Festival of the Sun
Location: Lansing Date: June 21
Information: (517) 485-4283 or www.festivalofthesun.com
Mid-Michigan's premiere wine, microbrew and gourmet food tasting event celebrates the summer solstice. Enjoy the longest day of summer while you eat, drink and dance near the banks of the Grand River in Old Town. Featuring musical performances by the Automatic Blues Band, Organissimo, Root Doctor and Ritmo.

Ann Arbor Summer Festival
Location: Ann Arbor Date: June 13 – July 6
Information: (734) 764-2538 or www.mlive.com/aasf
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is three and a half weeks of live concerts, movies, dance, performance, food and fun that ends Sunday, July 6. The Power Center Series brings nationally known performers of music, theater, dance and comedy to the 1380-seat hall. Top of the Park is a free, outdoor music series on top of the Fletcher street parking structure, showcasing Michigan's finest bands and Hollywood's favorite movies. Enjoy food and beverages and be sure not to miss our Fourth of July special celebrations. Tickets are available at (734) 764-2538 or visit www.tickets.com.

Yankee Doodle Days
Location: Grand Ledge Date: June 25 – June 28
Information: (517) 627-2383 or www.grandledgemi.com
Celebrate Independence Day and have a “Revolutionary” good time. Yankee Doodle Days provides something for everyone and kids of all ages. Features a food and beer tent with live bands and entertainment, including: the “Great Parade”; music from the Automatic Blues Band; “Mudges Follies Show” (variety show), preceded by the Capital City Brass Band; craft show; carnival; roller hockey and 3x3 basketball tournaments; the Fireman’s Waterball contest; chicken BBQ; an ice cream social; and food vendors.

International Freedom Festival
Location: Detroit Date: June 25 – June 29
Information: (313) 923-7400
Fireworks, music and activities are planned for the International Freedom Festival in Detroit celebrating friendship between Canada and the United States, featuring the largest international fireworks display – the Marshall Field’s Target Fireworks. The celebration officially lasts 13 days and brings together an astounding assortment of experiences for people of all ages including musical performances, art exhibits, food, carnival rides and the largest annual fireworks display in North America. Beginning with the fireworks above the Detroit River, the festival continues throughout the weekend with carnival rides, games, music, dancing, crafts, parachute jumpers, fly-overs, the Annual Tug Across the River, and much more. Bring the whole family to downtown Detroit for this one-of-a-kind free family event.

Delta Rocks Family Festival
Location: Delta Township Date: June 28 – June 28
Information: (517) 323-8555 or www.township.delta.mi.us/Parks/DeltaRocks.htm
Family Festival with free admission, featuring: live animals; craft booths for children; inflatable attractions; rock wall; classic car show; concessions; Super Sling Shot; Shananigans & Friends Clown Show; The Patch Chords, a barbershop quartet; a dog safety presentation; live music from Showdown; and much more.

Michigan Wine and Food Festival
Location: Rochester Hills Date: June 27 – June 29
Information: (800) 600-0307 or www.michiganwines.com
Nearly 20 wineries will serve samples of more than 100 wines. Visitors can sample from more than 100 Michigan wines, and pair their favorites with taste-tempting menu selections from area restaurants. Wine enthusiasts and novices alike will enjoy the opportunity to 'try before you buy' and talk with winemakers from many of the state's wineries. Festival guests can try award-winning wines and purchase their favorites to take home. Locally produced specialty foods available for sampling and purchase include flavored dipping oils, smoked fish, cheeses, honey, jams and more. Featuring music al guest Brazil and Beyond and The Johnny Trudell Orchestra. The festival's on-site retail store makes it convenient to purchase favorite wines to take home. This is a great opportunity to try wines from all over the state—all within walking distance. Some of the area's well-known chefs will demonstrate how they prepare their favorite seasonal dishes. Wine professionals will share information on wine-tasting, wine making, and pairing wines with foods.

National Cherry Festival
Location: Traverse City Date: July 5 – July 12
Information: (231) 947-4230 or www.cherryfestival.org
Remember the sights, sounds, and smells of a summer celebration in your hometown when you were a kid? Check out Traverse City's beautiful Lake Michigan shores with over 150 events, including free air shows over the Bay, colorful parades, music shows, sporting events, marching bands, rides on the midway, pie-eating contests, clean blue skies, warm sunshine, crowds of smiling faces, and loads of luscious cherries prepared every way you can imagine.

