Summer is officially in full swing here in Leland, Michigan. With the summer solstice having come and gone and July peeking around the corner, we have officially entered the busiest time of the year for Fishtown. My weekend was happily spent on Vans beach getting absolutely ROASTED by the sun, and if this summer has taught me anything it’s that the sunny days are few and far between, so if there’s time to be spent outside you might as well go all out. I say relish that sun burn (it’ll turn milk chocolate before you know it), don’t worry about the lack of cell service, and crank some Fleetwood Mac on a speaker, it’s all a part of the Leland beach experience (public service announcement, you should probably wear sunscreen…).
If you’ve been following along, you may be able to tell that this is one of those times where I dwell on the looming passage of time a bit more than I should now that the Fourth of July is rolling around. I feel like my summer in the county is reaching an end quicker than I’d like. I’ve been trying to remind myself that July is one of the best months to be in Northern Michigan, so I need to stop fretting and worrying about summer coming to an end. Girl get a grip, there’s still so much to look forward to after the fireworks go off.
Every summer, my friends and I make a bucket list of activities we want to do. Usually not everything gets checked off by the end of August, but I find that having a list full of fun and exciting things coming up helps to make the most out of each day. Something you may not know about me, is that I’m a list maker. Tasks need to be written down somewhere in order for my mind to be at ease, and because of this tendency, I’ve got about 50 different bucket lists and half started to-do lists. The downside of this, my notes app is an absolute WRECK. The upside? I have a great list of things to do for anyone who needs an idea.
Let’s start close to home! While I’m mostly focusing on events coming up, I’ll throw in a few of my favorite places to stop by. If I were to list every single place in the county I’d recommend going, I’d be on my way to writing a book, so I’ll keep it short here.
I’ve spent more days than I can count wandering Fishtown. From my earliest memories of visiting the Bead Hut with the dollar bills and quarters I’d saved up all winter, drooling over the Cheese Shop’s pretzel bread and herb mayo, to discovering the novelty of the Art Shanty’s weekly rotating artist, you can rest assured that these recommendations come from a local and frequent visitor of Fishtown. If you are more into exercise and the outdoor scene, then maybe the annual Fishtown 5K will be of interest. This is a wonderful community event that brings people together from all different walks of life, and is a great place to socialize. The Fishtown 5k has so many returning participants year after year, you’re essentially becoming a part of a group that’s been built up around the event. Sprinting, jogging, or walking, whatever your pace of preference may be, there’s no better feeling than being able to cross a finish line and celebrate with the view of Fishtown and the Manitou Passage that greets you at the end. The nice thing about a 5K is that you don’t need to be a super sporty athlete to participate. I am by no means a runner (I try to use the word hate sparingly, but I really do hate running) and have walked a number of 5K’s in my lifetime because of the immersive community experience they create.
Fishtown & Leland
- Friends of Fishtown 5K
- This year will be the 18th Annual! Registration is still open and we’d love to see you there (the theme this year is “Fishtown Rocks”, and the shirts this year have a SUPER awesome design)
- July 18, 9:00 AM
- All proceeds go to the Fishtown Preservation Society
- https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Leland/Fishtown5K
- Art Shanty
- Fishtown’s hidden gem. The Art Shanty is located next to the FPS Welcome Center, and features a new artist each week through the end of October. Artists working in all different medias rotate in and out of Fishtown via the Art Shanty, and it’s always fun to pop in and take a look
- Cheese Shop (or officially, the Village Cheese Shanty)
- If you haven’t tried the Northshore yet, TRY. IT.
- Maybe this isn’t a niche recommendation considering everyone and their mother talks about this place, but my tips are to call in your order ahead of time to avoid long lines, and make sure to bring cash
- The Bead Hut
- Such a cute store that features jewelry made with local stones!
- Leland Blues, Petoskey stones, and beach glass
- Range of prices
- For anyone looking for toe rings like I was at the beginning of this summer, the Bead Hut is your place to go
- Such a cute store that features jewelry made with local stones!
- Otter watching
- The new bird watching basically
- If you’re lucky, you might be able to spot these cuties swimming around the Leland River near shore, or beneath the shanties
- Leland Parade
- July 4, 3:00 PM
- Downtown Leland
- Local businesses and organizations each have their own float, it’s such a cute event every year, and many of them throw out candy and freebies so my advice would be to get a front row spot
- The main road is blocked off I believe a half hour before and after the parade, so keep that in mind when planning your day and travel time
- Leland Fireworks
- July 3, at dusk
- Hancock field
- Need I say more?
