About to go to my 4th Hippie Fest this weekend! I go with very special people to me. It's the…read moreperfect get away and my favorite trip to look forward to all year. You are going to exactly what you would think for this event and it's better than that in person. Great and interesting vendors, fun food and live music.

An excellent craft beer and wine festival. Includes many meads and ciders as well. Some…read moreestablished breweries as well as some new faces every year. The variety is great and everyone will be able to find a beer to match their specific taste. Dark or Hoppy as well as lighter lagers and pilsners abound at this event. Come early - stay late.

Growing up in Ogemaw County I became accustomed to a very nice fairground, it wasn't until I moved…read moreaway that I realized how good we really have it. The antique village is very cute and the grounds are well maintained. I have been here for the fair many times and also quite a few weddings. The best part of a wedding at the fairgrounds is that it is very easy for guests to stay in the camp grounds the night before and after the reception, makes for a fun wedding weekend.

Love this fair! I've attended for years with my kids in 4h and as a vendor doing face painting,…read moreairbrush tattoos, glitter tattoos and airbrush face painting. Always meet great people here and it is my favorite large event to attend.

I attended the World of Winter Silent Disco (for my 2nd year) and it did not disappoint. I parked…read moreat the Amy Grand and walked over. It was a cold Michigan winter but the vibe was warm and welcoming. Lots of smiles, colors, lights, and people. More than expected especially due to the cold. The sponsors had extra headphones so the line to wait for headphones went quick and the process of turning them on and tuning in was seamless. The DJs were spinning beats making the crowds excited and the dance party never ending. Loved the food trucks surrounding the areas, the festival dancers interacting with the crowds, the aesthetically pleasing platform of artistic display, and the fire pits. Lots of security presence so I felt extra safe and we danced into the night. 11pm comes quick. Wish this would be every Saturday night downtown. Looking forward to next year!

Grand Rapids is home to the largest winter festival in the United States - World of Winter! The…read morefestival features lots of free events and activations and amazing outdoor art installations that get people out and about in the city during the coldest winter months. World of Winter takes place January 12 through March 10, 2024. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a big fan of winter, but I've really enjoyed all the events I've participated in through the past couple of years of World of Winter. Popular events include the silent disco, ice sculptures downtown and walking tours, human hungry hungry hippos, and a drag show at Calder Plaza. This year we got to check out the ice arcade, with foosball, connect four, cornhole, and more - all made from solid blocks of ice! The art installations are usually interactive and especially stunning at night with colorful lights and other features. For 2024 the giant inflated frogs at Ah Nab Awen Park are super popular and make for great photos. It's disappointing to see that some of the art installations have been damaged by people standing on them (when signs clearly posted tell you to not do this) and throwing huge ice chunks on them :( I hope that World of Winter can continue for years to come and we can avoid this type of vandalism.

For a small Irish festival, the Michigan Irish Festival feels big. We come yearly for the music…read more Various area businesses sponsor bands to come and play, and they get some big names in the Irish world of music. I was ecstatic to see Slide again this year:) If you go to Irish festivals for beer, you won't be disappointed either because there are plenty of places to buy a pint. You can also purchase Irish goods, as well as Irish goodies. I don't know how Irish it was, but I got the best homemade pretzel I've ever had at the festival. There is also a park with a play structure for the kids if they get tired of travelling from one music tent to the next (which mine always do). I highly recommend the festival.

I look forward to this festival every year. It's a great family friendly event. There's a wee one's…read morearea and playgrounds for the kids. Live music on several different stages. Lots of food and plenty of beer or whiskey available. There are tents with vendors selling a great selection of various Irish wares. The festival is held at Heritage Landing so you get great views of the lake while listening to fantastic music.

The Coast Guard Festival is a big deal in Grand Haven, and it shows. The festivals lasts for 10…read moredays, spanning across two weekends at the end of July and beginning of August. What's in the itinerary? It depends on the day. One of my favorites is Tuesday night's Dancing in the Street, where a large stage is set up downstage for--you guessed it--dancing in the street to a very good local cover band. This year I got to take a tour of two Coast Guard ships that were docked in the channel. My spouse was thrilled. If you're a music fan, there's nightly concerts, the majority of them being cover bands. On the second Saturday of the festival, there's fireworks, which people make sure they have a great spot for viewing as early as the morning of. The last thing I'll mention is the carnival with games, rides, and the kids who love them. Food-wise, there's a row of fair food trailers and a section of food trucks around the Elks Lodge off of Washington Street. Plus, just about all the local of the local businesses around downtown will gladly take your money. This summer New Holland Brewing Co. opened a pizza-inspired pinwheels kitchen, which appeared to be very popular with patrons of the festival. There's also plenty of opportunities for booze in the Social District as well as sweets, from ice cream to chocolates to Kilwin's fudge. I've attended the festival two years in a row, and I'll continue to come on the Dancing in the Street night. It's a great night of community and fun. I'll also try to check out the cardboard boat race, which takes place on the first Saturday of the festival. Should you come too? My vote is yes!

Lucky to have been in Grand Haven for my first Coast Guard Festival. A more patriotic atmosphere…read moreyou will have a hard time finding. The way the entire town shows their appreciation for the Coast Guard is inspiring. Flags on every home and business! Tour a ship, watch the helicopters, visit the museums, ride the rides, listen to bands and eat a ton of delicious food. Take a break from the crowds and walk along the boardwalk to the famous red lighthouse to watch the sunset. You will love every minute!