Check out these seven festivals in Livingston County this summer

Ari Hickman
·4 min read

LIVINGSTON COUNTY — What better way to welcome summer than with a celebration? And there's plenty of them coming up in Livingston County.

Events like the Fowlerville Family Fair and Howell Melon Festival have well-established histories, but others like the Brighton Street Art Fair are making their debut this summer.

Here's our (non-exhaustive) guide to upcoming summer festivals:

Payton Jones, left, and her sister Olivia Jones ride the Granny Bugs at the Hamburg Family Fun Fest in 2022.
Payton Jones, left, and her sister Olivia Jones ride the Granny Bugs at the Hamburg Family Fun Fest in 2022.

Hamburg Family Fun Fest: June 12-16

The Hamburg Family Fun Fest, organized by the Hamburg Enhanced Recreation Organization, will see admission and activities free of charge — though rides require wristbands. You can purchase unlimited passes for $25 per day. Parking is $5.

Besides food and attractions, the four-day event includes the annual Freedom Run, a fireworks show, a bicycle giveaway, and a magic show. Other offerings include:

  • A second annual cornhole tournament

  • Mobile escape rooms

  • A mobile zoo

  • A mini-golf tournament

  • Youth archery

  • Glass blowing

Learn more at hamburgfunfest.com.

Hell-o Summer Fest: June 15

Feel the heat at the seventh annual Hell-o Summer Fest in Hell, Michigan. From 11 a.m.-5 p.m., visitors will be treated to an array of spooky attractions, including entertainment, shopping and food.

Admission and parking are free. Vendors are welcome free of charge, though they must be pre-approved by the festival coordinator. Entertainment includes a live performance from Buddy Keys.

The Michigan Challenge Balloonfest, hosted at Howell High School, begins at 2 p.m. June 28.
The Michigan Challenge Balloonfest, hosted at Howell High School, begins at 2 p.m. June 28.

Michigan Challenge Balloonfest: June 28-30

The Michigan Challenge Balloonfest, hosted at Howell High School, begins at 2 p.m. June 28, followed by all-day events from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. June 29-30. Daily admission to the event is $5 per person. Full-weekend passes, which can be purchased on Friday, June 28, are $10. Carnival passes are sold separately. Parking is free.

Although balloon launches only occur in the evening, weather permitting, there are plenty of activities and attractions offered daily. Along with over twenty carnival rides, there will be a classic car show, live music, an exotic animal exhibit, multiple food vendors, fireworks and a pilot meet-and-greet.

Learn more at michiganchallenge.com.

A Taste of Brighton: July 12-13

Brighton’s largest festival will return this summer after facing multiple hurdles since 2020. The event will run 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Friday, July 12, and 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturday, July 13.

More: A Taste of Brighton will return 'bigger and better' in 2024

A nonprofit of the same name, which also organizes Ladies Night Out and Small Business Saturday, is responsible for organizing the festival. It aims to exhibit Brighton’s businesses, restaurants and vendors. This year, there will be the usual shopping opportunities, live performances and children’s entertainment. There will also be new attractions, like trivia and a mobile gaming trailer.

Thousands have attended the festival in the past. While public parking is free, downtown Brighton is expected to be incredibly busy. Organizers are hoping to run shuttles to transport visitors from other locations across the city.

Fowlerville Family Fair: July 22-27

The Fowlerville Family Fair holds the title of the oldest ongoing annual festival in Livingston County. Organized primarily by the Fowlerville Agricultural Society, the festival will open its gates daily from 1 p.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday, July 22-27.

Parking is free and gate admission is $5. Daily ride passes are $30.

The fair also hosts daily events and competitions, such as harness racing, animal auctions, a rodeo and a draft horse show. The festival will also have:

  • The selection of a Fair Queen

  • A youth show for members of the Junior Agricultural Society

  • A youth spelling bee

  • The selection of Homemaker of the Year

  • The selection of Citizen of the Year

Learn more at fowlervillefamilyfair.com.

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The annual mascot race takes place during Howell's Melon Festival on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023.
The annual mascot race takes place during Howell's Melon Festival on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023.

Howell Melon Festival: Aug. 16-18

The Howell Melon Festival, organized by Howell Recreation and the Howell Melon Festival Committee, celebrates the area's history of locally-grown melons. While admission to the three-day event is completely free, many food trucks and vendors will sell a variety of goods and treats. Highlights include melon-flavored ice cream and craft beer.

Shopping is available daily. The 47th Annual Howell Melon Run will run 7-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, while the Melon Quest Scavenger Hunt runs throughout the weekend. The Melon Classic Golf Scramble and Melon Ball will take place the weekend prior to the festival, on Aug. 9 and 10, respectively.

Brighton Street Art Fair: Aug. 23-25

For the first time, Brighton will be host the Brighton Street Art Fair. The Guild of Artists and Artisans will partner with the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce to produce the new event. Nearly 100 artists will showcase their work alongside live music and interactive exhibits.

Other festivals hosted by the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce include Pinckney Art in the Park from June 1-2, Brighton’s Yellowstone Country Music Festival on June 22, and Brighton's Smokin’ Jazz and Barbeque Blues Festival from Sept. 6-7.

— Ari Hickman is a sophomore at Brighton High School and a freelancer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Check out these seven festivals in Livingston County this summer