By Kayte Marshall
As Michigan’s produce season begins, communities across the state are marking the start of summer with festivals rooted in local flavor.
Festivals centered around products and crops like maple syrup, peaches, cherries and apples are planned through early fall.
The festivals contribute to growth in agrotourism according Nick Nerbonne, the media and digital director at Pure Michigan, the state’s travel promotion agency.
“There’s no question that these types of festivals are big drivers of tourism in local communities,” Nerbonne said.
“So, these festivals do drive local economic growth for these communities, bringing in visitors that may not have visited otherwise,” he said.
Nerbonne said the festivals provide a unique opportunity for people to experience Michigan’s agricultural heritage firsthand.
“We love to celebrate our agricultural heritage in Michigan, and now our farmers and communities are figuring out new ways to get visitors involved in agricultural destinations,” he said.
One example is the Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival, held this year from April 24-27. The festival has been a staple of the community since 1958.
“It started with some folks tapping trees. They produced some syrup and they had a small community breakfast,” said Dawn Vanneste, the public relations and marketing coordinator for the festival.
The festival is a nonprofit event that is organized and hosted by volunteers. In 2024, approximately 800 volunteers helped manage the festival. According to the 2023 census, Shepherd, in Isabella County, has a population of 1,503.
The festival offers activities, including all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage meals, a 5K race, helicopter rides, cornhole tournaments and a pancake-eating contest.
All funds from the festival are reinvested into the Shepherd community and have provided money for local parks, sporting organizations and scholarships.
“It’s nice because it comes full circle – all these generations of families are out there collecting sap in late winter to early spring and making the syrup all the way up to the festival, and it just all ends up coming back to the community,” Vanneste said.
Later in the summer, celebrations such as the Romeo Peach Festival in Macomb County, which runs from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2, will continue the seasonal celebrations of Michigan’s bounty.
“I would just like the people to come out and see our festival,” said Rob Kreger, the festival’s president.
“It’s 94 years old – we’re the second-oldest festival in the state. It’s a really good hometown festival. There’s a little something for everybody,” he said.
The Romeo Peach Festival features activities such as a carnival, food truck pavilion, live entertainment, craft show, classic car show and a beer tent.
Among this summer’s other festivals are the Strawberry Festival in Coldwater (June 21), the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City (June 28 to July 5), the Marquette Blueberry Festival (July 25), the Howell Melon Festival from Aug. 15-17 and the Apple Festival Crafts and Flea Market in Iron River (Sept. 27).