Elsie Dairy Festival
Location: Elsie Date: July 10 – July 12
Information: (989) 862-5210
For a small town, Elsie really packs 'em in during this 3-day celebration of their dairy heritage. There's really something for everyone here starting with an all-day yard-sale beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, through to live entertainment Saturday night. In between you'll be treated to pony and tractor pulls, 3 on 3 basketball tournaments, a rock climbing wall and a midway with all the rides, games and good things to eat you could hope for.

Kalamazoo Blues Festival
Location: Kalamazoo Date: July 10 – July 12
Information: (269) 381-6514 or www.kvba.org/fest03
Blues for Dummies (IDG Books, co-authored by Lonnie Brooks, Cub Coda and Wayne Baker Brooks) gave the Kalamazoo Blues Festival an honorable mention as one of the top festivals to catch. Features live blues music performances. Purchase T-shirts, hats, CDs, and other items at the festival site. Some artists bring and sell their own CDs. There will be pizza, Cajun cuisine, BBQ ribs/chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs, soda, and other items. This year's festival places more emphasis on education than in the past. There will be several educational performances and harp and guitar workshops. Children 12 and under can soak up the music and the fun just as much or more as the adults.

Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire
Location: Kalamazoo Date: July weekends
Information: (269) 343-9090 or www.silverleafrenfaire.org
Travel back in time to the middle ages, or the renaissance. Queen Arianna invites you to join the villagers in a wonderful celebration with games, feasting, entertainment, sword fighting in the streets, music and shopping. Guests entering the shire of Silver Leaf are greeted and made welcome by peasants, musicians, villagers and idiots. Guests may partake of theatre, comedy shows, jousting tournaments, and more. Delicious Renaissance foods and handmade crafts complete the olde world experience. This festive village atmosphere is complemented by hundreds of costumed entertainers performing both on-stage and off all day every day.

Michigan Shakespeare Festival
Location: Jackson Date: July 15 – August 3
Information: (517) 788-5032 or www.michshakefest.org
The Michigan Shakespeare Festival has been presenting the timeless themes and language of William Shakespeare since 1995, growing each year into a premier regional event that draws respected actors from across the nation and satisfied audiences from throughout the Midwest. The festival brings Shakespeare to life in an accessible and entertaining style. This year’s shows include King Lear, The Taming of the Shrew, Wild Swan Theater, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Frog and Toad. The Festival aims to provide attractive entertainment in an outdoor summer venue; heighten the awareness of live theater in the mid-Michigan area; and provide youngsters interested in theater as a career an opportunity to get involved in an introductory, professional level.

Taste of Battle Creek
Location: Battle Creek Date: July 18 – July 19
Information: (269) 963-4407
The Taste of Battle Creek continues to grow each year, and attracts in excess of 20,000 people throughout the event. This year’s event will be extended to add on Friday night as well as all day Saturday. You will be greeted by more than 30 restaurants bringing you a "Taste" of their very best, including: Domino’s Pizza, Kellogg’s Cereal City USA, Red Lobster, and Schlotzsky's Deli. There will be live entertainment Friday and Saturday, including Grinder featuring Darren McCarty of the Detroit Red Wings and a special appearance from Ken Kal, the radio voice of the Detroit Red Wings. There will be a kid’s area sponsored by AAA of Michigan.

Ingham County Fair
Location: Mason Date: July 25 – August 2
Information: (517) 676-2428 or www.ingham.org
Featuring a carnival, Circus Clown Alley, demolition derby, free petting zoo, motorcycle racing, chainsaw wood carver, pony rides, bingo, battle of the bands, and a bullmania rodeo.

Michigan Antique & Collectible Festival
Location: Midland Date: July 26 – July 27
Information: (989) 687-9001 or www.miantiquefestival.com
This is a giant antique and collectible market held three times a year at the Midland fairgrounds. Over 800 vendors and individuals set up shop selling: antiques, folk art, unique products and a wide variety of collector items. Several large buildings are filled with hundreds of dealers buying, selling and trading to the public. Featuring an antique show and sale, collectibles market, special interest auto show, and a sales lot and swap meet.

Jazzfest
Location: Lansing Date: August 1-2
Information: (517) 371-4600 or www.Jazzlansing.com
JazzFest is a two-day music festival that brings over 20 local, regional and national jazz groups to an audience of over 20,000 people from across Michigan. Ethnic food, beer, wine and beverages, art, clothing and crafts are available from vendors that line the sidewalks, and art galleries open their doors during festival hours. Visit Web site for featured performers.

Island Art Fair
Location: Grand Ledge Date: August 2
Information: (517) 627-9843 or www.grandledgemi.com
Jaycee Park on River Street in Grand Ledge is transformed into an arts and crafts paradise the first Saturday in August. Each year the event draws both artists and visitors from all over Michigan. More than 120 artists and crafters set up shop to sell their handmade wares and 15,000 people come to shop. Also features live musical entertainment.

