7 Must-Go Michigan Food Festivals
With a diverse group of agricultural specialties and a historically excellent culinary scene, it’s no surprise that when it comes to celebrating food, Michigan goes all in. Multi-day festivals – many of which are the biggest of their kind in the nation – don’t skimp on fun or flavor. Add a reputation for stellar craft beer and cider and you’ve got the perfect excuse to plan a trip to these drool-worthy Michigan food festivals. Check out seven different foodie celebrations that take place annually across the state.
National Cherry Festival
Traverse City
Michigan is the nation’s leading producer of tart cherries, and the weeklong National Cherry Festival in Traverse City celebrates the fruit with more than 150 activities, most of which are free. There are three different parades, a large midway, an air show, outdoor movies, wine tours and a craft beer tent. Attendees can also enter the cherry pit spitting contests, join in a yoga session or beach volleyball match, or browse the cherry farmers market. This massive festival is the perfect celebration of summer in the Midwest.
See more: Why You Should Choose Michigan Cherries
Cheeseburger in Caseville
Caseville
You’ve heard of Key West, but you probably never knew that Michigan was home to “Key North.” Wrap up the summer on Saginaw Bay with the fun of the tropics at Cheeseburger in Caseville, a 10-day Jimmy Buffet festival. This event is a fun and silly celebration of all things summer, cheeseburgers and Jimmy Buffet. Beyond the amazing music and wide variety of cheeseburgers on the menu (half a million get sold over the course of the event), you’ll find activities like a cardboard boat race, a sand sculpture contest, a beach volleyball tournament, a sailing parade, shell hunts, paddle boarding, nightly theme parties and more.
See more: Michigan Dairy is Cream of the Crop
National Asparagus Festival
Oceana County
Oceana County is known as “The Asparagus Capital of the Nation,” so it just makes sense that they host the longest-running asparagus festival in the country. In early June, the National Asparagus Festival serves up the very best asparagus cooking contest, where you’ll first wonder why someone made asparagus cake and then why you never thought to do it yourself. There’s an outdoor movie, craft fair, a farm tour, and a parade, plus the crowning of festival’s asparagus royalty. On Sunday, stick around for the fly-in breakfast and aircraft display.
See more: What’s in Season: Asparagus
Apple Fest
Charlevoix
Michigan orchards produce more than 1 billion pounds of apples every year. Celebrate crisper weather and the change of seasons in October at Apple Fest in beautiful Charlevoix. The event features more than 30 different types of apples, including antique varieties that date back more than 100 years. Children will also love the petting zoo and other kid-friendly activities. Save room in your bags for goodies from the 165 exhibitors at the arts and crafts fair and all kinds of seasonal goodies from the farm market – not to mention all the apple jam, apple butter, apple sauce, caramel apples, apple chips and apple treats to tempt your sweet tooth.
See more: 17 Irresistible Apple Recipes for Fall
National Blueberry Festival
South Haven
You might not know as much about blueberries, but this festival ensures you’ll go home having fallen in love with them. Michigan produces over 110 million pounds of more than 30 varieties of blueberries, many of them right in South Haven. And The National Blueberry Festival in early August is one of the oldest continuously running fruit festivals in the country.
Packed with four days of events, you’ll start by visiting blueberry farms and picking as many of them as you can fit in your basket. There’s a blueberry pie and ice cream social and, of course, a pancake breakfast you won’t want to miss. Fill up at the blueberry barbecue tent or grab goodies at the blueberry market. Stay into the night and enjoy the riverfront setting with live music and views of the sunset, lighthouse and boats.
See more: How to Pick Blueberries Fresh From the Bush
Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival
Grand Rapids
Eat and drink to your heart’s content at the three-day Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival in November. There’s a small entrance fee and then a seemingly endless opportunity to purchase sips and samples across the convention center floor. Choose your drink from among 1,500 different wines, beers, ciders and spirits. Local restaurants and chefs have booths throughout the festival, or you can sign up for food and drink pairing meals. In between, settle in for cooking demonstrations, beverage seminars, tasting sessions and spirit workshops, or head to one of the stage areas for live music.
Kalamazoo Rib Fest
Kalamazoo
Bring plenty of wet wipes and a big appetite to the Kalamazoo Rib Fest in early August and get ready to celebrates all things barbecued. This non-profit festival donates to a local community advocacy group and is one of the most popular weekends in southern Michigan. The food is reason enough to visit, but the big-name, national-level entertainment lineup is what will keep you coming back. Entry is free before 4 p.m. and just $10 after. Don’t forget your own lawn chair – you’ll want to relax and enjoy the day’s musical acts after all that food.