12 Summer Events in Mt. Pleasant to Experience This Year
Would you like to save this full guide?
We'll email this article to you, so you can come back to it later!
No matter when you decide to visit Mt. Pleasant, there’s always some kind of event or festival happening. However, the summer is particularly fun in this Mid-Michigan city. Some neighboring towns and cities even take part in the action!
If you want to attend one of these celebrations during your next Mid-Michigan summer getaway, check out our list of summer events in Mt. Pleasant.
Thanks to Mt Pleasant CVB for being #MIAwesomeList Summer Bucket List partners!
Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market
May to October
Although it’s not an event in the traditional sense, the Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market has been a wonderful gathering place for the community for half a century. It’s open on Thursdays from early May to late October, and on Saturdays from mid-June to mid-October.
The farmers’ market is one of the best places to get fresh, in-season fruits and veggies while supporting local farmers. Alongside fresh produce, visitors can find organic plants and homemade soaps, and enjoy cooking demonstrations, too.
Alma Highland Festival
May
Held just 20 minutes south of Mt. Pleasant, the Alma Highland Festival is a celebration of Scottish history and traditions. Alma is nicknamed Scotland USA, and this summer event brings together Scottish clans for a weekend of highly anticipated fun.
The Highland festival features nearly 1,000 bagpipe players and drummers in a massed band dressed in kilts, as well as world-class athletes, dancers, and musicians competing in their respective fields. There’s even an entertainment tent with live performances and cold beer on tap.
Also, many clans set up tents where onlookers can learn about Scottish heritage. And before the morning street parade on Saturday, a 5K run is held around the city.
Outdoor Concerts at Soaring Eagle Casino
May to September
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort hosts an array of outdoor concerts throughout the summer. Its outdoor entertainment venue has a capacity of 12,500 seats and features the latest lighting and sound equipment to provide an immersive experience.
TIP: If you purchase more than one concert ticket at the Soaring Eagle box office, you’ll receive premium play credit to use in the casino on the day of the concert that you’re attending.
Special Olympics Michigan Summer Games
May
Central Michigan University hosts the Special Olympics Michigan Summer Games every year at several sporting arenas across the campus, including Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
You can watch athletes participate in as many as 10 competitions during the State Summer Games — including bowling, bocce ball, powerlifting, gymnastics, volleyball, and horseshoes.
Spring Mushroom Hunts
May
The Chippewa Watershed Conservancy organizes a few mushroom hunts each spring, giving experienced hunters and novices alike a chance to search out Michigan’s many mushroom varieties.
Sister Marie Kopin of the North American Mycological Association supervises exploring the area in search of the wild fungus. At the end, everyone identifies the mushrooms that they’ve found together.
Hall’s Lake Natural Area
Combining privately owned land and three preserves, the Hall’s Lake Natural Area totals 175 acres and has a variety of flora and fauna habitats. Its landscape provides several optimal conditions for mushrooms to grow. Happy hunting!
Mt. Pleasant Craft Beer Festival
June
Beer enthusiasts rejoice! The Mt. Pleasant Craft Beer Festival is one of the most popular summer events in Mt. Pleasant.
Visitors can expect to sip on craft beers, meads, seltzers, and hard ciders that are produced throughout Michigan. Don’t hesitate to try a sample of everything while strolling the downtown streets.
Also, festivalgoers can munch on local food truck dishes and listen and dance to live music in downtown Mt. Pleasant.
There are even street games to spice up the event!
Best of all, whatever you purchase supports the local community. The Mt. Pleasant Jaycees use the proceeds to donate money to local nonprofits and organizations. More than $200,000 has been donated since the festival began in 2014.
Art Flair
June-July
Held in downtown Mt. Pleasant, the annual Art Flair exhibition is hosted by Art Reach of Mid Michigan. This public art display features painted furniture pieces such as benches and Adirondack chairs.
For the event, local artists embellish or paint wooden furniture that has been built or refurbished by volunteer woodworkers. Then, downtown businesses host and sponsor individual pieces. Anyone can bid on the furniture artwork.
The funds from Art Flair benefit the children’s programs and class scholarships that Art Reach provides. More than $4,000 is raised through this summer event every year.
HBA’s Classic Car & Motorcycle Show
July
Every year, the Home Builders Association of Central Michigan hosts a car show in downtown Mt. Pleasant.
Admiring the display of classic cars and motorcycles is fun for the entire family. While you browse, you have the opportunity to enjoy the city’s shops, bars, and restaurants.
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Powwow
July
The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe hosts an annual Powwow on its tribal grounds every summer in Mt. Pleasant.
The experience features native traditions with dancing, arts and crafts, storytelling, and authentic foods.
The Powwow starts with lighting the sacred fire — which burns all weekend — and a grand entrance by tribal dancers. Typically, there are more than 500 dancers.
