Thanksgiving Week Kicks Off the Holidays
Thanksgiving week in Northern Michigan is packed with several special events kick off the holiday season in style.
Northern Michigan Guides Stock Photo
(Scroll down to see more events in January.)
Enjoy amateur snow carving, outhouse races, sleigh rides, poker walk, chili cook-off, and more at Mackinaw City's Winterfest Celebration!
Northern Michigan Camping & RV Show
Thursday-Saturday from 10am-8pm and Sunday from 12-5pm. Admission is three non-perishable food items or cash donation to benefit the homeless in Otsego County. The Ellison Place- 150 Dale Dr., Gaylord. For more information, visit facebook.com.
Fat & Flurrious Fat Bike Race
The race begins in downtown Boyne City and ends at Avalanche- 184 Prospect Ct., Boyne City. Once there, participants race on the same singletrack and two tracks that are open in the summer. There’s also an after-party and awards at Stiggs Brewery- 112 S. Park St., Boyne City. For more info or to register, visit fatandflurrious.com.
Sledding & S’mores
Free sledding and s’mores at Kiwanis Park- 1100 Arbor St., Harbor Springs. For more information, call Rachel Roon at (231) 526-2104.
Mackinac Island Twilight Turtle Trek
A 2-mile, lantern-lit ski and snowshoeing trek through some of Mackinac Island’s natural winter wonderland. Begins at the corner of Arch Rock Road and Huron Road. with a bonfire and hot chocolate. For more information, visit mackinacparks.com.
Candlelight Hike at Mt. McSauba
Self-guided hiking, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing along a candlelit trail ending with a fire and hot cocoa. Trek begins at the sledding hill parking lot. For more information, contact the Charlevoix Recreation Department at (231) 547-7183. Mt. McSauba- 09223 McSauba Rd., Charlevoix.
Dogman Challenge Fat Bike Race
Dogman is part of the 2024 Tour De Fat Bike Race Series. The series includes Fat & Flurrious, Dogman, Fat Chance, VASA and Fatty Caddy. For more information or to register, visit runsignup.com. 09223 Mt. McSauba Rd., Charlevoix.
First Friday Charlevoix
This event includes a cocktail trail, shopping, fun activities to enjoy, and a chance to win Downtown Dollar Gift Cards. For more information, visit downtowncharlevoix.com. Downtown Charlevoix
Mackinaw City Winterfest
Annual festival includes fun for the whole family with outhouse races, obstacle course, chili cook-off, and more.
Thanksgiving week in Northern Michigan is packed with several special events kick off the holiday season in style.
The Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair is held at the fairgrounds on Charlevoix Avenue, and is a mix of carnival rides, food, exhibits, and more.
Referred to as the “Jewel of the Great Lakes”, Mackinac Island has many special festivals and events that go on during their prime season.
Celebrate the winter at Petoskey’s Winter Wonderland Weekend, in partnership with the Winter Sports Park Winter Carnival!
Apple Fest. Held each year on the second weekend of October, Apple Fest turns downtown Charlevoix into a festive and fun place to be.
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A visit to Northern Michigan is not complete without a walk along the Lake Michigan in search of Petoskey stones.
Bicyclists, walkers, and roller bladers can go from Harbor Springs to Charlevoix on the 26-mile long Little Traverse Wheelway.
The Charlevoix Circle of Arts is a vibrant, cultural center in downtown Charlevoix that presents six major visual exhibits annually.
The history of the fur trade in Northern Michigan is captured at Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City.
The Headlands, just west of Mackinaw City, is one of six International Dark Sky Parks in the U.S. and one of nine in the world.
Crooked Tree Arts Center is a place where artists from northern Michigan can display their talents and artwork to the public.
Shop Northern Michigan antiques shops, art galleries, and furniture stores for home furnishings that are unique and affordable.
This 28-mile scenic highway running between Atwood and Boyne Falls known as the Breezeway draws visitors because it is gorgeous.
Northern Michigan has many varied settings for kayaking- whether it by river, one of the inland lakes, or Lake Michigan,
Fort Mackinac is open from May-October and includes buildings restored their original look after the fort’s occupation by the British