Fourth of July Schedules Take Shape In and Around Leelanau County
Leelanau County’s event slate for the nation’s 250th birthday is set, ahead of this weekend’s massive holiday weekend. The Ticker has your guide to what’s going in in the various villages and towns in and around the peninsula, as well as just over the county line.
Glen Arbor
>The evening of Friday, July 3 will feature a 7:30pm performance by the Northwestern Michigan College Concert Band at Glen Arbor Township Park, performing “patriotic music and many musical favorites.” Locals are encouraged to “bring your own chair and a wide brim hat for sun protection” to enjoy the free concert.
>Glen Arbor’s Independence Day festivities will continue on July 4 with the town’s annual Fourth of July parade. Parade vehicles will gather in Glen Haven at 10am, with the parade starting at noon and proceeding toward Glen Arbor. Walkers are encouraged to join the parade, but are asked not to do so “until the last vehicle passes the Christian Science Church.” Those participating or spectating are also urged to “follow the guidance from the ‘broom crew,’ which is comprised of many volunteers who ‘broom’ candy from the street.”
>Celebrations continue on Sunday morning, July 5, with a pancake breakfast hosted by Glen Lake Fire and Rescue Association and the Glen Lake Fire Department. Paramedics and firefighters will be serving up pancakes from 8am-noon at the Glen Arbor Township Hall, with proceeds helping “defray the costs of sending our Glen Lake firefighters to paramedic school and other training opportunities.”
Leland
>Leland’s Fourth of July fireworks are actually scheduled for the night before Independence Day. All are invited to take in the show from Hancock Field Park on the evening of July 3, with fireworks slated to start around dusk.
>On July 4th proper, catch Leland’s annual Fourth of July parade, which will start at 3pm with a procession through the downtown area. Those interested in joining the parade can still sign up to do so, via this form on the Leland Chamber of Commerce website.
Northport
>The Village of Northport is promising “a day full of community spirit [and] summer fun” on Independence Day. Live music starts at 7pm at Haserot Park, including performances by the Northport Community Band (7pm) and the Benzie Playboys, a local band known for their zydeco and cajun musical stylings (from 8-10pm). The evening will also include the announcement of Northport’s “citizen of the year” at 7:30pm.
>Northport’s Fourth of July celebrations will culminate with fireworks over Grand Traverse Bay, starting around 10pm.
>Also in Northport is the 47th annual Run for Cancer Funds, held each year on the Fourth of July. The event, which includes both a two-mile walk and a timed 5K race, is a partnership with the Leelanau County Cancer Foundation where all net proceeds “remain in Leelanau County to assist local cancer patients.”
Throughout Leelanau County
>As The Leelanau Ticker reported last week, the Declaration of Independence will be read aloud from the steps of all nine Leelanau County post offices on July 4, starting at 10am sharp.
Traverse City
>This year, the Fourth of July just happens to mark the first day of the 100th annual National Cherry Festival in Traverse City. Events on the schedule for that day include a “Very Cherry Flying Pancake Breakfast” from 8-11am at the Open Space; formal opening ceremonies for the festival at 10am, also at the Open Space; a balance bike race at 9am at the Norte Clubhouse at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center; a beach volleyball tournament beginning at West End Beach at 9am; a performance by the Traverse City Philharmonic at the Civic Center starting at noon; the famed Cherry Festival Air Show from 1-4pm; and a performance by one-time Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth in the evening.
>The Traverse City Boom Boom Club will present their annual Fourth of July fireworks over West Grand Traverse Bay starting around 10:30pm. This year’s show will also incorporate more than just fireworks, including “a custom drone presentation by Great Lakes Drone Company, and aerial pyrotechnic performances by Kyle Fowler of GO EZ Aerobatics and Nate Hammond of GhostWriter Airshows.”
>Jacob’s Farm is celebrating both the 250th birthday of the United States of America and the 100th anniversary of the Cherry Festival with an entire “Independence Week,” running from July 4-12. The celebration will include nightly live music from 6-9pm, a menu of cherry-themed beers, ciders, cocktails, salads, and ice cream, and the opening of Jacob’s Farm’s U-pick cherry orchard.
Benzie County
If you find yourself over the Leelanau-Benzie county line this week, Beulah, Frankfort, and Crystal Mountain all have their own big Independence Day celebrations on tap for the semiquincentennial.
>In Beulah, Fourth of July traditions include the Firecracker 5K, a popular race starting at 8am. Concessions, kids games, and face painting will be available in the village park for most of the day. An Independence Day parade starts at 1:30pm, and fireworks are expected around 10:30pm.
>Fourth of July festivities in Frankfort kick off with the annual medallion hunt, a Frankfort-Elberta Area Chamber of Commerce tradition that invites locals to hunt for a hidden medallion somewhere in town. From July 1-4, daily clues will be released at the chamber office at 1311 Forest Avenue, pointing to the location of the hidden object. The person who finds the medallion wins $150.
>On July 4th itself, Frankfort’s events include a decorated bike contest at Coastline Cycles (9:30am), the annual Fourth of July parade (10am), an “art in the park” show at Mineral Springs Park (10am-4pm), a sandcastle contest at Frankfort Beach (noon-2pm), and live DJ entertainment at Frankfort Beach (7pm). It all culminates with a fireworks display over Frankfort Beach, starting at approximately 10:30pm.
>Crystal Mountain is commemorating the 250th anniversary of America – and its own 70-year milestone – with “Star Spangled Celebrations,” a four-day bash that will run from July 2-5. On July 2, the highlight is “Fireworks & Fun,” which will feature games, BBQ, a bar, live music, attendees clad in glow-in-the-dark gear, and a fireworks show. Friday’s schedule includes sidewalk sales, a family golf scramble, a bike and golf cart parade on the Crystal Mountain property, and a “Backyard Bash” in the evening, with more BBQ, games, and music, plus a silent disco, a campfire, and an outdoor movie under the stars. The Fourth of July itself will kick off with a 5K fun run at 9am.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article mistakenly claimed that Glen Arbor's Independence Day parade would be happening on Thursday, July 2, as was also erroneously announced on the township's Facebook page last week. The parade is actually scheduled for noon on the Fourth of July itself.