Temperatures around the state have been below average but the dog days of summer are upon us and Michigan is heating up with cool things to do. Summer is zipping by so take some time and support the many great festivals and events that our cities and communities have to offer. As usual we by no means have listed all the events happening around Michigan. Add ones we missed (with links) in the comments below!

Dog_Parade_3 by scherbis

August Quotes:

"Whilst August yet wears her golden crown,
Ripening fields lush- bright with promise;
Summer waxes long, then wanes, quietly passing
Her fading green glory on to riotous Autumn." - Michelle L. Thieme

"August creates as she slumbers, replete and satisfied." - Joseph Wood Krutch

"Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability." - Sam Keen

"Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." - Warren Buffett

"If you saw a heat wave, would you wave back?" - Steven Wright

August Wikipedia Fast Facts (link)

• August was originally named Sextilis in Latin.
• In the United States, August is National Goat Cheese Month.
• The middle week of August is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
• August's birthstone is the peridot and sardonyx. The meaning is married happiness.
• August's birth flower is the gladiolus and poppy.

Stuff to do in August

July 24 - Aug 2
Coast Guard Festival Grand Haven Grand Haven
The festival unofficially began in 1924 as a Coast Guard personnel only picnic when the local Coast Guard station held rowing competitions for those service members stationed in Grand Haven. Today the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival has become a premier event with attendance of over 350,000 people including the nations highest ranking Coast Guard dignitaries from Washington, D.C.

July 28 - August 2
Traverse City Film Festival Traverse City
The Traverse City Film Festival has grown to become one of the largest film festivals in the Midwest, and one of the most respected in the country. Last year, there were over 80,000 admissions to nearly 100 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.

July 30 - Aug 2
Woodtick Music Festival Hermansville
The Woodtick Music Festival is a home-grown, Upper Peninsula style shindig featuring a variety of regional and not so regional bands who all have one thing in common....they're damn good!

July 31 - August 2
Sleeping Bear Dunegrass Music Festival Empire
We are taking the Dunegrass Festival back to its roots! We are a group of Happy/Friendly/Active folks from Empire and the surrounding area who are going to run the festival and make it work! In addition, we are going to nurture the festival, and let it align with it’s inner child, allowing the sleeping bear to dream us into existence….

July 31 - August 1
Saugatuck-Douglas Jazz Festival Saugatuck
The stars were aligned perfectly for the scheduling of New York based hard bop group One For All to appear at the Saugatuck- Douglas Jazz Festival scheduled for July 31 and August 1, 2009 in Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan.

This high energy collaborative group described by legendary radio host Ed Love as the “baddest group out there in jazz today” will perform at Coghlin Park on August 1 at 6:15 pm. Appearing on the front line will be tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, on trombone Steve Davis and trumpeter Jim Rotondi. David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass) and Jason Brown (drums) round out the rhythm section.

August 1
Riverfolk Festival Manchester
A festival of traditional folk, bluegrass and world music continues to evolve, and features new creative artists, an array of music and dance workshops, giant mural paintings, stage shows and wonders for the kids that include instrument-making, face painting, water maze, origami and craft work area, rain sticks, drum circles, a kids' parade, and more. In addition to the stage shows, workshops and extensive children's activity area, the Riverfolk Music and Arts Festival features an art show with visual artists sharing creations of jewelry, painting, instrument making, stained glass, pottery and much more.

August 6 - 8
Ribfest Kalamazoo
Ribfest is Community Advocate’s major fundraising event. Thanks to the support of the people who attended and the businesses that sponsored, $39,000 was raised for programs that are targeted to improve the quality of life for all, but especially to improve the quality of life for our community individuals with developmental disabilities. The money raised through Ribfest supports programs in our community helping people who live in your neighborhoods, work at your place of employment, and maybe go to school with your kids.

August 6 - 9
Labadie Pig Gig Detroit
The Labadie Pig Gig presented by State Farm is a national Rib Championship Cook-off with family entertainment and nightly Concerts. It is a fund-raiser benefiting AREA FAMILY CHARITIES, INC which donates the proceeds to many local charities & organizations including The Boys & Girls Clubs.

With entry tickets you can enjoy all Concerts of the day, Pigalicious Tasting Tent (FREE Food demonstration tent), Loons Family stage activities, Pig Racing Shows, K-9 Dog Shows, The Dow Corning Fundraising Area, Special Contests, The Dow Chemical Water-ski Shows, Home Depot Kids Kraft area, Ronald McDonald on Saturday, State Farm Hospitality Tent, Covenant Health Care Hospitality Tent, plus much more….

August 7 - 8
JazzFest Lansing
Entering its 15th year, the Lansing JazzFest is a two-day FREE music festival that brings national, regional, and local acts to an audience of roughly 15,000 people from across Michigan and nearby states. JazzFest's music truly is living music, history in the making. Each artist at the festival is asked to play an original composition, something that hasn't been played at any other festival.

August 6 - 9
National Blueberry Festival South Haven
Celebrating the blueberry industry in and around South Haven. Featuring fish boil, blueberries, pancake breakfasts, chicken dinner, arts & crafts, live entertainment, pie eating contest, parade, 5k walk/run and more.

August 6 - 9
Humungous Fungus Fest Crystal Falls
Crystal Falls is "Home of the Humungous Fungus", perhaps the world's largest and oldest living organism. It covers 38 acres beneath an Iron County forest near the Wisconsin border. It is believed to be 1,500 to 10,000 years old and weigh about 100 tons - about the same as an adult blue whale. It is the species called Armillaria Bulbosa and the mushrooms it produces are commonly called "honey mushroom." The mushroom is the only edible part of the fungus. Armillaria bulbosa is very common, occurring in hardwood forests in North America, Europe and Japan.