During the Powwow, visitors can learn about the history of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe in Mid-Michigan.
You’ll observe traditional Native American song and dance in their native language, wearing beautiful regalia, and enjoy food and all-time favorite “fry bread” served several ways by different vendors, along with beautiful art and handmade crafts.
Art Walk Central
August
Another event hosted by Art Reach of Mid Michigan, Art Walk Central involves turning the streets of downtown Mt. Pleasant into canvases where local and statewide artists can showcase their skills and compete in their respective age categories for prizes.
Around 60 artists show off their chalk art, paintings, photographs, sculptures, and more.
At its core, this event is a fun way to keep art alive and accessible to the masses. Other community art events are held during Art Walk Central, too.
Market for the Arts
August
Celebrating more art, Market for the Arts is a two-day outdoor art sale on the streets of downtown Mt. Pleasant. Organized by For Arts Sake, the artful weekend also features activities, music, and food for all ages.
Max and Emily’s Summer Concerts
August
Max and Emily’s is more than just one of the best places to get breakfast and lunch in downtown Mt. Pleasant. In addition to serving deliciously fresh food, the cafe hosts a series of summer concerts throughout August.
The concerts started in fall 2008 with a vision shared by General Manager Chris Walton and owner Tim Brockman when a local musician asked to perform at the cafe. The pair coordinated with the downtown development coordinator to close part of Broadway Street for a free community concert.
Over time, this summer event has expanded to feature lots of local talent over a month, drawing thousands of attendees. Attendees can listen to new musicians every year.
Restaurants in Mt. Pleasant
Aside from Max & Emily’s, numerous amazing Mt. Pleasant restaurants serve delicious meals. These places are ideal dining spots when you want something different than what’s provided at the festivals you attend, or when these summer events don’t have food vendors.
Doozie’s Ice Cream Place
If you want a sweet treat while you’re visiting Mt. Pleasant, Doozie’s Ice Cream Place will satisfy your cravings.
This ice cream parlor serves Mid-Michigan’s favorite hard and specialty soft serve ice cream flavors — including black cherry, Michigan pot hole, moose trax, and Superman ice cream.
Open from April through September, the ice cream shop serves arctic swirls, floats, malts, shakes, sundaes, and dietary-friendly ice creams — dairy, fat, gluten, and lactose-free options, as well as diabetic safe and vegan flavors.
Pleasant City Coffee
For a pick-me-up before or after these summer events in Mt. Pleasant, head to Pleasant City Coffee.
This downtown coffee shop serves brewed coffee, lattes, iced coffees, mochas, and other drinks, such as teas, lemonade, sodas, and sparkling tonics.
On top of that, Pleasant City Coffee serves Michigan-made beer, cocktails, and wine. You can even order food. The menu includes crepes, bagels, and salads.
Camille’s Prime
Serving certified prime-grade Black Angus steaks, Camille’s Prime is an intimate restaurant. Alongside steaks, the menu features beef short ribs, homemade pasta, lobster scampi, pork porterhouse, and more. Plus, you can order small plates and cocktails in its wine lounge.
Vin Trofeo’s Pizzeria & Pub
When you’re in the mood for pizza, you can’t go wrong at Vin Trofeo’s Pizzeria & Pub. This restaurant has an assortment of specialty pizzas, some of which are unique, like pickle pizza, honey and pepperoni pizza, taco pizza, and 10-topping pizza.
On the other hand, visitors can also build their own pies!
Other items on the menu at Vin Trofeo’s include calzones, grinders, pasta, and baked nachos. In addition to a full bar tap with 15 beers, you can order draft root beer, and there’s cannoli for dessert.
Jib-Bob Korean Restaurant
Whether you already love Korean cuisine or want to expand your culinary horizons, you can enjoy authentic dishes at Jib-Bob Korean Restaurant.
“Jib-Bob” is Korean for “mother’s homemade food.”
Along with everything on the menu being authentic, only the freshest ingredients are used in each dish. Aside from Korean soups, main dishes, and barbecue, Jib-Bob has three variations of housemade kimchi and assorted Korean sodas.
Lodging in Mt. Pleasant
As you start planning your Mt. Pleasant summer getaway, you’ll have plenty of overnight accommodations to choose from. Baymont Inn & Suites, and Weidman KOA Holiday are a few top-rated options.
Make Plans to Attend Mt. Pleasant Summer Events
Before you know it, your summer calendar is going to fill up. If Mt. Pleasant isn’t on it yet, now’s the time to fix that.
From bagpipes and powwows to pizza and public art, Mt. Pleasant knows how to throw a party (or 12). Whether you’re here for a quick weekend escape or a full-blown family vacation, there’s a little something for everyone, plus plenty of reasons to stay a little longer.
So pack your sunglasses, bring your appetite, and get ready to make some memories. Mt. Pleasant’s summer scene is calling—and trust us, you don’t want to miss it.