- If you’re able to, I’d recommend walking if you live nearby or watching the show from Lake Leelanau to avoid traffic after the show is over
- Leland Artists market
- Featuring local artists and vendors, I look forward to this every year because of the awesome jewelry, handmade pottery and delicious kettle corn
- Old Art Building, July 11 at 10:00 AM
- Leland Library events
- Library events are my absolute favorite to drop by. Whether you go by yourself, bring friends along, or have kids, there’s a variety of different events to choose from this summer and I think these events are a really great educational resource
- https://www.lelandlibrary.org/all-events
Moving into a broader range, these next activities are all over the county. My top picks are to check out either the Sleeping Bear Dunes website, or the Glen Lake Association Discovery Boat. As an environmental student who spent a LOT of time this past winter scouring the internet for potential internship positions throughout Leelanau County, I now know a thing or two about what these organizations do, and the events they offer to the public. A lot of these will take place outdoors, and what better way to enjoy a Northern Michigan summer than to be out and about enjoying the beautiful nature in the area.
Nature/Educational
- Discover Boat Tours with the Glen Lake Association
- I haven’t done this yet but have always wanted to try. I think the setting of being out on the water and having the opportunity to sign up with friends/family makes for a really fun atmosphere
- Every Friday in July (sign up required)
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 12:45 to 2:45 PM
- https://www.glenlakeassociation.org/events/
- Sleeping Bear Dunes events
- So so so many events to choose from on the website!
- A short drive away from the main dune entrance is the Glen Haven Historic Village. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area or someone who’s a bit of a history buff
- Leelanau Conservancy Streams to Shore Hike
- Swanson Preserve
- August 15, 10:00 AM (sign up required)
- https://leelanauconservancy.org/events/streams-to-shore-hike-at-swanson-preserve/
- Stargazing
- The Lanphier Observatory at the Leelanau School
- Leelanau County’s star observatory, if you don’t mind a late night activity, this one would be perfect
- Tuesdays and Thursdays (if weather permits)
- June 24 through August 20
- https://leelanau.org/community-events-rentals/the-lanphier-observatory/
- Hiking
- If guided events aren’t your thing but you enjoy being outdoors, here are some of my favorite trails in Leelanau County you can check out
- Clay Cliffs
- Whaleback
- Houdek Dunes
- Pyramid Point
- Dune Climb (main climb at Sand Dunes)
- Pierce Stocking Stop #9
- Infamous for the steep trek down to the lakeshore, make sure to read the sign at the start of the climb because there’s a hefty fee for if you can’t make the climb back up and need to be rescued
- If guided events aren’t your thing but you enjoy being outdoors, here are some of my favorite trails in Leelanau County you can check out
Finally, the shopping category. Needless to say, this is one of my favorite things to do in the county. I’ve always been a maximalist who loves eclectic trinkets and “all things pretty” (according to my parents) and while I typically scout for jewelry throughout the summer, I’ve recently developed a love for pottery. I can already predict that this latest interest is going to burn a hole through my pocket, but if anyone else loves to admire handcrafted work as I do, some of these art fairs/sales are definitely worth checking out. There’s just something about Leelanau County that inspires people, and it’s beautiful to see the work artists come up with that reflects the unique and individual ways that they view the area. From jewelry and pottery as I mentioned before, to photography, paintings, leather goods and more, there’s truly something for everyone at these events.
Shopping
- Suttons Bay Art Fair
- August 1 and 2
- Suttons Bay Marina area
- One of the best art fairs in the region, there’s so many artists and so much to see I can’t stress enough how fun it is just to wander around and look at all the amazing work the artist’s bring
- https://www.suttonsbaychamber.com/suttons-bay-art-festival
- Farmers Market (all 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM)
- It never hurts to shop local! My favorite one is the Glen Arbor market
- Suttons Bay and Empire (Saturdays)
- Glen Arbor (Tuesdays)
- Leland (Thursdays)
- Northport (Fridays)
- https://leelanaufarmersmarkets.com/calendar/
- Glen Lake Woman’s Club Art Fair
- July 15, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Another local art fair, I’ve never been to this one but I’ve heard great things about the artists here
- Glen Arbor Township Hall
- Suttons Bay Sidewalk Sale
- August 7 & 8
- 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Leland Sidewalk Sale
- August 6 & 7
- 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Great discounts, nearly every store has a booth out on the street, and there’s nothing like the feeling of excitement in the air that early in the morning. These sidewalk sales mark the end of the summer season for me, because it’s not long afterwards that most students start going back to school so this event is sort of like the last hurrah for summer
Whew, if you’ve made it this far thanks for sticking around. I hope some of you are just as excited as I am about these events, and maybe even jotted a few down in your calendar.
Since Leland is just one of many small towns in the area, it’s easy to fall into the habit of feeling like you’ve already done everything, and that there’s nothing new to see. I used to feel this way a lot, especially growing up in the area and living here year round, which is why it’s often helpful to get ideas from other people. I find that the more I see and do, the more appreciation I have for a place. Fishtown is a community forward town, and the more people that visit and participate in local events, the more they understand the sense of connection locals and visitors alike have to this place. These repeated traditions and events that take place each year give people something that they can rely on and look forward to, so it’s no wonder that these seemingly small events like 5K’s and art fairs can draw in such enthusiastic crowds.
Keep a lookout next Tuesday for the latest blog drop because I’ll have been out on the water again, and can’t wait to tell you all about what I’ve been up to.
Emma