18 weird and wonderful summer festivals in Michigan

By Metro Times editorial staff on Wed, Jun 8, 2016 at 6:14 pm

Ever wanted to gather together with hundreds of other people in celebration of bologna? How about a weekend devoted to The Wizard of Oz? Well, you're in luck. In addition to the run-of-the-mill festivals taking place across the Great Lakes State, there's a bunch of offbeat and wacky parties going down all over Michigan, and we've got your comprehensive guide to all the ones you definitely shouldn't miss.

Keep it weird, Michigan.

By Mitchell Kukulka

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Cereal City Festival
When: June 10-11
Where: Battle Creek
What: As a city that owes so much to the success of the Kellogg cereal company, it's no surprise that Battle Creek would want to celebrate the many brands under the Kellogg label. Notable attractions to be found at this celebration of sugary breakfast foods includes "The World's Longest Breakfast Table," children's activities and fundraisers for charity. (Photo via Facebook)

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Grand American Fish Rodeo
When: June 10-11
Where: Lansing
What: This free, family-centric celebration of Michigan's bountiful rivers and waterways includes much more than just fishing (though you'll find plenty of that, too). Sponsored by the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art, you can also take part in the Boat Parade, a Rubber Fish Derby, a Poetry Writing Contest centered around tall tales. (Photo via Facebook)

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Gizzard Fest
When: June 10-12
Where: Potterville
What: If you don't know how an entire weekend can be centered around the community-wide eating of a chicken's digestive organs, you obviously haven't been in Michigan for very long. In a genuine carnival atmosphere, friends and family can experience joys ranging from bands, beer tent, rides, contests and repressing the guilt of thinking about how many chickens had to die for your enjoyment. (Photo via Facebook)

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Ann Arbor Book Festival
When: June 16-18
Where: Ann Arbor
What: This Washington Street-wide event is a celebration of books and everything about them. Come and enjoy the endless supply of literature and plenty of authors there for signings and conversation. (Photo via Facebook)

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Wizard of Oz Festival
When: June 17-18
Where: Ionia
What: Whether your experiences with the Wizard of Oz involve watching the classic film as a kid or embarrassing yourself auditioning for your high school's rendition of Wicked as a teenager, this Ionia-based celebration offers a fun and friendly atmosphere for fans and fanatics of L. Frank Baum's classic novel.

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Electric Forest
When: June 23-26
Where: Rothbury
What: I'd like to say that Electric Forest is the closest you can get to an acid-trip without taking acid, but I'd be fooling myself by thinking that there won't be plenty of acid to be found at this eccentric concert in the woods near Rothbury. Featuring an extensive and diverse lineup of musicians of both local and international descent, you probably won't anything else quite like this anywhere in the world, let alone the state of Michigan. (Photo via Facebook)

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Sticky Buns Day
When: June 25-26
Where: Grayling
What: Originating as a way to respect and pass on the baking techniques used during the Great Depression, Sticky Buns Day has becoming one of the longest-standing traditions at Wellington Farm in Grayling, Michigan. In addition to all the sweets you could eat in a ~~lifetime~~ day, the Farm also features demonstrations of period-accurate food-production equipment. (Photo via Facebook)

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Jack Pine Lumberjack Shows
When: Schedule available here
Where:
What: This summer-long event features activities like speed-climbing, speed-sawing, and that-one-thing-where-two-guys-try-to-make-the-other-fall-off-a-log. All the excitement of lumberjacking without the actual responsibilities and duties that come with lumberjacking. (Photo via Facebook)

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Baconfest Michigan
When: TBA (check official website for updates)
Where: TBA (check official website for updates)
What: Everything that you need to know and love about BaconFest should come with the word "bacon." The "fest" is just a bonus. (Photo via Facebook)

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Michigan Shakespeare Festival
When: July 7-24 (Jackson), July 29- August 14 (Canton)
Where: Jackson, Canton
What: Like a fine wine or Creedence Clearwater Revival album, the works of William Shakespeare can only get better with age. This year, the Official Shakespeare Festival of the State of Michigan will be performing productions of As You Like It , Richard II, and the Civil War epic The Killer Angels. (Photo via Facebook)

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Saline Celtic Festival
When: July 8-9
Where: Downtown Saline
What: All the fun of a renaissance festival, just add kilts! And bagpipes. And a weekend full of festivities celebrating the rich Celtic heritage of Saline, Michigan. (Photo via Facebook)

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ElvisFest
When: July 8-9
Where: Ypsilanti
What: If there were ever a Church of Elvis Presley, it's safe to say that it would have more members than all other organized religions combined. That's definitely one message you'd take away after attending ElvisFest, where every year a sea of Elvis impersonators sing, strut and dance across the stage in Ypsilanti, Michigan. This isn't even a contest, it's just a celebration of all things Elvis. (Photo via Facebook)

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Hatchet Festival
When?: July 19-23
Where?: Bad Axe
What?: If you're a people who named your town after a rusty hatchet that somebody found nearby once (that's seriously how Bad Axe got its name, look it up), you might as well celebrate your heritage. Less of a celebration of bad axes and more of celebration of the people of Bad Axe, past events have included attractions like car shows, quilt shows, concerts and book sales. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

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Bologna Festival
When: July 29-31
Where: Yale
What: Understanding Bologna Fest is actually pretty easy: just take everything you would usually associate with a carnival (rides, pageants, weird food, rides, etc.), and theme it around a certain type of meat.
Wanna guess what type of meat that is??!??

That type of meat is bologna.

(Photo via Facebook)

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National Baby Food Festival
When: July 20-23
Where: Fremont
What: It's a truth as old as time itself: exploiting babies for your own entertainment is fun.
As the birthplace (lol) of the Gerber Products Company, Fremont, Michigan is the official Baby Food Capital of the World, and this celebration offers an endless list of activities for babies of all ages, including baby races (pictured), frog-jumping and eating contest. (Photo via Facebook)

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US 127 Yard Sale
When: August 4-7
Where: Along US 127, Hudson
What: We all know the feeling of sheer joy and euphoria that you feel when you see that flimsy cardboard sign with "Yard Sale" written on it on the side of the road.
Now imagine that, but for a yard sale that stretches across this entire great nation.
You're welcome.
(Photo via Facebook)

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Michigan Pirate Festival
When: August 8
Where: Grand Haven
What: It takes determination to earn the name of "Michigan's Largest Pirate Festival," but determination is exactly what the yearly demonstrators and cosplayers who flock to Grand Haven's Loutit District Library have. Whether you bring a handmade, period-accurate Blackbeard outfit or your brother's old Jack Sparrow Halloween costume, anybody can enjoy a day full of scurvy-infested fun! (Photo via Facebook)

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Rubber Ducky Festival
When: August 20
Where: Bellaire
What: Does witnessing a slow-to-medium-speed race of over 2,000 rubber ducky toys down a quarter-mile stretch of river sound fun to you?!? It should. (Photo via Facebook)

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