From Live Events to Outdoor Fun, Your Summer Starts in Central Michigan

Author: Loveable Michigan Sponsored Content

It might be a chart-topping act or rock n’ roll legend that brings you to Mt. Pleasant this summer, but it’s the prospect of paddling down the scenic Chippewa River, shopping the delightful downtown and more that will keep you around. Or it could be the chance to sample “Train Wreck” and other Michigan brews at the Mt. Pleasant Craft Beer Festival that gets you into town, and one of the area’s delicious outdoor dining patios that makes you want to stay for dinner and a nightcap.

You don’t need a reason to come enjoy the beauty of summertime in Mt. Pleasant. Every day you can find fun things to do, whether you like to play 12 championship golf courses within 30 minutes of town, hike through Deerfield Nature Park, or cast a line in a peaceful fishing hole. But if you like the idea of building a Mt. Pleasant getaway around a big summer event, mark your calendar with the dates below.

‘Mt. Pleasant has so much going on this summer,” said Chris Rowley, President/CEO of the Mt. Pleasant Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Whether you are a music lover, beer lover, or art lover, we have the perfect event for you.”

With 13,000 seats, Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant is home to the second largest outdoor music venue in Michigan. Those seats will fill up for 10 epic shows during the outdoor summer concert series that kicks off Wednesday, June 17, with Sammy Hagar and special guest Rick Springfield.

Other shows already announced include Jelly Roll (Friday, July 3), Shinedown (Saturday, July 11), Jordan Davis (Friday, July 17), Mary J. Blige (Thursday, July 23), Jonas Brothers (Wednesday, Aug. 5), Rod Stewart with special guest Richard Marx (Thursday, Sept. 3) and Kane Brown (Saturday, Sept. 12)

Keep an eye on social media for upcoming news of other shows this summer. At each concert, one lucky person will win a Mt. Pleasant Experience package that includes an overnight stay, canoe trip and $100 in dining and shopping to enjoy even more of what makes summer in Mt. Pleasant so amazing.

“Central Michigan is your hub for live music this summer,” Rowley said. “Nothing beats a summer concert night under the stars in Mt. Pleasant.” 

You can also catch live entertainment all summer at Mt. Pleasant’s other music venues, including free concerts on Thursday nights from June 4-July 30 in Island Park, in August during Max & Emily’s Summer Concert Series on the streets of downtown, and at nightlife hotspots including Rubble’s Dive Bar and Hunter’s Ale House.

For more than 40 years, the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Powwow has welcomed the community and visitors alike to share in the culture, traditions and stories of the Anishinaabe people. You can see traditional song and dance and taste authentic indigenous food such as fry bread, corn soup and more.

The Powwow at the Hill Campground is free and all are welcome to attend through the weekend while the sacred fire is lit. You can support the tribe by shopping for blankets, jewelry and other items that illustrate Anishinabek culture.

Three blocks of downtown Mt. Pleasant transform into a canvas of creativity during Market for the Arts, organized by a co-op of more than 100 local and regional artists. The streets are filled with booths featuring a wide variety of handmade artwork that you can browse and buy.

Festivities include live music, local food trucks, wild street performances, a comedy show, belly dancing and hands-on activities such as a tie-dye workshop, body art, face painting and a silent disco. A kids market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, gives artists ages 5 to 16 the chance to sell their own homemade items

In conjunction with the Market for the Arts and the Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market, Town Center downtown will host a special America250 event Saturday, Aug. 22. There will be live music as part of Max & Emily’s Summer Concert Series, interactive things to do for both kids and adults, and live entertainment that highlights Mt. Pleasant’s heritage such as lumberjack and oilfield demonstrations.

Follow the Mt. Pleasant Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for event updates in the coming months.

Start planning your summer getaway by booking a place to stay in Mt. Pleasant. You can find familiar chain hotels as well as unique B&Bs, relaxing campgrounds and RV parks, and cute vacation rentals, too.

Some properties have swimming pools and there’s even an on-site waterpark at Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel! You also can find places to stay that have restaurants or rooms with full kitchens, and there are pet-friendly options, too.

So come to Mt. Pleasant for a big event this summer, then stick around to enjoy the awesome outdoor recreation and other fun the season brings. Just one visit will show you that Mt. Pleasant is the perfect place to eat, play, stay and explore in Central Michigan!