This month is all about locally-grown and locally-made, from candles to cars and mint to music. We’ve highlighted some of the coolest in our 12 things to do in Michigan in August 2022.
August 5-7 Buy Michigan Now Festival – Northville
Admittedly we may be biased, but this event is our favorite of the year, and it also helps fund this campaign. Affectionately known as BMNFest, it is making its triumphant return to Downtown Northville in celebration of the governor’s Buy Michigan Week proclamation. Michigan-based businesses will fill the streets sampling and selling a wide range of products and services. The primary focus is on Michigan-made goods. Meet the makers. Eat scrumptious food. Sing along and dance with our talented musicians. Frolic in the Kids Zone. Get a book that’s signed by a local author. Wander about encountering jugglers, stilt-walkers, magicians, mascots, and more. Shop, sip, savor, and spend some money to help boost our economy.
August 5-7 BluesFest – Port Sanilac
If you find yourself in the Thumb during the month’s first weekend, be sure to head to Harbor Park in Port Sanilac. The only thing bluer than the water will be the tunes. The lineup includes Sweet Willie Tea, Rhett Yokom, Carl Caballero and the Wreckage, Jake Kershaw, Jim Cummings Band, Kathleen Murray Band, and more. Make a day or weekend of it and enjoy these other wonderful things to do while exploring the Thumb region.
August 25-31 Golf Cart Tour at Lavender Hill – Boyne City
Farm guided golf cart tours are an immersive introduction to lavender lesson. Join the entertaining and knowledgeable staff of Lavender Hill as they lead you around the entire farm for a behind the scenes look. Learn about lavender plants, honeybees, and the historic event barn, as well as how they grow, harvest, distill lavender essential oil. Tours run about 20-30 minutes and are $7 per person. Children 4 and under are free.
August 9-20 Back to the Bricks – Genesee County
This month is filled with opportunities for car lovers to mix, mingle, and marvel. Back to the Bricks has events all over Genesee County. Tune-Up Parties, featuring classic cars, take place from Aug 9-13. There’s one in Davison, Flushing, Linden, Fenton, Clio, and Mt. Morris. Then it’s time for the big kahuna in Flint. This giant party attracts over 500,000 car show enthusiasts. It kicks off at Birch Run Speedway on Monday. Tuesday is family fun with a flick at the US 23 Drive-In theater. Wednesday and Thursday are rolling cruise days. Friday welcomes fan favorite, the Cruise ‘n’ Concert. Thousands will stroll the brick streets on Saturday to admire vehicles of every age and description. take Saturday begins at 10am with a rousing salute to our veterans and active military, including a parade and flyovers by amazing military aircraft.
August 12-14 Mint Festival – St Johns
The tiny hamlet of St Johns is our state’s mint capital. Area farmers have been growing mint for more than a century. Somewhere along the way, it only made sense to throw an annual party celebrating these incredible, edible, flexible herbs. Appropriately enough, this year’s theme is Celebrating Our Roots. The family fun includes arts and crafts, a flea market, classic car show, cornhole tournament, and an off road Jeep course. You can also enjoy live music, a rodeo, disc dog show, and even a 3-on-3 hoops tournament. Food trucks and a beverage garden round out the lineup. Make no mistake though, mint remains the star of the show, and you’ll find it available in a variety of forms including oil, lip balms, soaps, hard candy, chocolate, and frozen treats.
August 12-21 Cheeseburger in Caseville – Caseville
There are plenty of cheeseburgers to be found in Caseville in August, but the main draw is the whimsical atmosphere and nostalgic tunes. You won’t go long without here a Jimmy Buffet classic. Hundreds of campers line the shore, and the décor is bright-colored and tropical. You’ll find parrots and flamingos all over town. Caseville celebrates this 10-day soiree on the shores of Lake Huron. Come for the music, stay for the people watching, and the beach, of course.
