EMPIRE, MICH. -- Looking for something new to do on your vacation to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore this summer?
Visitor programs are in full swing for the season at the Lakeshore, marking a return to normalcy after park programming was put on hold for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
From twilight ranger talks to beach yoga to Sleeping Bear’s popular Star Parties, summer 2022′s visitor events highlight the area’s rich history and natural wonders.
Read on for a peek at what’s to come, and find more events through the park’s online calendar, as well as events with Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes and Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. Remember that a valid park pass is required for entry to Sleeping Bear Dunes. Details here
Twilight Talks: Join raingers for evening programming at D.H. Day Campground & Platte River Campground, every week on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (except for 08/12 and 08/13). Topics are updated weekly. 7:30 pm — 8:15 pm, July 3-Sept 4. Free. Dates and details here
Stations of the Storm & Lyle Gun Demonstrations: Do you have what it takes to be a surfman of the U.S. Lifesaving Service? To find out, join park rangers on Thursdays from 1-3pm at the Maritime Museum to complete a series of “stations” as part of the rescue duties of the surfman stationed the Sleeping Bear Point Station. Held every Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Maritime Museum Grounds in Glen Haven. Afterward, stay for a 15-minute demonstration of the life-saving Lyle Gun, the only cannon ever designed to save lives. Held at the Maritime Museum Beach promptly at 3 p.m. Thursdays. Free. More details here
Star Parties: After a two-year Covid-19 hiatus, Sleeping Bear’s popular Star Parties are back. Join Park Rangers and the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society (GTAS) for monthly guided explorations of the night sky; each event will have drop-in telescopes and information stations for you to visit at your leisure. These events will be cancelled if the sky is not visible due to weather conditions. Held at the Dune Climb on July 23, Aug. 22, Sept. 10, Sept. 24, and Oct. 8. Free. Times and details, including parking information, on the Sleeping Bear Dunes calendar here.
Port Oneida Historic Bike Tours: Get a close-up guided tour of Port Oneida’s rural landscape, including farming, logging and maritime heritage, imagining life in the early 19th century. Hosted by Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear; choose from three tours, ranging from 4.5 miles to 8 miles. Bring your own bike, or rent through The Cyclery in Glen Arbor at a discount. This program raises funds for historic preservation and interpretation in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. More information and booking details here
Horse and Wagon Tours: Clip-clop back in time to experience the Port Oneida Historic District the way they did in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Travel in the footsteps of early pioneers down the back roads of Port Oneida, where you’ll learn about the history of this significant agricultural community with rolling hills and 18 farmsteads. Held Tuesdays and Thursdays starting July 7. Hosted by Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. Reservations required. More information and booking details here
Yoga on the Beach: Hosted by the nonprofit Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, this gentle, all-level yoga class is held every Friday morning on the lovely lakeshore of Sleeping Bear Point’s Maritime Museum. This is a donation-based class that provides funds to park projects; suggested donation is $10 per class. The 2022 season runs through the summer until Labor Day weekend; classes may be cancelled due to rain. More details here
Port Oneida Fair: Every August, the Port Oneida Rural Historic District awakens from its peaceful slumber and comes alive with activity true to the period when it was a community of settlers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The two-day festival features ranger talks, live demonstrations, crafts, food and more. Hosted by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. More details here
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