Fireworks, floats and fun: Find your local July 4 festivities here
NORTHERN MICHIGAN — Whether you’re in the mood for live music, pie eating contests, fireworks or art shows, you’ll find what you’re looking for in communities across Northern Michigan this July 4.
Find your local Fourth of July celebrations here:
Emmet County
Alanson
Alanson’s Fourth of July parade is set for 11 a.m. at U.S. 31 and River Street.
Bay Harbor
Bay Harbor will start its July 4 celebrations a day early, with music and fireworks on July 3. Starting at 7 p.m., the Petoskey Steel Drum Band will perform at the Village Marina Lawns.
Then on July 4, the Parade on Main Street will kick off at 11 a.m.
Harbor Springs
July 4 week will be jam packed full of festivities in Harbor Springs.
On July 3 in Jean Jardine Park, dachshunds will compete to see who is the fastest in the annual Wiener Dog Races. Registration begins at 10 a.m. with the races set to start at 11 a.m.
On July 4, the Paul Revere 5K and 10 Mile Run will take place at 8 a.m., with proceeds benefiting the high school track and cross country teams. The American Legion will also be hosting a breakfast from 8-11 a.m. at their post at 101 E. 3rd St.
The Art in the Park art show will be set up from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Zorn Park, while the parade will march down Main Street at 1 p.m.
The Street Musique theme for the Thursday, July 4 evening is Country Week, with five performers located throughout downtown.
Finally, fireworks will be shot off at dusk over the harbor.
Petoskey
Petoskey’s Fourth of July celebration promises plenty of fun.
The Grandpa Shorter’s Fourth of July Parade will make its way through downtown at 6 p.m. Afterwards, live entertainment is set to perform from 7-10 p.m. The Petoskey Steel Drum Band will perform on Lake Street at 7 p.m., while The Third Degree and Recovery Notes will perform at Festival Place.
From 7-9 p.m., the Little Traverse Historical Society will host an ice cream social at the Little Travers History Museum.
All of that will lead up to the fireworks show over Little Traverse Bay at dusk.
Charlevoix County
Boyne City
There is plenty to do in Boyne City during July 4 week.
Starting on July 3, the 49th Annual Waterside Art and Craft Fair will take place Veteran's Memorial Park. The fair will have food trucks, cornhole, bounce houses and more.
On July 4, the 48th Annual Independence Day Run will start things off at 7:30 a.m. at Peninsula Park. At 9 a.m., the Kids Decorated Bike Parade will take place, with judging at 9:30 a.m. at the Early Education Building Playground on the corner of Main and Park streets. Ribbons will be awarded for first, second and third place for ages 8 and under and ages 9-14.
Pre-parade entertainment begins downtown at 9:30 a.m., with the grand parade starting at 10 a.m. The Grand Marshal this year is Daniel Duncan and the Honored Citizens are Kiwanis of Boyne City.
Other activities taking place in Sunset Park or Veteran's Memorial Park include the Boyne City Rotary "World Famous Chicken BBQ," the chance to help paint a giant interactive mural, a pie eating contest, live music and much more. For a complete schedule of events, visit boyne4thofjuly.com.
In the afternoon, activities on the Boyne River will begin.
The Boyne Area Chamber's 36th Annual Duck Race will take place at 2 p.m. and the Jerry Froats Commemorative Raft Race is set for 2:30 p.m. Rafts must check-in by 2 p.m. at Riverside Park. To prevent littering, water balloons are not encouraged. Two first place prizes will be awarded for Most Patriotic and Most Creative.
At 10:30 p.m., fireworks will launch over Lake Charlevoix to wrap up the day.
Horton Bay
Horton Bay’s July 4 parade this year is themed “Horton Bay 2024 Election – WE NEED MORE PARTYS!” According to the Horton Bay General Store, “Having a cocktail party? Pajama party? Toga party? Tea party? Fighting for your right to party? Bring it on July 4!”
The parade will take place at 1 p.m. on Horton Bay Road.
Walloon Lake
According to Hotel Walloon, the village’s events on July 4 include live music in Village Green Park, face painting and other kids’ activities, food and drink specials, and a fireworks show over Walloon Lake — the Big Show Over The Little Village — at 10:30 p.m.
Cheboygan County
Cheboygan
Cheboygan’s July 4 celebration will start with a parade at 10 a.m. on Main Street. Later in the day, Music on Main will bring live music to Washington Park at 7 p.m. and fireworks at the fairgrounds will go off at dusk.
Indian River
The theme for Indian River’s Fourth of July parade this year is “Let Freedom Ring.”
The parade will take place at 10 a.m. in downtown Indian River. Fireworks will be launched over Burt Lake at DeVoe Beach.
Mackinaw City
According to the Mackinaw City Chamber of Tourism, July 4 activities will take place from 1-3 p.m. with games on the Marina Lawn. From 9 p.m. to dusk the Straits Area Concert Band will perform at Conkling Heritage Park. At dusk, the fireworks display will begin.
Otsego County
Gaylord
The Otsego Lake Fireworks show will return at 10 p.m. on July 6. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket, camp chair or enjoy the show from their boat. This year, the Otsego Lake Association is also adding a drone show to the evening’s entertainment.
Johannesburg
The Johannesburg Fourth of July Parade starts at 11 a.m. downtown. Later, there will be fireworks at dusk.
— Contact Jillian Fellows at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Fireworks, floats and fun: Find your Northern Michigan July 4 festivities