12Jun
Tawas Bay Walleye Tournament
Annual walleye tournament in Tawas Bay, drawing anglers from across Michigan and Ohio. Three days, prize pool, weigh-in at East Tawas Harbor.
2026 Calendar · 6 featured events
Updated May 17, 2026
What's on the coast.
From walleye tournaments in June to the AuSable Canoe Marathon in July and Headlands star parties in October — the Sunrise Coast event calendar runs year-round.
★ Featured event
Alpena Brown Trout Festival.
The Alpena Brown Trout Festival runs July 17–26, 2026 in Alpena, Michigan — nine days of fishing tournaments, music, and a downtown parade. The $10,000 Super Tournament weekend is July 25–26. It is the longest continuously running fishing festival in the Great Lakes.
2026 calendar
June 2026
The Sunrise Coast fishing season opens with the Tawas Bay Walleye Tournament, June 12–14, 2026, from East Tawas Harbor. Three days of competition walleye fishing with a live dock weigh-in and a Saturday fish fry that draws anglers from across Michigan and Ohio. For the full Tawas-area calendar — bird migration days, Memorial Day arts & crafts, SummerFest, Tawas Uncork'd, Blues by the Bay, Perchville on the ice — see the Tawas events calendar.
July 2026
July is the busiest month on the coast. The Alpena Brown Trout Festival runs July 17–26, 2026, with the $10,000 Super Tournament weekend July 25–26. The AuSable Canoe Marathon LeMans-starts at 9:00 PM Saturday, July 25 in Grayling and finishes 120 miles downriver in Oscoda by Sunday morning.
17Jul
Alpena Brown Trout Festival
Nine days of tournaments, music, parade, and the $10,000 Super Tournament. The longest-running continuous fishing festival in the Great Lakes.
25Jul
AuSable River Canoe Marathon
120-mile overnight paddling race from Grayling to Oscoda. LeMans-style running start at 9:00 PM Saturday. The Toughest Spectator Race in America.
August 2026
The Rogers City Nautical Festival runs August 6–9, 2026 at Rogers City Harbor — four days of sailboat parades in the harbor, a free climb of 40 Mile Point Lighthouse, a perch fry, and a harbor fireworks finale. Continuously held since 1953.
06Aug
Rogers City Nautical Festival
Sailboat parade in the harbor, free 40 Mile Point Lighthouse climb, perch fry, and harbor fireworks. The town's been doing it since 1953.
September 2026
The Alcona Sunrise Photography Workshop runs September 19–20, 2026 along the quiet midcoast based in Harrisville. Two days of landscape sessions at Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, Negwegon State Park, and Lake Huron sunrise locations — timed for autumn light before peak fall color.
19Sep
Alcona Sunrise Photography Workshop
Two-day landscape photography workshop along the quiet midcoast — Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, Negwegon State Park, and Lake Huron sunrise sessions.
October 2026
The Headlands Dark Sky Star Party is the evening of Saturday, October 4, 2026, from 7:00 PM at Headlands International Dark Sky Park in Mackinaw City. Free guided astronomy at one of the first internationally certified dark sky parks east of the Mississippi. Telescopes provided.
04Oct
Headlands Dark Sky Star Party
Free evening of guided astronomy at one of the first internationally certified dark sky parks east of the Mississippi. Telescopes provided.