12 Summer Events in Mt. Pleasant to Experience This Year
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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. Even some neighboring towns and cities get in on 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, you can find organic plants and homemade soaps, as well as cooking demonstrations.
Alma Highland Festival
May 24-26, 2024
Held at the Alma High School in Alma Michigan just a 20-minute drive 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
The 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. You can find all of the showtimes and details on the casino’s website.
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 30 to June 1, 2024
Central Michigan University hosts the Special Olympics Michigan Summer Games every year at several sporting arenas across the campus, such as 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.

Late Spring Mushroom Hunt
May 30, 2024
The Chippewa Watershed Conservancy organizes one last mushroom hunt in late spring. For 2024, the hunt will be held in the afternoon at the Hall’s Lake Natural Area.
Sister Marie Kopin of the North American Mycological Association will supervise exploring the area in search of the wild fungus. At the end, everyone will identify 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 8, 2024
Beer enthusiasts rejoice! The Mt. Pleasant Craft Beer Festival is one of the most popular summer events in Mt. Pleasant.
You 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, you 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 was started in 2014.
Art Flair
Late June to July 14, 2024
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 are raised through this summer event every year.

HBA’s Classic Car & Motorcycle Show
July 20, 2024
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 26-28, 2024
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.
Also during the Powwow, you 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 1-24, 2024
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 month-long 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
Aug. 23-25, 2024
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 St for a free community concert.
Over time, this summer event has expanded to feature lots of local talent over the course of a month, drawing thousands of attendees. You can listen to new musicians every year.

Restaurants in Mt. Pleasant
Aside from Max & Emily’s, there are numerous amazing Mt. Pleasant restaurants that 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. Along side 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, you can build your own pie.
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. In fact, “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 Options While Attending Summer Events in Mt. Pleasant
As you start planning your Mt. Pleasant summer getaway, you’ll have plenty of overnight accommodations to choose from. Pohl Bison Bed & Breakfast, Baymont Inn & Suites, and Weidman KOA Holiday are a few top-rated options. However, you can review more lodging too.