| | Michigan’s 2012 Summer Food Festivals | | | | | Living in a State that looks like your hand makes it pretty convenient when you want to make a simple map. Just hold out your left hand for the Lower Peninsula, and use your right one turned sideways and thumbs up for the U.P.
Done.
Put both of those hands on the steering wheel this summer and you’ll discover some of the best foods, drinks and culinary treasures that the great State of Michigan has to offer.
It’s Nino’s “2012 Hand to Mouth Tour”…
And perhaps a summer filled with food and wine events, (particularly THIS summer) couldn’t have better timing with gas prices soaring and our local economies needing a “boost”. You may even discover, (besides the great food), that Michigan is a pretty darn neat place to take a great vacation?
Aside from the general Taste Fests, Cultural Food Events, Cook-Offs and…well??,...errr???, “Spitting Contests”,….this year, Michigan will be honoring these home-grown goodies with festivals all their own….
Morels, Cereal, Asparagus, Sugar, Strawberries, Cherries, Dairy, Corn, Chicken, Hogs & Pigs, Bologna, Potatoes, Blueberries, Peaches, Fungus, (well…ok, more mushrooms), Mint, Fudge, Melons, Seafood, (in Michigan??, hey? how’d that get in here??), Apples, and more.
Wash that all down with a Beer or Wine festival here and there and well?, you’ve got yourself quite a summer of culinary adventure.
Or, indigestion…
So with that said, below, we’re highlighting just some of this summer’s culinary events throughout Michigan that are just ripe for the pickin’. We’ve also added a few events that run in the early fall.
May 2012
Boyne City
Morel Mushroom Festival May 17th – 20th Grab a bag, a basket, or a BUSHEL and head into the woods to find and enjoy one of Michigan’s true culinary treasures! Frankenmuth
World Expo of Beer May 18th – 20th Drinking beer in Frankenmuth. Do you need another reason to go?
Brooklyn
Great Lakes Wine Fest May 19th Held at the MIS Speedway, this event features great wines, great food and one of the more unique settings for a wine event in the state.
Empire
Empire Asparagus Festival May 18th – 20th The parades the recipes and the family activities are all focused around those slender green sticks, you love.
Kalamazoo
Greek Festival May 31st – June 2nd If you love Greek food, you’ll want to be in Kalamazoo THIS weekend. It’s full of food, entertainment and family fun.
June 2012
Lansing
The Board of Light and Water Chili Cook-Off June 2nd Over 1,500 Gallons of chili will be simmering and awaiting your palate and judging. Live bands & icy margaritas spice up the event as well.
Frankenmuth
Bavarian Festival June 7th – 9th Bavarian everything and in the perfect setting!
Battle Creek
Battle Creek Cereal City Festival June 8th & 9th Parades, bands and the world’s BIGGEST breakfast table highlight this annual event.
Hart
National Asparagus Festival June 8th – 10th A parade, a 5 K run, rodeo and fair combine with one of Michigan’s favorite vegetables to make this an event you won’t want to miss.
Leland
Leland Wine & Food Festival June 9th The 27th edition makes this Michigan’s oldest wine festival and gives you a chance to taste wine from over a dozen of Michigan’s famed wineries.
Houghton
Seafood Festival June 14th – 16th Held on Houghton’s waterfront in conjunction with Bridgefest, sample seafood and listen to great music.
Sebewaing
Michigan Sugar Festival June 15th – 17th The village of Sebewaing hosts a carnival, parade, fireworks and the crowning of Michigan’s Sugar Queen in what is surely the summer’s “sweetest” food event.
Belleville
National Strawberry Festival June 15th – 17th A great way to spend Father’s Day Weekend. Sample everything strawberry and enjoy the fun and festivities!
Glen Arbor
Glen Arbor BBQ and Brew Festival June 16th Local Breweries and restaurants showcase their brews and eats.
Bridgman
Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival June 16th Relax and enjoy a glass of wine (or two) at one of Michigan’s most tranquil shorelines.
Coldwater
Strawberry Festival June 16th Live entertainment, arts, crafts, and, of course, LOTS of strawberries!
Kalamazoo
Irish Festival June 22nd & 23rd Wear your favorite “Pub Gear” and join in the festivities of Irish drink, food and merriment!
Muskegon
Taste of Muskegon June 16th & 17th Explore downtown Muskegon and taste food from the area’s best restaurants & bakeries.
Harbor Springs
Waterfront Wine Festival June 23rd No one needs an excuse to visit this beautiful town but their 7th Annual Wine Festival is an “extra” incentive.
