Charlevoix & Petoskey
Petoskey
A walkable bay town for stone hunting, shopping the Gaslight District and riding the Little Traverse Wheelway, with historic Bay View next door.
Holiday · Parade · Music · Petoskey
Petoskey's Fourth of July
Petoskey's Fourth: an evening parade down Mitchell Street to Pennsylvania Park, music near the breakwall and fireworks over Little Traverse Bay at dusk.
Petoskey’s Fourth is a tradition that spans many decades, put on by the Sunrise Rotary Club of Petoskey with help from the city and local groups. The day builds toward the evening parade and the fireworks over the bay.
Bayfront Park is the favorite fireworks spot and fills up, so park early and walk in, or watch from Sunset Park, Petoskey State Park, the breakwall (note its closing time) or the Little Traverse Wheelway.
What to expect
The parade typically starts at Petoskey High School in the evening and ends at the gazebo in Pennsylvania Park. Music plays near the breakwall, and fireworks go up at dusk from East Bayfront Park over Little Traverse Bay. In 2026 there was also a block party on July 3.
Location
Where Petoskey's Fourth of July happens
4 places on an OpenStreetMap map
The pin marks the town; check the organizer for exact venues.
About Petoskey
Nearby attractions
Straight-line distances, not driving distances.
Attraction
Crooked Tree Arts Center
Petoskey's arts center in a restored 1890 church on Mitchell Street, with free galleries, a 220-seat theater and classes year-round.
Under a mile away (straight line)
Trail
Little Traverse Wheelway
A paved, non-motorized trail along Little Traverse Bay linking Charlevoix, Petoskey and Harbor Springs, much of it with open views of the water.
Under a mile away (straight line)
Museum
Little Traverse History Museum
Petoskey's history museum in the 1892 railroad depot on the waterfront, with a Hemingway collection and exhibits on Native American history and lumbering.
Under a mile away (straight line)
Places to stay nearby
Inn · Mid-range
Bay View Inn
On Woodland Avenue in Bay View, on Little Traverse Bay
A Victorian country inn from the 1880s in the Bay View Association, run for more than 60 years by Stafford Smith and his family before new owners took over.
Resort
Boyne Mountain
In Boyne Falls, south of Petoskey
A year-round ski and golf resort in Boyne Falls with downhill and Nordic skiing, two golf courses, an indoor waterpark and a spa.
Hotel · Budget
Holiday Inn Express and Suites Petoskey
On US-131 on the south side of Petoskey
A hilltop chain hotel on Petoskey's south side with 82 rooms and suites, some with views toward Little Traverse Bay.
Resort · Upscale
Inn at Bay Harbor
On Little Traverse Bay in Bay Harbor, west of Petoskey
A lakeshore inn in the Bay Harbor community outside Petoskey, with views of Little Traverse Bay, a spa and a seasonal afternoon tea.
Hotel · Mid-range
Hotel Perry
On Lewis Street in downtown Petoskey, overlooking Little Traverse Bay
Downtown Petoskey's only hotel, opened in 1899 and the one survivor of the 21 hotels Petoskey had in 1900.
Inn
Terrace Inn
On Glendale Avenue in Bay View, near Petoskey
A historic hotel in the Bay View Association that opened on June 1, 1911, and still houses the 1911 Restaurant.
Resort
The Highlands at Harbor Springs
Near Harbor Springs, north of Petoskey
A Boyne-owned ski and golf resort near Harbor Springs, known as Boyne Highlands until 2022, with several golf courses and downhill skiing.
More events in and around Petoskey
- Downtown Petoskey Holiday ParadeA late-morning holiday parade in downtown Petoskey with decorated floats, local organizations and the Petoskey High School Marching Band.
- Petoskey Art in the ParkA one-day July art fair with about 120 booths in Pennsylvania Park in downtown Petoskey, now past its 40th year.
- Winter Wonderland WeekendA February weekend in downtown Petoskey with ice sculptures, ice carving demonstrations and winter shopping and dining along the downtown streets.
- Bay View Fourth of JulyBay View's old-fashioned Fourth morning: a children's bike parade, a parade through the cottage streets and a reading of the Declaration of Independence.
- 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.
- Blissfest Music FestivalA three-day folk, world and roots music festival with camping at the 200-acre Festival Farm outside Harbor Springs, held the second weekend in July.