Michigan's West Coast Lighthouse Festival
The last Lighthouse Festival was held in 2014.
The Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association invites you to Michigan's West Coast Lighthouse Festival held annually the first full weekend in June. Activities are planned from Muskegon to Manistee at six different lighthouses along 90-plus miles of Lake Michigan shoreline.
Activities are focused at White River Light Station in Whitehall, Little Sable Point Lighthouse at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, Ludington North Breakwater Light in downtown Ludington and Big Sable Point Lighthouse in the Ludington State Park.
The lighthouses plan extended hours throughout the weekend along with various special activities.
West Coast Lighthouse Festival Events
Here's what happened in 2014
All SPLKA lighthouses (Big Sable Point, Little Sable Point, Ludington North Breakwater Light and White River Light Station) extended hours over the weekend. Special hours at Muskegon South Pierhead Light and Manistee Pierhead Light. Muskegon and Manistee lights open for viewing only; they are not prepared for climbing.
White River Light Station
Lee Murdock concert on the lawn at White River Light Station.
Little Sable Point Light
Spirit of the Woods chapter of the North Country Trail Association two hiking trips. The morning hike is a short beach walk. The afternoon hike is longer and for seasoned hikers.
Ruthie Eiliers from Ruthie's Cafe performs.
Children's chalk art on the pathway leading to Little Sable.
Ludington North Breakwater Light
Climb the North Breakwater Light.
Lighthouse Festival Arts/Crafts "Maritime Magic" Show, at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S. Harrison St.
At the Performance Hall of the Ludington Area Center for the Arts, an evening with Valerie vanHeast, cofounder of the Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates, speaking on the "Thomas Hume," and Lee Murdock, interpreter of songs and tales about the Great Lakes.
Big Sable Point Lighthouse
Bus days to Big Sable (slight charge).
Children's games on the grounds of Big Sable.
Events are listed according to the information available at the time of the most recent update to this schedule. The schedule is subject to change.
Extended hours of festival operation, offering grounds tours, tower climbs and history at these lights: White River Light Station, Little Sable Point Lighthouse, Ludington North Breakwater Light and Big Sable Point Lighthouse.
Admission to these lighthouses is $1-$4. There are also "All Access Passes" that may be purchased; these are $3 for children and $10 for adults. The passes are a reduced rate, giving you one admission to each of SPLKA's four lighthouses, and may be used anytime during the summer.
What a great way to usher in the summer season and celebrate the beauty and history of our lighthouses. Great family fun awaits at the West Coast Lighthouse Festival.
For more information, contact the Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association at:
(231) 845-7417 office
(231) 845-7343 Big Sable Point Lighthouse
P.O. Box 673, Ludington, MI 49431
www.splka.org
Check out Ludington Lodging for places to stay during Lighthouse Festival and Ludington Restaurants for great places to eat.
Discover More Lake Michigan Lighthouses...
Jump to:
- West Michigan Lighthouses
- Northwest Michigan Lighthouses
- Northern Michigan Lighthouses
- Wisconsin Lighthouses
Ludington's North Breakwater Light -- Walk the half-mile long pier to West Michigan's most popular lighthouse.
North Pierhead Lighthouse in Manistee -- At the Manistee beach.
Little Sable Point Lighthouse -- Located at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes.
Big Sable Point Lighthouse -- Located in the Ludington State Park.
Pentwater Pier Head Lights -- At the channel to Pentwater Lake.
Grand Haven Lighthouse -- The Grand Haven lighthouse is at the mouth of the Grand River.
White River Light Station in Whitehall -- Operated by the Sable Point Lighthouse Keepers.
www.WestMichiganLighthouses.com
Grand Traverse Light Station -- Located on the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula in Northern Michigan, The Grand Traverse Light was established in 1852.
Point Betsie Light Station -- Nestled in a dune just south of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the tower stands 39 feet tall, but with the height of the dune it towers 52 feet above Lake Michigan.
www.NorthwestMichiganLighthouses.com
Harbor Point Lighthouse -- Located in Harbor Springs in Northern Michigan.
McGulpin Point Lighthouse -- This lighthouse is located in the Straits of Mackinac at Mackinaw City.
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse -- Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse is in Mackinaw City.
www.NorthernMichiganLighthouses.com
Manitowoc North Breakwater - Walk out to the end of the pier to this Manitowoc lighthouse, and wave to the carferry S.S. Badger as the ship passes by.
Algoma North Pierhead - This lighthouse can be seen all along the Crescent Beach Boardwalk and is accessible via the pier if you want to venture closer.
Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse - Located in Kewaunee, Wisconsin...halfway between Sturgeon Bay and Manitowoc along Lake Michigan.