)
“This event is FREE for participants to bring their collector car out for the day and is open to the public. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED!! In additional to the Car Show our Cider Mill, Bakery, Gift Shop and Taproom will all be open from 9-6. There will also be Live Music outside the Taproom from 1-4pm.”
Southeast Michigan/Thumb
Sept. 3-7
Vibe Credit Union Showplace (46100 Grand River Ave., Novi)
“Celebrate the end of summer at the Michigan State Fair! Enjoy carnival rides, live entertainment, animals, home arts and agricultural exhibits, and more.”
Sept. 3-7
Romeo
“The Romeo Peach Festival is a collection of fun independently organized events held each year on Labor Day Weekend.”
Sept. 4-7
Downtown Royal Oak
“Michigan Lottery Arts, Beats & Eats presented by Flagstar Bank features 200 musical acts! It’s Oakland County’s Favorite Summer Festival Celebrating Art, Music, Food & Community in downtown Royal Oak!”
Sept. 4-7
Hart Plaza (1 Hart Plaza, Detroit)
“For over 40 years, the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation has celebrated Detroit’s rich history of jazz music by providing year-round concerts and educational programming, and of course, organizing the world’s largest free jazz festival, featuring world-class talent, over Labor Day weekend.”
14. Thumbfest 2026
Saturday, Sept. 5, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
7411 Huron Ave., Lexington
“Thumbfest: the Blue Water area’s premier acoustic music event! The 24th Thumbfest festival spotlights acoustic music, including Traditional Folk, Celtic, PanWorld, Blues, Rock, and Americana.”
15. Hamtramck Labor Day Festival
Sept. 5-7
Caniff Ave. & Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck
“Welcome to the city of Hamtramck. For the past four decades we’ve celebrated Labor Day weekend with a festival on the Main Street of Joseph Campau. This year’s festival is being sponsored by HATCH and the celebration features the yacht races down Jos. Campau (a Hamtramck tradition), and an assortment of crowd-pleasing events for kids and adults of all ages, including wrestling, and the Hamtramck Labor Day Parade on Monday September 7. As always, there will be plenty of music, food and fun. With two stages, booths from a number of restaurants and a full line-up of carnival rides, there’s never a dull moment at the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival.”
16. Detroit Sandwich Party 2026
Sunday, Sept. 6, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Eastern Market Shed 5 (2810 Russell St., Detroit)
“Detroit Sandwich Party is a one-day festival for sandwich enthusiasts by sandwich enthusiasts in partnership with the North Corktown Neighborhood Association and Eastern Market Corporation. Growing from Carlos Parisi and friends’ Detroit Sandwich Week every December, the summer Detroit Sandwich Party pays homage to the great sandwich makers of our beautiful city.”
