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21 Michigan events to check out this weekend (Sept. 5-7)

This week’s highlights include a wine festival out west, a fireworks competition in Traverse City, and Detroit’s largest annual community festival.

Traverse City's night sky comes alive this weekend during the 2025 International Fireworks Championship (Alex Jones/Unsplash)

As we kick off the first weekend in September, we’re starting to get our first taste of the fall festivities to come, but that doesn’t mean summer is over quite yet.

This week’s highlights include a wine festival out west, a fireworks competition in Traverse City, and Detroit’s largest annual community festival.

As always, I’d love to hear your suggestions! If you know of an upcoming event you want me to highlight, send me a note here (please send suggestions at least one week before the event).

Michigan events to check out this weekend

West Michigan

🍷 Paw Paw Wine and Harvest Festival

Sept. 5-7

Downtown Paw Paw

🖌️ Brush the Block

Sept. 2-7

Downtown Kalamazoo

🪨 Kalamazoo Scottish Festival and Highland Games

Saturday, Sept. 6, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Kindleberger Park (122 N. Riverview Drive, Parchment)

🚜 Antique Engine & Tractor Show

Sept. 4-7

Michigan Flywheelers Museum (06285 68th St., South Haven)

🎡 Allegan County Fair

Sept. 5-13

Allegan County Fairgrounds (150 Allegan County Fair Drive, Allegan)

🍖Silver Lake Sand Dunes Apple and BBQ Festival

Sept. 5-6

Golden Township Park (8711 Silver Lake Road, Mears)

Northern Michigan/UP

🎆 2025 International Fireworks Championship

Sept. 5-6

Turtle Creek Stadium (333 Stadium Drive, Traverse City)

🍻 UP Fall Beer Festival

Saturday, Sept. 6, 1-6 p.m.

Mattson Lower Harbor Park (200 N. Lakeshore Blvd., Marquette)

🍀 Emerald Isle Irish Féile

Sept. 5-6

Beaver Island

🥔 Posen Potato Festival

Sept. 5-7

Posen

Mid/South Michigan

🤠 Charlotte Frontier Days

Sept. 3-7

Downtown Charlotte

🚘 Frankenmuth Auto Fest

Sept. 5-7

Frankenmuth

🎸 Parkapalooza

Sunday, Sept. 7, 12-7 p.m.

Haithco Park (2121 Schust Road, Saginaw)

🎪 Sanford Founders Day

Saturday, Sept. 6, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sanford Centennial Museum (2222 Smith St., Sanford)

Southeast Michigan/Thumb

😺 Dally in the Alley

Saturday, Sept. 6, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Cass Corridor, Detroit

🎶 Brighton Smokin’ Rock-N-Blues Festival

Sept. 5-6

Downtown Brighton

⛵ Port Huron Boat the Blue Antique & Classic Boat Show

Sept. 5-6

James C. Acheson Marina (525 River St., Port Huron)

🏮 Detroit Water Lantern Festival

Saturday, Sept. 6, 5-9 p.m.

Maheras-Gentry Park (12550 Avondale St., Detroit)

🚘 Old Car Festival

Saturday, Aug. 30, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Greenfield Village, The Henry Ford (20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn)

🧙‍♀️ Wicked Bizarre

Saturday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Wayne County Fairgrounds (10871 Quirk Road, Belleville)

🍂 Plymouth Fall Festival

Sept. 5-7

Downtown Plymouth