Kalamazoo County Fair
Location: Kalamazoo Date: August 4-9
Information: (269) 349-9791 or www.kalamazoocountyfair.com
The Kalamazoo County Fair is a major form of family entertainment in southwest Michigan, as well as a major venue for promoting agricultural awareness. Surrounded by farming communities, the fair offers 4-H clubs and other interested youths the opportunity to showcase their work in all agricultural areas. It also creates a positive experience for families in Kalamazoo County and surrounding areas through exhibits, entertainment and participation.

National Blueberry Festival
Location: South Haven Date: August 7-10
Information: (616) 637-5171 or www.blueberryfestival.com
South Haven is the World's Highbush Blueberry Capital. Naturally, there is a pageant, blueberry pancake breakfast, an arts & crafts fair, a 5K run/walk, Blueberry Central tent, food vendors, parade, youth pageant, and musical entertainment.

Great Lakes Folk Festival
Location: East Lansing Date: August 8-10
Information: (517) 432-4533 or www.greatlakesfolkfest.net
This arts and culture event showcases the traditional cultural treasures of the nation’s Upper Midwest and a sampling of the best of traditional artists from around the country and world. The festival encourages cross-cultural understanding of our diverse society through the presentation of musicians, dancers, cooks, storytellers and craftspeople whose traditions are rooted in their communities. The festival includes 100 musicians or dancers in groups who perform at least twice, traditional and other food vendors, craft vendors and many other individual artists/demonstrators. There are five performance stages, a children’s hands-on activity area, craft demonstrations, and crafts marketplace. In addition, there is a special program, “Michigan's Legacy: Passing On Tradition," showcasing over 30 artists who have been recipients of the Michigan Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.

St. Johns Mint Festival
Location: St. Johns Date: August 8-10
Information: (989) 224-7248 or http://ci.saint-johns.mi.us
The St. Johns' Mint Festival welcomes visitors to the community by offering a celebration enriched with family activities, arts and crafts, flea market, sports tournaments, entertainment, the annual parade and children’s activities. Nightly entertainment includes IPRA Rodeo and a Mint Queen pageant.

Michigan State Fair
Location: Detroit Date: August 15 – Sept. 1
Information: (313) 369-8250 or www.michigan.gov
Popular attractions include the Miracle of Life Exhibit, the DNR/HCMA Outdoor Zone (youngsters can learn to fish), free concerts, daily parades, horse shows, agricultural displays, arts and crafts, racing pigs, rabbits and poultry, dairy exhibits, carnival rides and games (with two great midways) and the World's Largest Stove.

Kalamazoo Scottish Festival
Location: Kalamazoo Date: August 23
Information: (269) 323-7482 or www.iserv.net/~ksfa
The festival aims to preserve the festivities of the Scottish culture for the enjoyment of all people. Features Celtic fold entertainment all afternoon, lots of shaded seating, a history tent, expanded activities for younger Scots, and an informal pipe band competition and much more.

Annual Caribbean Festival
Location: Lansing Date: August 23
Information: (517) 483-1285 or www.lcc.edu
Reggae, jazz, salsa, and calypso will bring the excitement of the Caribbean to the Lansing Community College campus. In addition to live music, there will be a Caribbean World Marketplace, featuring merchandise vendors and entertainment, a Caribbean World food court, and a family village complete with an Afro-Caribbean Interactive Drum Circle and a children’s tent with clowns, face painting, balloon sculptures and a Moonbounce.

Michigan Renaissance Festival
Location: Holly Date: August 16 – Sept. 28
Information: (800) 601-4848 or www.Michrenfest.com
Inside the turreted gates of Hollygrove, you are free to roam the festive marketplace, featuring friendly village merchants lining every path. In addition to the fantastic selection of handcrafted wares, visitors may also partake in games of skill or enjoy non-stop entertainment where belly dancers, sword swallowers, musicians, comedians and sword fighters provide merriment for all ages. The festival is best known for it's awe-inspiring full-contact armored jousting tournaments where knights defend their honor until the last man is standing. Features over 195 master artisans, food and drinks, rides, games and contests for all ages. Kids can participate in the Magical Children's Realm.

For more information on any of the festivals, visit www.mfea.org or call the Michigan Visitors and Conventions Bureau in Old Town Lansing at (517) 485-4283.

Care to respond? Send letters to letters@lansingcitypulse.com. View our Letters policy.