Summertime in Michigan is magical… and the gorgeous weather is not the only thing making magic. The great state of Michigan is also home to many summer festivals. Each of these unique and entertaining festivals celebrates something different from mushrooms to mermaids. Today, though, I wanted to talk about a unique summertime festival that celebrates something a little more humble.
Today, I want to tell you about Yale, Michigan’s annual Bologna Festival.
Yes, I said bologna… like the sandwich meat.
Like with every good Michigan festival, the annual Bologna Festival ends its 3-day event with a spectacular fireworks display. It's the perfect way to celebrate the end of a successful event.
If pics are any indication, it looks like every single iteration of the Yale Bologna Festival could be considered a successful event. This year should be no different.
Visitors come from all over Michigan to see the spectacles at this unique summer festival. Of course, there is a parade during the event, but even that is a little different than most.
The parade down main street is called the "Big Bologna Parade". This unusual festival also hosts a bicycle parade each year. This year it is "Old Hollywood" themed.
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Additionally, each parade boasts an appearance from official Bologna Festival Royalty. Yes, there is a King and Queen of the Yale Bologna Festival.
Not only do they crown a Bologna King and Bologna Queen, but they also honor a Bologna Prince and Princess each year. The crowns are something else!
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There's even a "Baby Bologna" contest open to those under three years of age. I don't know why, but I have the feeling these babies must have the cutest cheeks! One of my other favorite events at the Yale Bologna Festival in Michigan is their outhouse races.
In this event, teams of 5 (four pushers and one rider) push a wheeled outhouse, complete with toilet paper or corn cob down the street. The first three to cross the finish line win spectacular trophies. First and second place also take home some cold, hard cash.
Now, the trophy maker for this unusual summer festival in Yale, Michigan must be working overtime, because there are still more competitions to tell y'all about! For those looking for some waterfront competition, you could spend $5 to sponsor a duck in the Duck Races.
Or you could participate in what might be my favorite race at the Yale Bologna Festival. Now, when I first heard about this race, I figured it was small boats, less than a foot in size. Nope, these boats are full-sized enough to have teams of 3 navigating them down Mill Creek in Yale, Michigan.
Of course, the winners get prizes, but to me, just getting a cardboard boat to navigate a waterway like that is a win in itself. Another win at this wonderful Michigan summertime festival is the food, of course.
Don't miss the Big Bologna tent where you can taste things like a classic fried bologna sandwich. Or you can get a little weird with it and give a slice of bologna pizza a try!
All bologna served at this Yale, Michigan summertime has been right in Yale, at C. Roys, the original makers of Yale Bologna. This truly is a hometown festival.
If a bite of a sandwich can make Bologna Royalty this happy, you know you're in the right place.
There are so many other things happening at this bologna festival in Michigan, that there's not even enough room to write about it all! In addition to everything I've already mentioned, there are crafts, dance parties, antique tractor shows, a petting zoo, and Bologna Ring Toss.
Plus, the Yale Bologna Festival sells shirts commemorating each year's event. Personally, I'd be going home with a "Future Bologna Royalty" shirt.
This bologna festival in Michigan is proof that it’s important to celebrate the little things in life… like bologna! If you plan to visit Yale, Michigan for its annual Bologna Festival, make time to visit Burnside, Michigan as well. It’s less than half an hour away and is home to what might be one of the most haunted places in Michigan.
Living in Michigan is a dream. Celebrating the place that I love to live is easy with Wear Your Roots, who make some pretty spectacular Mitten State merch. This tank, in particular, would be fantastic for a Michigan summertime festival afternoon, wouldn’t it?
Have you been to an unusual festival in Michigan? Tell us about it in the comments!
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