August 15-21 Upper Peninsula State Fair – Escanaba
The Upper Peninsula State Fair is a celebration of the unique culture and heritage of Michigan’s U.P. Expect the unexpected, as well as some of the usual suspects. At the DNR Pocket Park you can test your skills at fishing, archery, and shooting. Check out the Miracle of Life Pavilion for a chance to see the live births of calves, lambs, piglets or chicks, ducks, and quail eggs hatch before your eyes. Be sure to venture over to the Antique Steam & Gas Village, where you can relive a part of American history through old time shops, antique equipment, an operating sawmill, and a museum. For some hilarity, stop by for the Puppies of Penzance, an energetic dog show on a pirate ship manned by pups. During this extravaganza you’ll also find carnival rides, exotic animals, sand sculpting, robot demos, and nightly concerts.
August 19-21 DeWitt Ox Roast – DeWitt
They may not roast an ox during DeWitt’s celebration of its heritage anymore, but the name still sticks. If you’re looking for some old fashioned small town joy, DeWitt is the place to be. There’s even a frog-jumping contest! Carnival rides and concerts are staples of the event, along with a parade, petting zoo, and a Sunday morning pancake breakfast.
August 19-21 20th Anniversary Hoxeyville Music Festival – Wellston
It’s nestled on 150 acres of farmland surrounded by the Manistee National Forest. The Hoxeyville Music Festival is a testament to pure north country peace and joy. Hoxeyville is the midwest’s premier Americana and Roots festival. With two stages, it features both national touring artists, and the best and brightest Michigan talent. The music will sooth your soul within this intimate outdoor venue of just 4,000. Come for the concerts, camp, and explore the area. Hoxeyville is strategically located near various mountain biking trails and the Pine River—a national wild and scenic river, world class blue-ribbon trout stream and a renowned paddle sports playground.
August 20 Woodward Dream Cruise – Southeastern Michigan
If you can’t make it to Genesee County for all those car events, then head to Woodward Avenue in Metro Detroit for what has become the world’s biggest car cruise. Once upon a time, cruising Woodward in a car you loved, was an everyday event. Back then, the boulevard was lined with drive-ins and auto shops, and had more than its fair share of unofficial auto races. Today, this historic stretch of road looks much different, but each August there is a return to yesteryear, as more than 50,000 muscle cars, street rods, custom, collector and special interest vehicles pop up. They park and cruise from 9am to 9pm from Ferndale to Pontiac. Officially, it’s a one-day event, but fans will tell you the cars can be seen cruising all week long, just like it’s the 1950s all over again.
August 26-27 Porcupine Mountains Music Festival – Ontonagon
Nobody needs an excuse to visit this incredibly stunning part of our state, but if you’re looking for an extra reason to visit the Porkies, this is it. The Porcupine Mountains Music Festival will be held at the Winter Sports Complex located within Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Several acres of open slope will be mowed and ready for your blankets and lawn chairs. You can bring your own food and beverages, including alcohol, although there will be some concessions available. Visit the Busking Barn, which is an all-acoustic stage offering amateurs and professionals the opportunity to play in an intimate and nurturing setting. The Main Stage will feature performances by Armchair Boogie, The Talbott Brothers, Raye Zaragoza, Ariel Posen, Charlie Parr, and Heather Maloney, among others.
August 26-28 Fudge Festival – Mackinac Island
When we think of Mackinac Island, we hear horses hooves, imagine stunning sunsets, and of course, conjure up the sweet taste of freshly-made fudge. Summer winds down on the island with a celebration of its signature food group. Special activities during this weekend include fudge-making demonstrations. You can also sample specialty fudge-infused cocktails and enjoy fudge-inspired dinners. There are lots of specials at local shops. Bring the family to an outdoor viewing of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on Saturday night. This year’s event also features the inaugural Mackinac Island Cup Soccer Match. Island locals and seasonal workers will band together to take on Livonia FC in this highly anticipated matchup at Great Turtle Park.
Join us on social media for ongoing discussions about Michigan travel destinations and events. Tweet @BuyMichiganNow or tag us in a picture on Instagram of Facebook when you make it to one of our 12 things to do in Michigan in August 2022. For next month’s event highlights, or to get ideas for your local bucket list, be sure to visit our Michigan Tourism page regularly.
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