pig races by radiospike

A sampling of Michigan festivals & events for the month of September. As usual, there's no way we'll get them all, so please add links and information about those we've missed (or reviews of ones we have here) in the comments below.

August 18 - September 30

Michigan Renaissance Festival- Holly (Open Weekends and Labor Day)
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, Hollygroave 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 its awe-inspiring full-contact armored jousting tournaments where gallant knights defend their honor until the last man is standing.

August 22 - September 3

Michigan State Fair - Detroit
Celebrating 101 years, the Michigan State Fair includes many different events. Some of which are: a circus, daily parades, 60+ rides, a livestock pavilion & show, farm exhibits and live farm animal births, a petting zoo, pony rides, free concerts featuring national & local acts, a lumberjacks timber show, all kinds of contests and competitions, food, arts & crafts and more.

August 31 - September 3

Detroit International Jazz Festival - Detroit
For 28 years, the Detroit International Jazz Festival has attracted visitors and locals to an end of summer ritual on Labor Day Weekend that celebrates one of America's most important art forms. The festival boasts six stages and one hundred acts over four days in a city well known for its musical legacy.

Arts, Beats, & Eats - Pontiac
Celebrating art, cuisine, music and humanity throughout downtown Pontiac, with 50 restaurants, 200 music performers, and 155 art exhibitors.

September 3

The 50th Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk - Mackinaw City
The Mackinac Bridge Walk is an annual walk in which people may walk the length of the Mackinac Bridge. Walkers are led across by the governor of Michigan, currently Jennifer M. Granholm.

September 7 - 8

Hopps of Fun Beer & Wine Festival - Mackinaw City
Sampling of more than 50 award winning Michigan microbrewed beers and over 40 wines from Michigan's four internationally recognized wine regions. Brewmasters and winemakers will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the brewing and winemaking process.

September 7 - 9

Paw Paw Wine and Harvest Festival - Paw Paw
The Paw Paw Wine and Harvest Festival lets visitors enjoy wine tasting, tours at area wineries and vineyards and a grape stomping competition. There will also be a classic car show, craft fair, polka and jazz music, a bicycle tour and fireworks.

September 13 - 15

Traverse Epicurean Classic - Traverse City
Experience the defining character of the Traverse Epicurean Classic: a comfortable approach and fresh ideas for pairings in Food, Wine, Cookbooks and Culinary Literature – where culinary meets literary. A place where the artisans are eager to share their time, talents and experience with you, the attendee.

September 14 - 15

Michigan Irish Music Festival - Muskegon
The Michigan Irish Music Festival features all things Irish, an outstanding line-up of music on 2 stages, an Irish Pub, Market vendors, cultural activities and much more.

September 14 - 16

Victorian Festival - Northville
Northville turns back the clock and transform itself into a Victorian Village complete with period costumes, free trackless train and horse and carriage rides, storytellers, magicians, musical entertainment and demonstrations. Ryde Park features rides for kids and the Victorian Saloon offers entertainment for adults.

September 15

Tour de Leelanau - Leelanau County
The Tour de Leelanau is an international event hosting cycling's premier teams and athletes. During the week before the race, team members from all over the country will quietly arrive and scope out the layout of "The County" and the course to begin preparing themselves for Saturday's test. By Friday, a strong undercurrent of tension will be in the air at Leelanau Sands Casino, the site of the finish line and a new event, the Expo. Saturday will explode with excitement as spectators crane their necks to catch a glimpse of and/or collect some autographs from their favorite riders.

September 21 - 23

Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association Harvest Stompede - Leelanau County
The Harvest Stompede includes several events. Participants may choose just the wine tasting package that includes special pours and food pairings at the wineries, or the wine tasting may be combined with one of several different in the vineyard experiences. "The Harvester" is a three mine recreational hike through the vineyards, the "Stinger" is a 5 K walk or run. "The Grape Stomper" is a seven mile challenging run through three vineyards and an orchard blended with some breathtaking views of West Grand Traverse Bay and the scenic vistas of the Leelanau Peninsula. Participants may choose solely to enter one of the runs or the walk or combine with one of the wine tasting packages.

Photo: Pig Races by Radiospike