ROAD TRIP-WORTHY HAPPENINGS ALONG THE LAKE MICHIGAN SHORE
Say goodbye to cabin fever with this curated guide to spring events. Explore gatherings around art, food, drink, music, and nature—from baby goat snuggles to a unique collection of dining experiences. New events will be added as they’re announced, so check back often.
Granor Farm Dinners
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays | Three Oaks, MI
Set in a stunning dine-in greenhouse, Granor Farm’s popular weekly dinner series is a treat. Tour the farm before settling in for a multi-course, organic Granor-grown meal celebrating the expansive food culture of Southwest Michigan. Notable this season: Themed dinners, including a Birdsong Listening Party to celebrate the Spring Equinox. Tickets are limited, so early purchase is a must. $125+
Newroz Festival at Café Gulistan
March 29 | Harbert, MI
Welcome the fresh spring air and new beginnings at Café Gulistan, where they’re celebrating the Kurdish new year, Newroz, with food and music inspired by Kurdish tradition. The fest doubles as a release party for owner Livia Gazzolo’s latest single. Grab a table before 6 pm to see Livia and her Chicago-based band perform it live.
DIY Workshops and Art Classes at Handmade Studio
Starting April 1 | Sawyer, MI
Get in touch with your inner artist at Handmade, an artist-run DIY workshop and studio. Starting April 1, they’re celebrating a move to a bigger, brighter storefront on Sawyer Road. Try your hand at woodblock printing, ceramics, collage, laser-cutting and more ways to make and play.
Baby Goat Snuggles at Verdant Hollow Farm
Saturdays | April 4–May 2 | Buchanan, MI
We can’t think of a more adorable way to welcome spring than with bouncy baby goats. Don’t sleep on this one-month-only opportunity to cuddle the kids at Verdant Hollow Farms. Ages 5 and up. Tickets on sale March 15. $20
Tickets | Explore Verdant Hollow
Murder Mystery Dinner at Lakeside Inn
April 4 | Lakeside, MI
Outdoor barbecue vibes meets who-dunnit intrigue at Lakeside Inn’s latest murder mystery dinner, Grillin, Chillin and Killin. Guests play the main characters, but the Lakeside’s charming, early 1900s lobby and game room are the real stars of the show. Tapa Taco caters a South American feast. $45
Journeyman Artisan Market
April 11–12 | Three Oaks, MI
Peruse handcrafted home goods, jewelry, art, clothing, and other wares by local artisans inside Journeyman’s historic, 19th-century factory space. Hearty pub food and cocktails featuring the distillery’s award-winning spirits are there when you need a mid-shopping pick-me-up.
Learn More | Explore Journeyman
Record Store Day with Helado Negro at Out There
April 18 | Sawyer, MI
What’s better than Record Store Day at a record store? Record Store Day at a blissed-out wine bar. The Out There crew works their music-industry connections to bring in buddy Roberto Carlos Lange (a.k.a. Helado Negro) for a special DJ set. Bonus: Every record he plays from his private collection will also be for sale, that day only. Add a couple glasses of pét-nat, and it’s a dance party waiting to happen.
Learn More | Explore Out There
Welter’s Folly Big Cup Putting Tournament
April 19 | Three Oaks, MI
Grab a partner and show off your putting skills on one of the world’s largest 18-hole putting greens. Welter’s Folly features 30,000 square feet of manicured lawn behind Journeyman Distillery. Registration includes commemorative golf balls, a Journeyman spirits tasting, and a chance to win cash prizes. $40
Learn More | Explore Welter’s Folly
Erik Hall at Lakeside Inn
April 19 | Lakeside, MI
Fresh off a national tour, musician/composer (and NBX Music alum) Erik Hall comes home for his first-ever solo piano performance in Southwest Michigan. Canto Ostinato, the program’s featured piece, is considered a masterpiece of Dutch minimalism. Erik’s elegant reinterpretation is a must-hear. $20
Slo Coast Meets Third Coast at Out There
April 23 | Sawyer, MI
Out There hosts minimal intervention winemakers from California’s Parr Collective and Scar of the Sea/Lady of the Sunshine, plus local vigneron Max Eichberg of Stranger Wine. The OT crew bills it an “equal parts wine tasting, seminar, and informal house party.” Sounds like fun to us. $30
Art Attack
April 24–26 | various locations
A three-day, community-wide celebration of ‘All That Is Art.’ Openings, exhibitions, demos, performance, and interactive activities explore a wide range of media from visual art and music to food and design. No rules or restrictions—Art Attack embraces it all. Our most homegrown and eclectic art event of the year.
Learn More | Explore Art Attack
Farmers Markets
Thursday–Sunday beginning May 1 | various locations
Farmers markets are a summer staple on the lakeshore, each with its own unique scene and offerings. In addition to the traditional markets linked below, consider a visit to Granor Farm’s fantastic onsite farm store, as well as Mick Klüg Farm’s adorable farmstand in downtown New Buffalo.
New Buffalo Market | Three Oaks Market | Skip’s European Market
Goat Hikes at Verdant Hollow Farms
Saturdays starting May 16 | Buchanan, MI
Back for another season, take a hike through pasture and woods with Verdant Hollow’s friendly herd of goats as your guide. Super social creatures by nature, they’re perfect ambassadors as you explore the farm. Ages 5 and up. $25
Tickets | Explore Verdant Hollow
Sessa at Out There
May 17 | Sawyer, MI
Get a head start on sunny, summer vibes at Out There, where they’re hosting São Paulo artist Sessa and his jazzy, tropicália-tinged sound. Local Tip: Ticketed events at Out There sell out quickly, and they don’t disappoint. $25
Learn More | Explore Out There
Granor Farm Organic Seedling Sale
May 24 | Three Oaks, MI
A flagship event for organic gardeners, Granor’s annual sale takes place in its expansive glass greenhouse. (So remarkable, it alone is worth the visit.) Find certified organic vegetable, herb, and flower seedlings—all grown on site—as well as expert advice from the team. While you’re there, stop by the farm store for fresh produce, grains, Granor kitchen fare, and a first taste of Granor’s new Blackberry Amaro, farm-distilled with Granor-grown organic blackberries.
Marisa Anderson at Out There
May 31 | Sawyer, MI
Back at Out There: Multi-genre guitar legend Marisa Anderson makes a stop on her U.S. solo tour for an intimate show in the wine bar. Known for traversing styles and sounds, she’s recently inspired by mid-century music from the Islamic world, Southeast Asia, and the Soviet Union. $20
Learn More | Explore Out There
Harbor Country Pride
June 1–7 | various locations
Music, dance, drag, and drinks—with more events to be announced closer to kickoff time. It’s a week to celebrate queer community and expression along the lakeshore. All are welcome to this buoyant, colorful party.
Three Oaks Music in the Park
Saturdays beginning June 13 | Three Oaks, MI
A perfect small-town community concert series set in Three Oaks’ Dewey Cannon Park. Pack a picnic or grab chef Pat Mullins’ housemade snacks at P&E Bottle Shop. The chill, neighborly vibe here is what summer on the lakeshore is all about.
words Collette DiJohn Kemper, Lena Singer
updated March 25, 2026
