Memorial Day Weekend Events & Festivals in Southwestern Michigan

With hundreds of miles of white-sand beaches and thousands of acres of fertile fruit orchards, vineyards and farmlands, southwestern Michigan eyes Memorial Day as the year's economic harbinger. With so much riding on the tourist trade, venues work hard to offer an array of activities, events and festivals to lure visitors to the tiny towns and quaint villages beyond the beaches and sand dunes.

Here's a sampling of what goes on in southwestern during the long Memorial Day weekend:

Friday, May 26

St. Joseph - The small, quaint City of St. Joseph typically hosts the area's first of many annual Memorial Day Parades, this year on Friday, May 26, from noon to 1 p.m. This year's event is sponsored by former and long-time Mayor Frank Walsh and his wife, Shar. The patriotic "Salute to America" steps off in the heart of downtown at Broad Street and moves to the bluff overlooking the convergence of the St. Joseph River and Lake Michigan. Traditional flag-raising and veterans' honors ceremonies are held in the John Howard Band Shell. For more information, contact the merchants' association, St. Joseph Today at http://www.sjtoday.org.

New Buffalo - Friday of Memorial Day weekend is the traditional kick-off of the area's first summer festival, the decidedly small-town but big-fun St. Mary's Of The Lake Festival. Lots of food, fun, games and a carnival midway full of rides fill the weekend. This festival is hugely attended and a favorite with families! For details, visit the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce at http://www.harborcountry.org.

Jones - Thunder Valley Speedway near Jones, Michigan is among the first to host Memorial Day fireworks, beginning as darkness falls on Friday, May 26. The event is centered at 58671 M-40 Highway, but park your vehicle anywhere along the roadside nearby and get a great show! For more information, visit thundervalleyspeedwayllc.com

Saturday, May 27