Small Town Michigan Festival Offers Music, Shopping and More

Small town Michigan offers really fun things to do in the summer, especially when it comes to festivals. One town is gearing up for one of the biggest small town Michigan festivals, and even outside of the festival, this town offers music, shopping and more all summer. It's hard to believe, but summer is already starting to wind down, so now is the time to get out there and enjoy the season. Thankfully, we still officially have two months of summer left, but come August, school starts in many areas of Michigan, so it almost feels like July is the last full summer month.

Marshall, Michigan, offers lots of summer activities. If you've never been to Marshall, it's totally worth the road trip. It's like a scene out of a Hallmark movie. During the summertime in downtown Marshall, find free outdoor music performances all around the area. Some of the places bringing in bands include SandHill, Dark Horse Brewing Co., Fridays at the Fountain and the Lyon Lake Grill & Event Center.

"Summer in Marshall isn't just about relaxation; it's a vibrant celebration of community and culture," a release about the city states. "The town comes alive with a diverse calendar of events, ensuring there's something for everyone. Here are a few highlights to ignite your summer wanderlust."

So, what's the small town Michigan festival on the way in Marshall? It's Rock the Block on Saturday (July 20). According to a release, this event will feature a pet fashion show; animal encounters; a dog ice cream eating contest; face painting; a celebrity dunk tank; photos and autographs with Dan Miller from the Detroit Lions; a Coney Dog eating contest; live music and more. How awesome is that? Another big festival is coming up from July 25 through 27 with Marshall Bluegrass Festival. This event features both national and local musicians. "Beyond the music, indulge in delicious festival fare, workshops, explore the booths of unique vendors, and participate in family-friendly activities," a release states. "Whether you're a seasoned bluegrass aficionado or simply enjoy the energy of live music, this festival promises to create lasting memories."

Also, on Aug. 3 is Marshall Motorfest, offering a ton of sidewalk sales, a DJ, a sock hop, food vendors, outdoor games and ice cream trucks. Then, the main event will have you going back in time with a classic cars cruise down Michigan Avenue. Contact me with your favorite small town Michigan festivals and events.

Summer always brings a bevy of vacation options, some more exotic than others. But, you don't have to travel far or do something major to have a great vacation. There are many fun and affordable staycation ideas that can give you a memorable vacation memory by just staying close to home.

So, what exactly is the definition of a staycation? It's pretty self-explanatory, but according to the Oxford Dictionary, it's "a vacation spent in one's home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions. Similarly, Merriam-Webster says it's, "a vacation spent at home or nearby." I think it's a stretch to call any vacation that's spent in your home country a staycation. That would mean that someone living in Michigan who travels to California for a vacation is really having a "staycation." It makes much more sense to define a staycation as a vacation where you literally stay at home or do something fun in your local area. Thankfully, there are a plethora of great staycation ideas out there.

Plenty of cities have "be a tourist in your own town" activities promoted by their local city tourist bureaus, which are perfect for a staycation. Really, staycations have been around forever, but they increased in popularity during the pandemic, when people actually weren't allowed to travel abroad. Still, even after the pandemic, the staycation is going strong. According to an international study by tourism and hospitality experts in the U.S. and China, the "staycation phenomenon" that started during the pandemic is still very popular and likely to stay as a new normal. The study, dubbed "Customer Preferences for Staycation Package Attributes," is published online in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. It researched the local staycation preferences of Chinese tourists, as well as staycation information from the U.S., Netherlands and Indonesia.

I love a good staycation. It can be stressful to plan a huge trip to squeeze into your time off. By the time you get everything packed, do all the flight stuff and get to your hotel, you might just feel like resting for the short while that you're at your destination. What's more, you can often find so many great places close to home that you've never experienced before. I've had so many great staycations where I ventured to a part of town or the state that I had never been before, and those are among my favorite vacation memories. In that spirit, here are some fun and affordable staycation ideas. Send me your ideas, too.

Have a vacation in your living room or bedroom. Make it a movie-watching marathon. Watch a string of your favorite guilty-pleasure movies or binge-watch a brand new series. Either way, it'll be cozy and comfy.

If you have a state or national park nearby, use your vacation time to go adventuring. Being at a local park can offer some breathtaking scenery, especially in the summer. Have a picnic out there, too. If you don't have a state or national park close by, try a local park.

Nearly every town has a local museum or art gallery. Perhaps you've never really had the time to visit your local museum or art spot. Use your vacation time to explore those local spots, and you might find a new favorite place.

If you've driven by that new hotel for a while and wondered what it's like inside, why not book it for a night? You don't have to be traveling to say at a hotel, Airbnb or local bed-and-breakfast. It can make for an exciting adventure right in your backyard.

Using vacation time to plan a big party for friends is a good use of that time. Instead of traveling around the world, bring to world to you. Invite lots of your good friends, and spend some of the cash you would have on a vacation for your party. It'll be the party of the year. Make that decade.

Pamper yourself. Maybe you think having a spa day is too much of a luxury, but if you're saving money by not taking a big trip, why not use that money for a spa day? It's not just for ladies, either. Guys can book a spa day for a variety of services. It'll make for a day of bliss.