Yesss! Cottage Life. Reminisce about loon calls, watching the sunrise, feeling the breeze. Check out cottage and lakefront living shows or boat shows. Shop for a canoe or kayak. Take the kids to a winter festival or out on a late winter scavenger hunt. Attend a folk music festival, go to a botanical garden. Learn about glass art or try curling, if you dare.
People, Places and Events to Explore in Michigan
FEB. 15-16
Winter is no time to sit around. The Polar Roll in Ishpeming promises challenging terrain, wild weather and friendly Yoopers. The largest winter fat-bike event in Michigan offers a 15- or 30-mile course, plus a snowshoe option. Get your free hugs at the Hugs and Bacon Aid Station, celebrate with a post-race party at Barrel+Beam and head home with guaranteed memories. thepolarroll.com
FEB. 22
Drinking beer outdoors in the middle of winter makes you a true Michigander! The Michigan Winter Beer Festival in Comstock Park celebrates 15 years with 1,100 Michigan beers on tap, plus food, music and fire pits at Fifth Third Ballpark. Find your favorite stout or try a new one! https://www.mibeer.com
FEB. 23
Lift your spirits with live folk and bluegrass music in the historic and intimate setting of The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Now in its 12th year, the Great Indoor Folk Festival in Traverse City features more than 100 musicians from northern Michigan’s folk, bluegrass and acoustic music scene. This free, family-oriented jam session runs noon-5:30 p.m. with seven stages spread throughout the Mercado corridor. thevillagetc.com; facebook.com/greatindoorfolkfestival
FEB. 28-MARCH 1
Celebrate winter, fire, family and fun at the Michigan Nordic Fire Festival in Charlotte. Live like a Viking for the weekend and watch a Viking ship burning, spear-throwing competitions, sword-fighting demonstrations and fire dancers. Kids events, horn blowing, reenactment camp and dozens of other high-energy activities, plus an adult mead hall with entertainment on Friday and Saturday. michigannordicfirefestival.com
MARCH 12-15
Longing for a new boat, camper, cottage or outdoor living space? Start shopping early at one of the many home, garden, boat and camper shows held in February and March. See a complete listing in Excursions. Novi Boat Show offers hundreds of new 2020 boats, high-end shopping at Harborside Market, boating simulator training, scuba dive demos, DIY seminars and more. Take a boater safety course for a free ticket. This is the boat show you don’t want to miss at Suburban Collection Showplace. noviboatshow.com
FOR MORE EVENTS CHECK OUT THE CALENDAR HERE
EXCURSIONS LEGEND
Explore these collective Michigan area websites for more regional events and details.
Blue Water Area bluewater.org
Detroit Metro CVB visitdetroit.com
Great Lakes Bay Region gogreat.com
Harbor Country harborcountry.org
Pure Michigan michigan.org
Southwest Michigan Tourist Council swmichigan.org
Upper Peninsula Tourism & Recreation Association uptravel.com
West Michigan Tourist Association wmta.org
Do you have an event for our calendar?
Calendar items may be submitted to excursions@geminipub.com two months prior to publication of the intended issue. Michigan BLUE is a bi-monthly magazine.
Compiled by Marla R. Miller, Michigan BLUE Magazine.
*Photography courtesy The Polar Roll/Ryan Stephens Photo; Novi Boat Show; iStock; Michigan Nordic Fire Festival; Great Indoor Folk Festival.
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