Southern Gateway · Small town
Whitehall and Montague
Twin towns on White Lake for a mix of lighthouse, beach and bike trail, with Duck Lake State Park nearby and the start of the Hart-Montague Trail.
Music · Festival · Family · Whitehall and Montague
Walk the Beat White Lake
A free July afternoon of live music spread across downtown Whitehall and Montague, with dozens of acts at venues you stroll between.
Walk the Beat turns the two White Lake downtowns into a music crawl for one Saturday afternoon in July. It is free, and the idea is simple: pick up the lineup and map, then wander from venue to venue.
Recent years have brought more than two dozen acts, from young players to seasoned bands, plus food trucks and family activities. The organizers post the lineup and venue map on their site before the day. Wear comfortable shoes, since the venues are spread across both towns.
What to expect
Walk the Beat is a free, one-day music festival run by a volunteer nonprofit. In 2026, 26 acts played 13 venues across downtown Whitehall and Montague over a Saturday afternoon, with food trucks, family activities and raffles that support local nonprofits.
Location
Where Walk the Beat White Lake happens
4 places on an OpenStreetMap map
The pin marks the town; check the organizer for exact venues.
About Whitehall and Montague
Nearby attractions
Straight-line distances, not driving distances.
Historic site
The Playhouse at White Lake (Howmet Playhouse)
Whitehall's 1916 theater, renovated and renamed the Playhouse at White Lake, with summer theater, Michigan music, films and youth theater.
Under a mile away (straight line)
Lighthouse
White River Light Station
An 1875 brick lighthouse at the White Lake channel, now a maritime museum, with a 38-foot tower you can climb in season.
About 5 miles away (straight line)
Attraction
Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park
A year-round adventure park inside Muskegon State Park with a luge track, lighted cross-country ski trails and skating in winter, and a zip line in summer.
About 10 miles away (straight line)
Places to stay nearby
Resort · Upscale
Michillinda Lodge
On the Lake Michigan shore on Scenic Drive, Whitehall
A long-running cottage resort on Lake Michigan near Whitehall, with guest buildings spread over wooded acres above the beach.
Confirm details before booking
Hotel · Budget
The Weathervane Inn
On the White Lake shore in downtown Montague
A 23-room inn on the White Lake waterfront in Montague, a short walk from downtown and beside the Hart-Montague trail.
More events in and around Whitehall and Montague
- White Lake Area Arts and Crafts FestivalA June weekend of artist and crafter booths at Goodrich Park in Whitehall, with live music, festival food and inflatables, now in its fifth decade.
- White Lake Fourth of JulyWhitehall and Montague share the Fourth: a parade from one city hall to the other and fireworks over White Lake around the holiday.
- Grand Haven Coast Guard FestivalA summer festival in Grand Haven honoring the U.S. Coast Guard, with waterfront mainstage events at the Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium.