10 things to do in Michigan in August
August is bittersweet. The good news is that summer is at its peak, with plenty of warm-weather outdoor options. The not-so-good news is that summer is almost over. No!
Savor these last few weeks with these 10 things to do in Michigan in August.
Suds on the Shore
The seventh annual Suds on the Shore Craft Beer and Wine Festival is set for Aug. 15 at City Park near Lake Michigan in downtown Ludington. The event combines craft beer, hard cider and Michigan wine tasting while raising funds for the United Way of Mason County.
Tickets run $25 in advance or $30 at the door and include event entry, eight drink tokens and a souvenir glass for tasting one of the more than 100 samples available from more than 50 breweries, cideries and wineries. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.sudsontheshore.com.
The Wine Days of Summer
Savor the flavors of The Wine Days of Summer, a self-driving tour of the wineries of the Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail. The tour, which takes place Aug. 8 and 9, offers a bounty of wines paired with picnic-related food items at each stop.
Tickets for tour are $30 and include eight food and wine pairings. Designated drivers eat for free. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.pioneerwinetrail.com.
Michigan Honey Festival
Folks in Frankenmuth like to call the Michigan Honey Festival the “sweetest day of the year.” The event offers a chance to learn all there is to know about honeybees and beekeeping, as well as take part in honey-themed cooking demonstrations and tastings.
This year’s Michigan Honey Festival happens Aug. 1. Attendees can also sample the fresh Frankenmuth honey and purchase their favorites. Children’s activities include live hives (safely behind screening), bee bearding demos, honey extraction demonstrations, and plenty of vendors selling everything from honey, to balms and lotions and beehive equipment. For more details and to snag tickets — which run $5 for those 14 and up — head to www.michiganhoneyfestival.com.
Pedal and Whine Bicycle Tour
The third annual Pedal & Whine Bike Tour is set for Aug. 1 in rural Jackson County, on the ground around Grass Lake. The tour is perfect for biking and wine enthusiasts, offering a bike ride on country paved roads along with a visit to Sandhill Crane Vineyards. Different routes will be available for different levels, including 8, 16, 36 and 62 miles. Riders may pick a route or combine routes. Attendees will also receive a chef-prepared lunch at the Sandhill Crane Vineyards.
Tickets run $35 for adults 16 and up and $10 for children 8 to 15. The family rate (two adults and children) is $70. The non-rider lunch runs $10. For information on registration fees and to sign up, visit www.sandhillcranevineyards.com.
Baseball peak
Summer brings lots of baseball, whether it’s the close-to-home Lansing Lugnuts or a bit further out to the Detroit Tigers. There’s still time to catch a game.
The Detroit Tigers still have a few weeks of regular season games to go this season. The Tigers’ last home game this season will take place Sept. 27 at Comerica Park against the Minnesota Twins. For the full schedule, visit the Tigers’ official website.
As for the Lugnuts, those games are also going strong all month. The last regular season home Lugnuts game is scheduled for Sept. 4 at Cooley Law School Stadium against Great Lakes. For all things Lugnuts, visit the team’s site.
Sault Summer Arts Festival
Get crafty. The annual Sault Summer Arts Festival in Sault Ste. Marie brings together fine arts and crafts by artists from all over the country with one gigantic sale. Craft and food vendors line the Sault City Hall grounds overlooking Sault waterfront, and live music plays all day. The event, which takes place Aug. 4, also includes children’s activities.
Admission, children’s activities and entertainment are free. For the full scoop, visit www.saultareaartscouncil.org.
Rockin’ the Hills
It’s always fun to say you were part of an inaugural event, and there’s a great one for beer lovers happening this month. The Rockin’ the Hills craft beer festival will take over Manitou Beach Village on Devils Lake in the Irish Hills in Brooklyn on Aug. 1, with a mix of live music from the Metros and the Atomic Bomb Cats and award-winning craft beers from all over Michigan. Featured breweries include Arbor Brewing Co., Dark Horse Brewing Co., Short’s Brewing Co., New Holland Brewing Co., Bell’s Beer and more.
Admission is $25. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.irishhills.com.
Folk and jazz sounds
The East Lansing Folk Festival and Lansing JazzFest fall on the same weekend this year, with the Folk Festival Aug. 7 through 9 and JazzFest Aug. 7 and 8. There’s enough time over the weekend to stop by both.
East Lansing’s Great Lakes Folk Festival is one of mid-Michigan’s best-known annual music events. Presented by the Michigan State University Museum, the event offers a mix of folk music, dance and workshops. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.greatlakesfolkfest.net.
Lansing JazzFest offers hours of live jazz on three stages, as well as clinics, workshops and children’s activities. And it’s also free. For full details, head to www.jazzlansing.com.
Michigan Pirate Festival
The ninth annual Michigan Pirate Festival will take over Grand Haven from Aug. 3 to 9, with Loutit District Library and Harbor Island serving as the main port. This year’s theme is “Pirates through the Ages.” Pirate re-enactors, including historical and fantasy personas, will come from around Michigan to entertain kids and adults alike with pirate-themed antics.
Adult tickets are $5, and kids get in free. For more information on the festival, which moves to Harbor Island on Coho Drive over the weekend, visit www.michiganpiratefestival.com.
BBQ & Brews Festival
Dennis DeYoung and the music of Styx will rock the debut BBQ & Brews Festival Aug. 29 at Cooley Law School Stadium. Mid-Michigan area restaurants and caterers will compete for prizes for the best BBQ in the area, followed by the concert.
Tickets cost $25 and include BBQ samples, voting for the People’s Choice award and the DeYoung concert. For more information and to purchase tickets, head to www.ticketreturn.com.