Charlevoix & Petoskey · Small town
East Jordan
For paddlers and anyone avoiding crowds: the Jordan, Michigan's first designated Natural River, floats into this small city at the south tip of Lake Charlevoix.
Festival · Parade · Family · East Jordan
East Jordan Freedom Festival
East Jordan's five-day summer festival: Friday block party, youth and grand parades, a carnival and fireworks from a barge on the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix.
The Freedom Festival is East Jordan’s big week, run by an all-volunteer board and drawing more than 10,000 people over five days. It is a classic small-town festival: parades, a carnival, music and a fireworks finale over the water.
The festival has been held in late June (June 24 to 28 in 2026). Check the festival site for the year’s dates and schedule.
What to expect
The festival opens with an old-fashioned Friday night block party with food, music and games, and includes a Youth Parade and a Grand Parade, a kids' night, a carnival, food booths and live entertainment. On Saturday at dusk, fireworks are launched from a barge on the South Arm.
Location
Where East Jordan Freedom Festival happens
4 places on an OpenStreetMap map
The pin marks the town; check the organizer for exact venues.
About East Jordan
Nearby attractions
Straight-line distances, not driving distances.
Beach
Tannery Beach
Boyne City's dog-friendly beach on Lake Charlevoix at 862 Front Street, with cleanup supplies on hand and an easy put-in for kayaks and canoes.
About 6 miles away (straight line)
State park
Young State Park
Boyne City's state park on Lake Charlevoix, with a swimming beach, a boat launch, three modern campgrounds and 6.5 miles of trails.
About 7 miles away (straight line)
Beach
Peninsula Beach
Boyne City's in-town beach on Front Street, a short walk from downtown, with a splash pad, playground, restrooms, picnic tables and a Mobi Mat. No lifeguard.
About 7 miles away (straight line)
More events in and around East Jordan
- Portside Art FairA juried weekend art fair at Elm Pointe on Lake Charlevoix, held the first full weekend of August with live music and the historical museum open.
- Bay View Music FestivalA summer music festival in Bay View, billed as the longest continuously operating chamber music festival in the country, with Sunday vesper concerts.