Discover the beauty and stories woven into every shoreline, forest, and village. This summer, explore seven memorable ways to connect with Leelanau’s rich history—through music, trails, lighthouses, festivals, and more. Slow down, savor each moment, and celebrate the people and places that make this peninsula unique.
1. Experience Music at a Historic Venue
- Leelanau County Poor Farm Barn Summer Picnic Music Series
Gather at the historic Leelanau County Poor Farm Barn—built in 1901 as a place of care for the county’s most vulnerable. Today, under the stewardship of the Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society, this cherished landmark is being restored as a vibrant site for community events, education, and fundraising.
Learn more: https://lchp.org/
2. Explore Trails Through Historic Farms
- Ruby Ellen Rex Dobson Farm & Hiking Trail
Explore the scenic trails of the historic Dobson farmstead in Bingham Township, beginning at the barn and winding through fields and orchards shaped by generations. Walk in the footsteps of one of Leelanau’s pioneering farming families and glimpse a century of agricultural heritage.
Learn more: Ruby Ellen Rex Dobson Farm
- Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail & Port Oneida Fair
Ride, walk, or run through Port Oneida, a historic rural district dotted with 19th-century farmsteads. Visit in August for the Port Oneida Fair, featuring hands-on demos that bring the past to life. This scenic trail connects visitors to the people and places that shaped early Leelanau.
Learn more: Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail
3. Tour Historic Lighthouses
- The Crib & North Manitou Shoal Lighthouses
Join limited summer tours to this offshore light station that once guided mariners through the treacherous Manitou Passage.
This lights were critical in the late 1900s, marking one of the most dangerous stretches of Lake Michigan, known for fierce storms and countless shipwrecks.
Learn more: North Manitou Light Keepers
- South Manitou Island Lighthouse (via Manitou Island Transit)
Take a day trip with Manitou Island Transit, a family-run ferry service for over a century. Tour the 1871 lighthouse, climb the tower for stunning views, and learn about the keepers who guided ships through the treacherous Manitou Passage.
Learn more: South Manitou Lighthouse Complex
4. Dine on Local Cuisine with a Taste of History
- Locals – Lake Leelanau
Dine at Locals, a new restaurant in the former Thunderbird Gift Shop, just steps from Lake Leelanau. Enjoy creative dishes rooted in local traditions, surrounded by historic photos that celebrate the community’s past.
Learn more: Locals-Lake Leelanau
- Polish Countryside Kitchen
Farm to Fork Polish Cuisine, utilizing their own farm grown meats from Polish Heritage Farm. Traditional Polish fare Food Truck located in Cedar, MI.
Learn More: Polish Countryside Kitchen
5. Explore Festivals that Celebrate Our Heritage
- Cedar Polka Fest – August 21–24, 2025
Dance, eat, and celebrate at this lively festival honoring Cedar’s Eastern European heritage. Since the 1970s, the Polka Fest has carried on the joyful traditions of the Polish families who settled in the area.
Learn more: Cedar Polka Fest
- Maritime History Festival & Boat Show – September 20, 2025
Celebrate Leelanau’s rich maritime heritage at this free, family-friendly event in Leland. Explore the “Shipwrecks of the Manitou Passage” exhibit, view classic wooden boats along the Leland River, and enjoy live music, hands-on activities, and displays from local maritime organizations.
Learn more: Maritime History Festival & Classic Boat Show
6. Visit Museums to Uncover Hidden Stories
- Leelanau Historical Society Museum – Leland
Explore maritime, Native, and pioneer history through engaging exhibits. Since 1957, the museum has preserved the Leelanau Penisula’s stories for future generations.
Learn more: Leelanau Historical Society Museum
- Fishtown Welcome Shanty – New Summer of 2025!
Explore history displays inside an authentic fishing shanty by Fishtown Preservation Society. The new exhibit highlights Fishtown’s origins as an early 1900’s-present commercial fishing hub, highlights generations of fishing families, and details how the Society preserves that legacy today.
Plan your visit: Fishtown Preservation Society
7. Learn About the Anishinaabek, the Region’s First People
- Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Pow Wow
Join in a celebration of Anishinaabek heritage with traditional dancing, drumming, and food. This vibrant event honors the enduring culture of the Grand Traverse Band.
Learn more: Grand Traverse Band Pow Wow
- Kchi Wiikwedong Historic Marker Project
Find 9 signs across Leelanau and Grand Traverse honoring Kchi Wiikwedong—“The Place at the Head of the Bay.” Each marker shares Anishinaabek history, values, and a deeper connection to the land. Marker Locations:- Clinch Park (Traverse City)
- Hannah Park (Traverse City)
- West End Park (Traverse City)
- Brown Bridge Quiet Area (Grand Traverse County)
- Suttons Bay Marina Park (Suttons Bay)
- Omena Beach Park (Omena)
- Northport Marina (Northport)
- Peterson Park (Northport)
- Leelanau Historical Society Museum (Leland)
Learn more: Project Details
For more events and exhibits, subscribe to the LHS’s newsletter or visit us at leelanauhistory.org.