MANISTIQUE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The summer tourism season is officially underway for Schoolcraft County. According to Schoolcraft Tourism and Commerce, it is shaping up to be a busy one.
“Manistique is a four-season town,” said Victoria George, Executive Director of Schoolcraft Tourism and Commerce. “We do have a lot of ice fishing derbies and snowmobile trails, great fall colors, things to do all year round, but our summer is definitely the biggest time of the year.”
With sunny skies, an abundance of natural attractions, and lakeside views, it is already a great time to visit Schoolcraft County. However, the tourism boom really hits the City of Manistique around Independence Day.
“We’re going to kick it off the Friday before the Fourth with a kiddie parade at 5:30,” George said. “We’ll have our Fourth of July parade on Saturday, July 4, then fireworks Sunday at dusk. It’ll be a full weekend of fun in Manistique.”
The following weekend, Downtown Manistique will hold its 37th annual Folk Fest July 10 – 11.
“We have 85 food and craft vendors coming, bouncy houses for the kids, live entertainment,” said George. “We’re going to have karaoke again this year, which was a blast last year. We’ll also be having a big raffle to raise funds for Folk Fest.”
The Manistique Merchants will host a car parade and Summer Street Party on September 4, leading to a car show on September 5. Until then, there’s also a full calendar of weekly events happening throughout the summer.
“We also have on Wednesdays our Farmer and Artisan Market going on until the end of October,” George said. “On Thursday evenings at the Manistique band shelter, starting June 18, there is a free music event for everyone. That runs through August 20.”
The fun even continues into the fall, with this year’s Flannel Festival set for September 26. According to George, these events are more than just community fun; they are vital for the local economy. Weekends like Folk Fest and the Fourth of July bring roughly 8,500 people into town.
“Our hotels are packed, our campgrounds are packed, restaurants are full, stores are being shopped,” George said. “It’s great not only for those who can come and be vendors and show off their talents, but also for our local businesses.”
For a full list of events happening in Schoolcraft County this summer, visit discoverschoolcraft.com, visitmanistique.com, or the Schoolcraft Tourism and Commerce Facebook page.
