Fairs, festivals and daytrippin’ at the zoo in Pure Michigan

From art and agriculture to food and fireworks, there is a Michigan fair or festival this summer sure to deliver thrills, chills, smells and smiles. And if you’re into lions, tigers and bears – oh my – give one of five great zoos in the mitten a try.

If you’re like a growing number of Michiganders now driving an electric vehicle, your summer getaway will likely be powered by Consumers Energy – as hundreds of charging stations are popping up across the Lower Peninsula to deliver clean, affordable and reliable energy. The State of Michigan is ready to energize your drive with EV charging stations at state parks, too.

Calendar of Fairs and Festivals

• A quick scan of the State of Michigan Fairs and Festivals calendar provides a year-round schedule you can filter by date, city or region. According to the creators of Pure Michigan, these events celebrate the state’s cultural and agricultural heritage by showcasing the cuisine, arts and seasons of Michigan – and, above all, the fun-loving spirit you’ll find in the Great Lakes State. The 2023 Pure Michigan Spring/Summer Travel Guide highlights stunning sights to see, exciting places to go and fun activities to experience for visitors and residents alike all season long.
  
  
• At MichiganFun.com, you can view more than 377 fairs, festivals and community events throughout the year by date. View 2023 Summer Magazine also provides an event view by region. The site is supported by the Michigan Festivals and Events Association, a statewide non-profit organization serving communities, events, festivals, fairs, businesses and volunteers throughout Michigan.

Popular Michigan Summer Events

• Frankenmuth’s Bavarian Festival, June 8-11 − Founded in 1959, the Michigan summer favorite is alive with the rhythm of German music and dance – and, of course, traditional foods and beers. If you like to Polka and can’t catch Molly B & Squeezebox with Ted Lange in Frankenmuth, head north to the 41st Annual Cedar Polka Fest in Leelanau County, Aug. 24-27.
  
  
• Bay City Fireworks Festival, June 29-July 1 − Established in 1961, the festival features nightly entertainment ranging from national acts to local talent in Wenonah Park, a family carnival and three nights of fireworks, with one of the Midwest’s largest fireworks displays on the 1st. Other favorites in Bay City include Great Lakes Bay Pride June 24 and Labadie Rib Fest July 27-30.
  
  
• National Cherry Festival, July 1-8 – Attending the 97th year in Traverse City, you could keep busy watching the festival parades, air show, concerts and race series, or stroll the arts and crafts fair, enjoy amusement rides and elephant ears on the Midway, or indulge in pancakes and other foods brimming with Traverse City’s iconic fruit. Come see local employees from Consumers Energy as the company hosts the Consumers Energy Community Royale Parade, July 6.
  
  
• Gaylord Alpenfest 58, July 11-15 – Live music, including cover and tribute bands, a Midway carnival, parade, art and more take over downtown Main Street. The City of Gaylord also features several EV charging stations to support clean energy and tourism. It was awarded for the 2022 Michigan Battle of the Buildings Competition in the EV Infrastructure Category, nominated by Consumers Energy.
  
  
• Consumers Energy Au Sable River Canoe Marathon, July 29-30 – The premier canoe marathon of North America is celebrating its 75th anniversary. “The Marathon,” is a non-stop 120-mile, C-2 (two-person) canoe race held annually on the last full weekend in July. The race starts at night with a thrilling running start to the river (carrying the canoe) in Grayling and ends the next day on the shores of Lake Huron in Oscoda. The marathon is not a recreational canoe float. The ultra-competitive race attracts professional paddlers from across the United States, Canada and often teams from outside North America. Paddlers portage six Consumers Energy Hydroelectric plants during the 24-hour event. View Au Sable River Canoe Marathon Official Video Trailer. The weekend also features the Au Sable River Festival, July 21-29, with music, vendor fair, a classic car show and more.
  
  
• 2023 HAP Crim Festival of Races, Aug. 25-26 – Looking for fun and fitness? We’re sponsoring the Start Line of the 46th annual event in Flint. Races include the signature 10 Mile, Half Crim 5 Mile, 5K, One Mile and Teddy Bear Trot. Check out the How To videos for running and walking.

Wild World Adventures – Michigan Zoos to Explore

With a focus on sustainability, education and community, the mission of Michigan zoos parallels ours to being a Force of Change for Michigan's future. As valued customers, five zoos also have benefited from Consumers Energy Foundation grants and/or employee volunteer hours.

• At Binder Park Zoo, near Battle Creek, the Wild Africa exhibit allows visitors to take a tram ride to view several species found across the continent of Africa. The vast habitat includes an opportunity to meet and hand-feed lettuce to giraffes at Twiga Overlook. The zoo also offers Group and Family Overnights on the property. The Consumers Energy Foundation provided a $100,000 grant to support Little Larks at the SkyLark Ridge Ropes Course and Zip Line.
  
  
• Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak hosts several events this summer and is featuring a special BRICKLIVE exhibit, May 27 through Sept. 4. Consumers Energy is a supporting sponsor of the exhibit, which features more than 70 unique, dazzling displays of toy brick models – like a 7-foot elk and 12-foot giraffe to a 10-foot gator and a massive mako shark – made of more than 2 million bricks! Be sure to stop by the Deep Sea Divers sculpture for a picture. The zoo also is home to two of North America’s most interactive habitats for penguins and polar bears - The Polk Penguin Conversation Center (five species) and Arctic Ring of Life. VIDEO: Consumers Energy and the Detroit Zoo working together for Michigan.
  
  
• John Ball Zoo, in Grand Rapids, offers several events throughout the year. Stop in for World Chimp Day, July 14; World Lion Day, Aug. 10; or Breakfast with the Animals on select days this summer. The Consumers Energy Foundation provided a $150,000 grant to support the “Time to Soar” capital campaign and opening of the pygmy hippo exhibit. The Meerkat Habitat was recognized as a 2022 Certified Green Building Award Sustainable Sites winner by the U.S. Green Building Council of West Michigan.
  
  
• Potter Park Zoo, in Lansing, is Michigan’s oldest public zoo and is welcoming fathers with free admission on June 18 and all Grandparents on Sept. 10. A $50,000 grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation supported their Animal Health Facility, which is critical to ensuring the zoo maintains the highest level of care for the animals, enhances opportunities for veterinary students and provides quality educational experiences for guests.
  
  
• Saginaw Children’s Zoo, open full-time May through September, provides many opportunities to visit, engage, support and learn during the year. The Consumers Energy Foundation supports employee volunteers at the zoo and provided a $36,000 grant in 2016 to Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy to place an educational nature trail at the Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square.