Summer is for Festivals

Milepost 8-8-15 Ortonville, Michigan.

I love the activities of summer and the pleasant weather that makes them so enjoyable. Summer is definitely my favorite season of the year. Life is easy. The sweaters are in storage and t-shirts and flip flops are the standard uniform.

Kaye and I are parked in a small town campground for the summer and we have a virtual smorgasbord of events to choose from in the mitten of lower Michigan.

Every town is having its annual summer festival and the air is filled with the aroma of cotton candy and corndogs. Carnivals are buzzing and whirring everywhere as the Tilt-a-Whirl makes its frenzied spin. Food trucks offer gastrointestinal delight (or disaster) at every midway. What fun!

Here are some photos of summer festivals that we have enjoyed in lower Michigan over the last couple of years.

Dog Daze at Marlette, Michigan.

My friend, Doug Kramer, drives his horses and carriage at several town festivals in the summer.

The Thumb Octagon Barn Festival, Gagetown, Michigan.

Civil War era soldiers camp every summer at the Octagon Barn Festival.

The historical school house has re-enactments as well.

The River of Time, Bay City, Michigan.

This annual encampment re-enacts a complete timeline of American military history from the native Americans to World War II and Vietnam.

River of Time includes re-enactments from several different eras of American history.

Gun battles extend to the water of the Saginaw River where the boats wage war with each other. — Gun battles extend to the waters of the Saginaw River where the boats wage war with each other.

Blues on the Mall, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Musicians play on the sidewalks and on the big stages in the center of the city.

Of course, every festival has its classic car show.

Creekside Days, Ortonville, Michigan.

Local musicians perform in the old restored Mill, now a wonderfully curated museum. — Local musicians perform in the old restored mill, now a wonderfully curated museum.

Farm Markets everywhere!

I am loving the growing popularity of the local farm markets. They are springing up in every little town and city and offer locally produced health and organic foods in bulk.

Not only that, but some permanent bulk food stores are popping up here and there. In our old neighborhood in Michigan’s thumb (the lower peninsula being shaped like a mitten), Country View Bulk Food store is owned and operated by a Mennonite family and offers a plethora of farm products in bulk. It is growing so fast that the owners are adding space to the building every summer!

Have you ever seen 5-pound blocks of Muenster cheese at your local big box store?

How about link sausages in 5 and 10-pound packages? Now that's what I call bulk food! — How about link sausages in 10-pound boxes? Now that’s what I call bulk food!

There are only a few weeks of summer left and then fall arrives and the weather changes. And our opportunities to take advantage of the summer farm markets and festivals will end for another season. Better get out there right now and make hay while the sun shines, as it were. Soon enough the snow will fly and the outdoor markets will be gone.

Maybe this photo will provide the virtual kick in the pants that you may need to get out to the local festivals and farm markets pronto!