Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes
Cadillac
For lake and trail people in every season: two lakes, a state park beach between them, the end of the White Pine Trail and a big winter trail network.
Holiday · Festival · Parade · Family · Cadillac
Cadillac Freedom Festival
Cadillac's Fourth of July weekend: a downtown parade, a car show, a 5K by the lake, a fire-on-water military tribute and fireworks over Lake Cadillac.
The Freedom Festival is Cadillac’s big summer weekend, built around the Fourth. A volunteer committee puts it on, and the lineup has stayed steady: the parade, the car show, the fire-on-water tribute, the 5K, kids’ activities and fireworks over Lake Cadillac.
Check the festival’s Facebook page for the year’s schedule before you plan around a particular event.
What to expect
The festival runs about three days around the Fourth. In 2025 that meant a craft and vendor show, a downtown parade and a drone show on Friday, the Freedom 5K along the lakeshore, a classic car cruise and fireworks over the lake on Saturday, and church in the park on Sunday. Most events are downtown at the Cadillac Commons.
Location
Where Cadillac Freedom Festival happens
4 places on an OpenStreetMap map
The pin marks the town; check the organizer for exact venues.
About Cadillac
Nearby attractions
Straight-line distances, not driving distances.
Trail
Fred Meijer White Pine Trail
A 92-mile paved rail trail whose northern end is in Cadillac, for long rides south through towns, farmland and woods toward Grand Rapids.
About 1 miles away (straight line)
State park
William Mitchell State Park
Cadillac's state park between Lake Mitchell and Lake Cadillac, with a campground, the Clam Lake Canal and the start of the White Pine Trail.
About 3 miles away (straight line)
Ski area
Caberfae Peaks
A ski resort west of Cadillac with 27 runs and 5 lifts across three peaks, plus about 10 miles of cross-country trails that are free to use.
About 15 miles away (straight line)
Places to stay nearby
Resort
Caberfae Peaks Ski and Golf Resort
West of Cadillac in Wexford County
A long-running ski and golf resort west of Cadillac, with three peaks for downhill skiing, a nine-hole golf course and a lodge at the base.
Hotel · Budget
Hampton Inn & Suites Cadillac
On Cecil Road off US-131 (exit 183), on the north side of Cadillac
A Hampton Inn & Suites built in 2026 off US-131 on the north side of Cadillac, with an indoor pool and breakfast included.
More events in and around Cadillac
- Cadillac Festival of the ArtsThree days of art in downtown Cadillac each July: an art fair in the park, an artisan market, a food fair on Lake Street and free music.
- Elk Rapids Harbor DaysElk Rapids' summer festival since 1955: several days of parades, car shows, races and contests around the harbor, ending with fireworks on Saturday night.
- Interlochen Arts FestivalInterlochen's summer season of concerts and performances, from student orchestras to touring headliners at Kresge Auditorium on Green Lake.
- National Cherry FestivalA week-long July celebration of the region's cherry crop, with concerts, parades, an air show and free family events spread across Traverse City.