Whether you’re looking for fireworks, fun races, live music, art fairs or something else to celebrate Independence Day, you’re likely to find it in Northern Michigan.
Here’s what’s on the schedule for the Fourth of July in our local counties:
Emmet County
Petoskey
Petoskey’s annual Fourth of July celebration will get started at 6 p.m. with a parade through downtown on Friday, July 4. The parade will feature the Bay View Association’s 150th Jubilee as Grand Marshal. A street concert by the Petoskey Steel Drum Band will follow the parade on Lake Street near the gazebo.
Live music at the waterfront begins at around 7:30 p.m., and the Little Traverse Historical Society will be hosting an ice cream social at 7 p.m. at the museum in Bayfront Park.
The festive evening will conclude with a fireworks show along Little Traverse Bay. The 20-30 minute show is set to begin around 10:30 p.m.
Harbor Springs
The Fourth of July fun gets started early in Harbor Springs, with the popular Weiner Dog Races taking place on Thursday, July 3 in Jean Jardine Park. The races begin at 11 a.m., with puppy, adult and senior divisions for the little racers.
On July 4, the Paul Revere 5K and 10K Run and the American Legion Breakfast will both start at 8 a.m. The 49th Annual Art in the Park in Zorn Park will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the parade will march through downtown at 1 p.m.
There will be a fireworks show at dusk, and the Lyric Theatre’s Fourth of July $2 Special will cap off the day of fun with a late showing of “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” at 11 p.m. after the fireworks.
Bay Harbor
Bay Harbor will be hosting the Petoskey Steel Drum Band for a performance at 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, followed by a fireworks display over Little Traverse Bay.
The fun continues on July 4 with a parade on Main Street at 11 a.m. featuring themed GEM cars, costumes, classic cars and more.
Alanson
Alanson’s “Tiny Big Parade” is set to begin at 11 a.m. on July 4, with participants lining up on Banwell Road at around 10 a.m. The parade will end in Alanson Village Park, where there will be hot dogs and barbecue for people to enjoy.
Charlevoix County
Boyne City
The “Best 4th in the North!” gets underway in Boyne City on Thursday, July 3 with the 50th Annual Waterside Art & Craft Fair with food trucks from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Veterans Memorial Park. There will also be bounce houses, a rock wall and water slides in the park. Stroll the Streets will take place downtown from 6-9 p.m. that evening.
On July 4, the schedule is jam-packed with fun activities. Among the highlights are:
For a complete schedule of events, visit boyne4thofjuly.com/2025-schedule-of-events.html.
Beaver Island
The Big Parade on Beaver Island kicks off at 1 p.m. on July 4 with an Island Airways Flyover. Later, the traditional Venetian boat parade will take place at 9 p.m. and the fireworks display will be at dusk.
Walloon Lake
“The Big Show Over the Little Village” will feature lots of July Fourth fun in Walloon Lake.
There will be live music in Village Green Park, face painting and kids activities with Tommy’s Walloon, and a fireworks show over Walloon Lake beginning at 10:30 p.m.
Horton Bay
Horton Bay’s famous Fourth of July parade will take place at 1 p.m.
Live music by Horton Creek Bluegrass will precede the parade at noon, and there will be hot dogs and drinks available at the Horton Bay General Store with more live music following the parade.
Cheboygan County
Cheboygan
Cheboygan will host its annual Fourth of July parade at 10 a.m. through downtown. The parade, which starts at the Cheboygan County Building, includes a wide variety of floats, performers and community groups.
Later, the fireworks display will take place at dusk over the Cheboygan County Fairgrounds.
Mackinaw City
There will be games on the Marina Lawn in Mackinaw City from 1-3 p.m. on Friday, July 4. At 9 p.m., the Straits Area Concert Band will perform at Conkling Heritage Park. Then at dusk, the “largest fireworks display in Northern Michigan” is set to get underway.
Indian River
The Fourth of July parade in Indian River will take place at 10 a.m. The theme this year is “Summertime fun in Northern Michigan,” and floats will be based on different activities available in the area.
The fireworks display will take place on Saturday, July 5. The show will begin at dusk.
Otsego County
Gaylord
The annual Otsego Lake Association Fireworks Show is set for dusk on Saturday, July 5.
The boat parade will take place earlier that day at 4 p.m. at the Otsego Lake County Park and Campground.
Johannesburg
The community of Johannesburg will host a July Fourth parade and fireworks show.
The fireworks are set to launch at dusk from downtown Johannesburg by the school.
For more details, visit the event’s Facebook page.
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Fireworks, parades and more: Where to find Fourth of July fun in Northern Michigan
Reporting by Jillian Fellows, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
