Summertime in Michigan is the best time. Whether you’re camping Up North or soaking up the sun at the lake, there is always something fun to explore. However, if you’re looking to stay close to home this summer and plan a fun family outing, there are wonderful festivals and fairs throughout the greater Lansing area. As a matter of fact, you don’t have to spend a ton of money to create a family memory. Check out our picks for the top five summer festivals and fairs for your family in the Greater Lansing area!
1. Juneteenth Festival – June 17, 2023
Back for its third year, the Juneteenth Festival, part of 517 Juneteenth Weekend, takes place in REO Town on Saturday, June 17. 517 Juneteenth Weekend celebrates Black culture, expression, and experience. As Mid-Michigan’s largest Juneteenth celebration, the festival features Black-owned businesses and vendors, Michigan-based food trucks, performances by Grammy-nominated artists, and more. Saturday’s festival also includes a kid’s zone, complete with games, inflatables, basketball shoot-outs and obstacle courses.
2. Celebrate Meridian Festival – June 23 & 24, 2023
Located in the heart of Meridian Township, the Celebrate Meridian Festival has something for everyone in your family. Shop at the Meridian Township Farmers Market and Arts & Crafts fair in the morning. Then, tour the Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center or Meridian Historical Village in the afternoon. Afterwards, enjoy live entertainment, the beer tent, and fireworks in the evening. On Saturday, for only $5 kids can access activities at Central Park and teens can attend a special event on Friday evening with live music.
3. The Olive Burger Festival – June 24, 2023
Dubbed as the most highly anticipated food event in the region, the inaugural Olive Burger Festival is coming to Lansing. It takes place at Jackson Field on June 24 from 12-7 p.m. If you love this Lansing staple, you definitely won’t want to miss the opportunity to try a variety of olive burgers and vote for your favorite. Additionally, the festival has live music, beer and wine, and games. A designated kids area features bounce houses and face painting.
4. Ingham County Fair – July 31 – August 5, 2023
Ingham County has deep agricultural roots being the home to Michigan State, and there’s no better place to see those roots on display than at the Ingham County Fair in Mason. During the first week of August, the fair is THE place to get your fill of farm animals, deep-fried food, and carnival rides. With daily animal shows and nightly grandstand events, any day is a great day to be at the fair!
5. St. Johns Mint Festival – August 11 – 13, 2023
Finally, you can round out your summer fun with a quick trip to the St. Johns Mint Festival. Known as ‘Mint City USA’, St. Johns hosts the Mint Festival every August. The festival honors the legacy of Michigan mint farmers, which produced 90% of the world’s mint oil in the 1900s. With live music, a cornhole tournament, a rodeo, and bingo, this three-day festival packs a minty punch of entertainment. Sunday is Kids Day, boasting games, a kickball tournament, and, best of all, mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Honorable Mentions
Don’t forget about the other great festivals that happen all over Michigan throughout the summer! Here are some ‘honorable mentions’ that are outside the Lansing area, but definitely worth the drive!
- Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival – June 8-10, 2023
- Field of Flight in Battle Creek – June 29 – July 4, 2023
- National Cherry Festival in Traverse City – July 1-8, 2023
- Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival – July 28 – August 6, 2023
- National Blueberry Festival in South Haven – August 10-13, 2023
All in all, there are tons of fantastic festivals and fairs you can find across Michigan this summer. For a complete list of more than 380 statewide events, visit the Michigan Festivals and Events Association at michiganfun.com.