Grayling
Dairy Days June 23rd & 24th Relive the days of old when your milk came straight from the cow. Literally! Lectures and demonstrations on butter churning, whipping cream and tours of the park’s Grist Mill, Carpenter Shop, Blacksmith Shop and Summer Kitchen.
Calumet
PastyFest June 29th – 30th These meat and vegetable pockets that Miners once took to work are now immortalized in song, poetry and parades. Enjoy the Pasty Pull, the Pasty Shot Put and great recipes!
July 2012
Sterling Heights
American Polish Festival July 6th – 8th Polish Food and spirited festivities abound at the American Polish Century Club
Traverse City
National Cherry Festival July 7th – 14th It’s BACK for another year of festivities including pie eating and parades. Everything cherry is good!
Eau Claire
International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship July 7th. When you’re in the “pits” at this event, the only danger is the cherry juice stains. And BTW, the record is 93+ feet!
Chassell
Copper Country Strawberry Festival July 6th & 7th Downtown Chassell has a Strawberry Shortcake just waiting for you.
Marshall
Banana Split Eating Contest On July 15th, ice cream and one of the most a “peeling” fruits make this a day of fun and festivity!
Ypsilanti
Summer Beer Festival July 27th & 28th The Michigan Brewers Guild hosts this weekend of beer at Riverside Park in Historic Depot Town. Sample over 100 beers from around the state.
Yale
Bologna Festival July 27th – 29th These folks take their Bologna seriously! Festivities include outhouse races, street dancing, fireworks and a parade down Main Street!
August 2012
Bay City Pig Gig Ribfest August 3rd – 5th A national rib cooking competion is the centerpiece of this event but you’ll find PLENTY of other activities including concerts, pig racing, circus shows and fun contests.
Boyne Falls
Boyne Falls Polish Festival August 2nd – 5th A Northern Michigan experience you won’t want to miss. Polish food, music, a carnival, rodeo and enough Kielbasa to keep you happy all day.
Imlay City
Annual Blueberry Festival August 3rd & 4th Looking for more blueberry excitement? This festival definitely won’t leave you with a hankering for the “blues”.
Coloma-Glad
Coloma-Glad Peach Festival August 3rd – 5th . Love peaches? Then you better be there. Music, fireworks and dunking for peaches are just a few of the “peachy” goin’s ons.
South Haven
National Blueberry Festival August 9th – 12th This 49th Annual event gives you ONE LAST TIME to eat until you’re blue in the face and satisfy your “blueberry jones” with LOTS of berries and a ton of other blueberry related activities.
St. Johns
Mint Festival August 10th – 12th Michigan has one of the BEST crops of Mint in America and this festival and all the surrounding events will let you know why.
Paradise
Wild Blueberry Festival August 17th – 19th . If you’re up for blueberries 2 weeks in a row, take a walk on the “wild side”…blueberries that is, and enjoy another “eating” the blues….
Howell
Howell Melon Festival August 17th – 19th Parades and everything celebrating the melon.
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island Fudge Festival August 24th – 25th No one needs an excuse to visit this beautiful island but the lure of fresh fudge might just push you over the top. Enjoy fudge from one of 17 fudge shops on the island and enjoy all the other wonderful island activities.
Romeo
Michigan Peach Festival August 30th – September 3rd Enjoy a weekend of “Fuzzy Fruit” from one of Michigan’s largest peach growing districts. Festivities include the crowning of the Romeo Peach Queen.
September 2012
Saint Joseph Wine Festival September 2nd. Featuring 7 wineries and lots of festivities!
Posen
Posen Potato Festival September 7th – 9th A weekend full of family fun including live entertainment and fun. Don’t be a couch potato, join in!
Paw Paw
Paw Paw Wine and Harvest Festival September 7th – 9th Tours of area wineries, grape stomping, a craft fair and great jazz are only a few of the many weekend activities.
Coldwater
Apple Fest September 15th 150 vendors, live entertainment, special kids program and more apples than you can shake a “caramel” stick at!
Grand Haven
Grand Haven Salmon Festival September 21st – 23rd. The 9th Annual event features outdoor waterfront entertainment, wine tastings, salmon cook-off competitions and loads of contests, art and things for the kids to do.
Midland
Downtown Midland’s Chili & Salsa Taste-Off September 22nd Vote for your favorite chili and salsa at this 14th annual event.
Charlotte
Michigan Apple Festival September 22nd & 23rd A family event that showcases Michigan Apples in every imaginable way, Pies, cakes, cookies, cider and more.
For more information on these festivals and other fun things to do this summer in our great state, just click on: www.michigan.org
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