As America’s 250th birthday bash continues across the country, you’ll find plenty of Fourth of July fun in Sleeping Bear Dunes.
The communities around Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore show off their American spirit with patriotic holiday events and dazzling fireworks displays. The toughest choice may be how and where to spend the holiday.
Share in the region’s relaxed vibes and celebrate America’s semiquincentennial with spirited community parades, lazy beach days, and fireworks over the lake.
It’s time to bust out the sparklers, barbecue, and red, white and blue. Don your favorite Americana garb and decorate your boat or bicycle. Join in the festivities!
Celebrate life, liberty & freedom
Glen Arbor’s proximity to Sleeping Bear Dunes makes it a great home base for your Sleeping Bear vacation, particularly during the week of Fourth of July.
On Friday, July 3 at 7:30 p.m., the Northwestern Michigan College Concert Band will honor America at the Glen Arbor Township Park.
The Independence Day parade is one of the region’s most unique and long-standing traditions, dating back to the early 1960s when some local children decorated their bicycles.
The Fourth of July festivities include:
- 10 a.m.: “Declaration of Independence” reading at all Leelanau County post offices
- 10 a.m.: Glen Lake Woman’s Club Flag Raising Ceremony and singalong at Old Settlers Picnic Grounds
- Fourth of July parade, lines up and departs from Glen Haven at 11 a.m., arrives in Glen Arbor shortly after noon
- Boat Parade through Glen Lake Narrows, meet in front of the Glen Lake Yacht Club at 3 p.m.
Many stretches along the parade route are crowded, so arrive early to secure your spot. Bring the family to grab candy and watch the various Americana themed floats, cars, and bicycles. It’s a can’t-miss tradition for locals and vacationers.
On Sunday, July 5th, gather for a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon at the Glen Arbor Township Hall to support Glen Lake Fire Department. The Bicentennial Barn rededication and open house is 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on the corner of M22 and Bohemian Road.
Fireworks in Leland, Northport
About 18 miles up the Leelanau Peninsula, the historic Fishtown and Leland communities gather for fireworks once the sky turns dark on Friday, July 3. It’s a chance to get the holiday started early before the parade and other festivities!
According to organizers, “Before the town’s historic parade the following afternoon, experience an evening of shared community pride, vibrant pyrotechnics, and the unmatched magic of July in Leland.”
Find a spot around Hancock Field and prepare for the oohs after dusk. Bring your family and friends and enjoy a night under the starlight. On Saturday, Leland’s 4th of July parade starts at 3 p.m. in downtown Leland, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Northport, at the northernmost tip of the peninsula, is promising a day full of community spirit and summer fun on Independence Day. Live music starts at 7 p.m. at Haserot Park, followed by fireworks at 10 p.m. along the bay front around Haserot Park.
“This year is especially meaningful as we continue celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary, making this Independence Day an occasion to remember,” according to organizers.
On July 3, the Fabulous Horn Dogs will perform as part of Northport’s Music in the Park series. Visitors can catch a free concert, courtesy of the Northport Performing Arts Center, from 7-9 p.m. on summer Fridays. Concerts run weekly through Aug. 28 at the Kent Holton Pavilion at Marina Park.
Family fun in Frankfort, Beulah
Frankfort hosts a full day of Fourth of July activities, plus offers sugary sand beaches on Lake Michigan and a vibrant shopping district. This is the busiest day of the year in Frankfort, so get there early to snag a spot for sunbathing and fireworks!
Head to Main Street for the 10 a.m. parade, which showcases the spirit and pride of the local community as well as America. This year's parade theme is "250 Years of Freedom — Honoring Our Past, Shaping Our Future."
The festivities include a decorated bike contest at Coastline Cycles (9:30 a.m.), the Art in the Park show at Mineral Springs Park (10 a.m.-4 p.m.), a sandcastle contest and live DJ entertainment at Frankfort Beach.
Frankfort also has a new social district and food truck area, Menus on Main, near the Betsie Bay with live music and adult beverages. After lunch, enjoy beachside sandcastle contests or catch some rays.
Whether you come early or wait until sunset, the patriotic celebration ends with a bang over Frankfort Beach. The fireworks start after 10 p.m., when the sky is dark, and it’s worth the wait to see them glimmer and shimmer over Lake Michigan.
In nearby Beulah, the fun begins on Thursday, July 2 with the free Music in the Streets series. Grab your chair and listen to Tim Jones & the Up North Get Down. Concert begins at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, July 4th, the community celebrates Independence Day on the shores of Crystal Lake. The day kicks off with the 5K Firecracker Run, kids’ games and face painting in the park, a parade at 1:30 p.m., and fireworks over the lake at dusk.
Summer is on in Sleeping Bear Dunes, and Fourth of July is one of the region’s busiest holidays. Join in the celebration of life, liberty, and freedom. You won’t regret spending it in one of the most beautiful places in America