When you take a northern Michigan vacation, there is always something new to discover. Whether you spend time on Lake Michigan, the Chain O’ Lakes, or enjoying one of our fine golf courses, you will be glad you chose Bellaire as your vacation destination. The Grand Victorian is close to several cities which offer many unique and exciting things to do. With events and festivals year-round, our area has something for everyone!

BELLAIRE 2011 (0 miles): (website)

Fridays May 27 – Oct 28 every week from 8am - 12am visit the Farmer’s Market at the Bellaire Senior Center Pavilion offering locally produced products, vegetables, fruit, baked goods, & plants, etc.

May 14  Antrim Co.High Tea For Breast Cancer Prevention -Where Education is Key.  ABC Challenge Walk Schuss Mountain, Cedar River in Shanty Creek Resort.  10 Mile walk on a course near Schuss & Cedar River.  Entry Fee Adult:$30 Student:$15 Registration 8am, walk starts 8:30am. You may put a team together to walk the 10 miles. More info call Jean McCormick 231-331-5222

Friday, Aug 19, 20.  Bellaire's 24th Annual Rubber Ducky Festival   Sidewalk Sales

Location: Downtown Bellaire

24th Annual Rubber Ducky Race and Festival.   Sidewalk Sales, Lions Swiss Steak Dinner, Music Downtown featuring - Danny Bellenbaum 7-9pm. 

Saturday Aug 20. Afternoon. Northern Michigan's Royalty Luncheon.  Area Queens parade to the Grand Victorian Inn for their annual farewell celebration and lots of picture taking!

Saturday, Sep 24, 2011  - 13th Harvest Festival & Scarecrow Extravaganza

Location: Downtown Bellaire

Arts & Crafts Show 10am-4pm

Kids Scarecrow Costume Contest. Judging at 1pm.  Best Dressed Pet Parade 1:30pm

Recipe Contest at Moka's Coffee, Pastries, Wine, Pizza.

Great Food, Fun for all!

TRAVERSE CITY (40 miles): (website)

Jul 2 - 9, 2011 - National Cherry Festival

The open Space in downtown Traverse City becomes the oldest, biggest and champion National Cherry Festival!  Traverse City is still proud to be America’s Cherry Capital. It celebrates that heritage every year during the first week of July with an eight-day party featuring over 150 family activities: air shows, fireworks, parades (including the nation’s largest all-children parade) games, races, midway rides, demonstrations, nightly outdoor concerts and lots of chances to taste delicious cherry products. Now in its 85th year, the Cherry Festival is Traverse City’s signature event, drawing as many as 500,000 attendees from around the country. Everything is located conveniently within walking distance, and since almost all the events are free, it offers more than a week of affordable family fun.

July 26-31 2011 Traverse City Film Festival

The Traverse City Film Festival is a charitable, educational, nonprofit organization committed to showing “Just Great Movies” and helping to save one of America’s few indigenous art forms — the cinema. The festival brings films and filmmakers from around the world to northern Michigan for the annual film festival in late July to early August. The festival was founded by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore.

Last year, there were over 106,000 admissions to 135 screenings, a number of them U.S. or world premieres. A special emphasis is given to foreign films, American independents, documentaries, and films which have been overlooked but deserve the attention of a public starved to see a good movie.

September 15-18  2011 Epicurean Classic  

Seventh installment of the Classic to be held at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons - a fabulous venue and fabulous tastes from northern Michigan’s finest chefs.

Friday, June 10 - Friday Night Cruise

Cars line up at the Central Lake High School parking lot at 6:15 p.m. for a departure time of 6:45 p.m. Cruise goes through Bellaire and along beautiful Torch Lake Drive.  Music, food, and prizes downtown after the cruise.

Saturday, June 11 - 8th Annual Collector Car, Truck & Bike Show

Hundreds of Classics on display range from $1,500 to $300,000 car, small mini-bike scooter, and full custom chopper. With 96 classes, 224 awards, professional judging, GREAT giveaways, and a dust-free small town environment, you'll enjoy your time in Central Lake.

Monday, June 13 - Antrim County High Tea

The Antrim County High Tea for Breast Cancer Awareness will be held at the Pelican Room on N.E. Torch Lake Drive from 11:00 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. There will be 23 beautifully decorated tables, each individually created by table designer/hostesses. There will be a silent auction at the High Tea. Tickets for the fundraising event are $50.00 per person, and will go on public sale at all Alden Banks and the Guy Dean Insurance office in Alden on May 6.

Monday, July 4 - Fourth of July

Central Lake's Fourth of July parade is followed by the always-popular Lions Chicken barbecue. And don't miss the First Congregational Church's Strawberry Social, the Crafts in the Park, the Ryan Shea Midsummer's Night Run, and, of course, the best fireworks for miles around!

ALDEN (11 miles): 
Thursday Night Stroll: 'til 9pm every week, visit shops, musicians.

Aug (every weekend): Model Train Exhibit at the Alden Depot

Jul 16-23  Venetian Festival

What began 80 years ago as a simple candle-lit boat parade has grown into a week-long flurry of color and pageantry that highlights the summer season and attracts tens of thousands of visitors.

The Festival offers a wonderful variety of events geared to delight and entertain every age group. Most events take place within waterfront parks, Round Lake Harbor and Lake Charlevoix.

Jun 18-19  Summer Solstice Art Show  - The 13th Art Show will take place downtown Charlevoix in East Park. Show hours are Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday 10:00am to 4:00pm.  The show features quality art displayed on the shore of scenic Round Lake Harbor.  Participating artisans are carefully selected to ensure a well-rounded event offering a variety of fun and unique creations.

ELK RAPIDS (20 miles): (website)

Wednesdays Jun 22 – Aug 10 Evening on River Street

Wed Aug 3, 2011 - Sun Aug 7  Harbor Days Celebration - games, rides, fireworks & more!