August 7 - 9
Great Lakes Folk Festival East Lansing
This unique fusion of arts fair, music festival, county fair, multi-ethnic festival, hands-on activity workshops and celebration of cultural heritage will be held Aug 7-9, 2009 in downtown East Lansing.

The Great Lakes Folk Festival 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 the world.

August 8
Northport Wine and Food Festival & Dog Parade Northport
A celebration of wine and local food with great music. $15 per person includes complimentary wine glass and three tasting tickets.

August 14 - 16
St. Johns Mint Festival St. Johns
Approximately 150 arts & crafts booths, 5 sports tournaments, Free day & evening entertainment, Talent Show, Kids World (crafts & games all weekend), Exotic Animals, Senior Citizens Day, Quilt Show, Tractor Show, Classic Car Show, New Vehicle Show, Horse Show, Inflatables/Carnival Rides, more.

August 18 - 23
Upper Peninsula State Fair Escanaba
The 2009 Upper Peninsula State Fair opens Monday, August 17 @ 5:00 pm. Plan now to attend to the UP's biggest event. Check this site for fair times, admission prices, and cost of specific events. The 2009 Fair: Aug. 18-23 (preview night Aug. 17th)

Escanaba received the honor of being named the location for he Upper Peninsula State Fair in April, 1927. Michigan Gov. Fed Green signed Act 89, which stated, "An annual state fair at the City of Escanaba, which shall have for its main purpose the exploiting, and encouragement of improved methods in agriculture and industrial pursuits I hereby authorize."

August 14 - 16
Woodward Dream Cruise Ferndale
The Woodward Dream Cruise stretches along a nine metro Detroit suburban area, within a sixteen mile radius,
of the historical Woodward Avenue, attracting over one million visitors and 30,000+ muscle cars, street rods,
custom and collector vehicles with Downtown Ferndale attracting 80,000+ attendees and car enthusiast alone.
Now in our 15th year, we are gearing up for another weekend of cruiz'n memories, exciting activities and live
classic rock-n-roll for all to enjoy. We hope you make Downtown Ferndale, at Woodward and Nine, part of your
Dream Cruise experience.

August 14 - 16
Melon Festival Howell
Melon Fest is an annual event in downtown Howell recognizing the legacy created by Dr. Pat May and the traditions established by the Howell Jaycees. The City of Howell and the Howell Downtown Development Authority are partnering with civic groups and community leaders to present the 2009 Howell Melon Fest. The event will feature Howell melons, melon ice cream, local entertainment and family activities.

August 20 - 23
Danish Festival Greenville
The first Danish Festival was held on August 18, 1965. Today an 23 member Board of Directors, a staff of one, over 35 committees and hundreds of other volunteers are responsible for developing and presenting the festival, which draws crowds of over 80,000. It is this total community effort that makes it possible for Greenville to host the Danish Festival annually.

August 28 - September 7
Michigan State Fair Detroit
The Nation's Oldest State Fair was officially first held in 1849, only twelve years after Michigan attained statehood. At the onset it was customary, in fact, for the fair to be held one year in one city, the next year in another, and there was always a hot contest to be the city selected. The Michigan State Fair settled down at the present fairgrounds in 1905.

Popular attractions include the FREE Concerts under the stars in the Band Shell, daily parades, competitions, horse shows, agricultural displays, arts & crafts, racing pigs, rabbits & poultry, dairy exhibits, carnival midway rides & games and the world's largest stove.

August 22
Traverse City Wine & Art Festival Traverse City
The Traverse City Wine & Art Festival will take place on Saturday August 22, 2009 from 5-10 PM in front of Building 50 at the Grand Traverse Commons under the big tent.

The 2009 Traverse City Wine & Art Festival, a landmark celebration of the wine, food and culture of our region. It will feature 20+ wineries from the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas along with a selection of Traverse City and Leelanau restaurants providing food & desserts. Art Center Traverse City will be coordinating a sampling of artists and arts organizations who will display and sell their work in booths ringing the tent. Music will be offered for the duration, headlined by Michigan's own Thom Jayne and the Nomads who play a truly unique blend of world and Celtic infused jazz. The music will be punctuated by original dance from the Michigan Dance Collective.

August 22 - October 4
Michigan Renaissance Festival Holly
Festival is held on weekends and Labor Day, rain or shine. "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 gallant knights defend their honor until the last man is standing!"

August 28 - 30
Porcupine Mountains Music Festival Ontonagon
The fifth annual Porcupine Mountains Music Festival will take place August 28 (Friday), 29 (Saturday), and 30 (Sunday) at the Ski Hill and Chalet Area in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Ontonagon County located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The festival will feature folk, blues, bluegrass and contemporary music from top-class nationally touring artists as well as up and coming Michigan artists. 1250 people per day will get to hear the over 30 artists who will appear on our outdoor stages.

August 28 - 30
Epicurean Classic St. Joseph
Come to the 6th annual Epicurean Classic which features the country's finest chefs, cheese, wine and beer experts, culinary authors and practitioners. Join us on the Lake Michigan shoreline for a three-day tasty Epicurean bonanza of cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, receptions, guest-chef dinners and more. Follow us on Twitter, or Facebook and get all the updates.