Annual Events in Munising

From scaling frozen formations at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore during one of the largest ice climbing festivals in the country to enjoying a night of live music with family and friends along the majestic Lake Superior shoreline at Binsfeld Bayshore Park, each season in Munising offers exciting year-round events. Whether you’re visiting in the winter, spring, summer, or fall, you’re bound to have a wonderful time filled with adventure because one thing’s for sure: Munising knows how to have fun.

Spring Events

Pictured Rocks Days
Always the second weekend in June @ Munising’s Binsfeld Bayshore Park

Kick off the summer season with this free event held by the Alger County Chamber of Commerce. The two-day festival features live music, food trucks, bounce houses, a beer tent, arts & crafts vendors, and other entertainment, activities, and fun. In addition, Pictured Rocks Cruises offers free boat tours of the Pictured Rocks cliffs during the festival to Upper Peninsula residents.

Website: www.algercountychamber.com

Grand Marais Seaplane Splash-In on the Bay
Mid-June in Grand Marais

Check out seaplanes and enjoy an afternoon of friendly competitions, including a balloon target drop and take-off and landing contests.

Website: www.grandmaraismichigan.com

Weekly Summer Events

Munising Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market
Every Monday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., mid-June through mid-October @ Munising’s Binsfeld Bayshore Park

Fresh produce, baked goods, meats, and a variety of beautiful crafts are available weekly in Munising.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/MunisingFarmersMarket/

Munising’s Concert in the Park Series
Every Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., mid-June through August @ Munising’s Binsfeld Bayshore Park

Enjoy an evening of live music near beautiful Lake Superior. This free event is hosted by the Alger Parks and Recreation Department.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/APRDmunising

Grand Marais Summer Concert Series
Every Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., mid-June through August @ Woodland Park Pavilion in Grand Marais

Bring your lawn chairs and snacks and enjoy a free summer concert series in the beautiful town of Grand Marais.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083201438733

Summer Events

Pictured Rocks Road Race
Always the last Sunday in June @ Munising’s Binsfeld Bayshore Park

This is one of the oldest road races in the U.P.  Participate in a 1/2 marathon or 10k run/walk.

Website: https://www.mbtn.org/prrr

Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
Biennial event, Downtown Munising

This biennial event is scheduled to return to Munising in July 2025. This event is hosted by the Alger County Chamber of Commerce.

Website: www.algercountychamber.com

Munising’s Fourth of July Celebration
July 4th, every year from 8:30 a.m. to midnight @ Munising’s Binsfeld Bayshore Park

Celebrate the 4th of July in downtown Munising with a day of activities, food, fun, and music followed by the best fireworks display in the U.P.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/munising4th

Beer on the Bay Craft Beer Tasting Festival
Always the last Saturday in July from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ Munising’s Bayshore Park

Try some of the best craft beer the U.P. has to offer while listening to music and enjoying each other’s company. This event is hosted by the Munising Moose Lodge with proceeds benefitting local charities.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/MunisingBeerontheBay

Grand Island Marathon
Always the last Saturday in July @ Grand Island
 
This event consists of 50K, marathon & half marathon races on scenic Grand Island trails.

Website: https://www.greatlakesendurance.com/michigan-races/grand-island-trail-marathon.html

Alger County Fair
Early August @ Chatham County Fairgrounds

The county fair includes vendors, games and contests, live music, animal shows, a Little Miss Pageant, Run with the Cows 5k, cornhole tournaments, and much more.

Website: https://www.algercountyfair.com/

Grand Marais Music & Crafts Festival
Aug 9-11, 2024 at Grand Marais Community Center

A wonderful weekend of music, crafts, food, and fun in Grand Marais.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Grand-Marais-Music-Crafts-Festival-100057645331041/

Fall Events

Mountain Goat Mash Mountain Bike Race
Always the Saturday following Labor Day @ Valley Spur, Munising

This route showcases the best singletrack Munising has to offer. All races start and finish at Valley Spur Trailhead. Do you have the legs of a Mountain Goat? 45-mile and 15-mile races offered.

Website: https://www.mbtn.org/mountain-goat-mash

Munising Bay Cruisers Classic Car Show
Mid-September @ downtown Grand Marais and Munising

This two-day event begins with a Poker Run on Friday and in the afternoon, there is a cruise along the Hurricane Highway (H-58) from Munising to Grand Marias for a cruiser block party.  Saturday is a fun-filled car show featuring all makes and models in downtown Munising.  Awards are given to participants with live music and food vendors onsite.  

Website: https://munisingbaycruisersvso.org/index.html

Grand Marais Rock and Mineral Show
Always the weekend after Labor Day @ Grand Marais Community Center

Join the fun for a weekend of geologic beauty at the Grand Marais Community Center, where there’ll be indoor and outdoor vendor booths, food trucks, raffles and prizes, and live music.

Website: https://grandmaraisrockandmineralshow.com/

Winter Events

Rekindle the Spirit
Always the Thursday following Thanksgiving from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Downtown Munising

Celebrate Munising’s winter holiday event with pictures with Santa and other popular characters, old-fashioned wagon rides, hot cocoa, Santa’s parade, music, tree lighting, business decorating contest and more.

Website: www.algercountychamber.com

Michigan Ice Fest
Feb 7-11, 2024 @ Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising

The longest organized ice climbing festival in the world takes place in Munising, featuring classes, demos, presentations and, of course, ice climbing. The climbing itself happens in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore where gorgeous 20- to 50-foot “blue ice curtains” are found at several points along inland cliffs between Munising Falls and Sand Point Beach. Whether people have years of climbing experience or are just starting out, the festival is open to everyone.

Website: Michiganicefest.com

UP200 Sled Dog Races
February 15-29, 2024 in Marquette and Alger counties

The UP200 Powered by NMU is one of America’s premier 12-dog, mid-distance sled dog races and draws mushers from around the United States and Canada. The current race covers approximately 216 miles from Marquette to Grand Marais, with a return to Ojibwa Casino along the same trail. 

Website: https://www.up200.org/

Trenary Outhouse Classic
Last Saturday in February from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Trenary

Build an outhouse to race or join the crowd and cheer on your favorite homemade outhouses, which are placed on skis and pushed by two-person teams down a snowy path along Trenary’s Main Street. Along with the races, various vendors are found along the street while businesses like the Trenary Tavern and Silver Dollar fill up with patrons.

Website: https://www.trenaryouthouseclassic.com/

Taste & Glide
1st Saturday in March at Valley Spur, Munising

This is a day of skiing and snowshoeing, enjoying food on the trails and in the lodge, listening to fun music, and singing along with the company of good people.

Website: valleyspur.org