Harbor Beach Maritime Festival 2026 Brings Music, Drone Show and Fun Family Events

HARBOR BEACH, Mich. — The Harbor Beach Maritime Festival 2026 is set to return July 8-12 with five days of music, contests, food, children’s activities and waterfront events at Judge James H. Lincoln Memorial Park.

The 25th annual festival will center on the city’s lakefront, near the Harbor Beach Lighthouse, South Beach and the Murphy Museum lawn. The event is built around Harbor Beach’s maritime history, but the schedule also includes live bands, sports contests, a craft show, a car show and new activities aimed at families.

The festival opens Wednesday with the Harbor Beach Hospital 5K Walk/Run at 6 p.m. at Lincoln Memorial Park.

Thursday

Thursday’s schedule begins with the Friends of the Library book sale from noon to 6 p.m. at the Community House gym. The bocce ball tournament runs from 5 to 11 p.m. in Lincoln Park. XoXo’s Band is scheduled to play from 7 to 10 p.m.

Friday

Friday starts with beach yoga at 9 a.m. The farmers market will run from noon to 5 p.m. on the Murphy Museum lawn, while the Friends of the Library book sale continues from noon to 6 p.m. A cornhole tournament begins at 5 p.m. under the tent. The Pulse Band is scheduled from 5 to 7:30 p.m., followed by Crazy Craig Juggling at 7:30 p.m. at South Beach. Sinclair’s Band is set to close the night from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.

Saturday

Saturday is the busiest day of the festival. Beach yoga begins at 9 a.m., and lighthouse tours are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon at the marina. The Battle on the Beach Strong Man Contest starts at 10 a.m., along with the co-ed beach volleyball tournament. The craft show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Murphy Museum lawn, and the Sand Creations Contest runs from 10 a.m. to noon at South Beach.

Children’s events on Saturday include a pet and bike parade at 10:30 a.m., a kids carnival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and inflatables from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cody Vador is scheduled to perform from noon to 3 p.m. The frog-jumping contest starts at 3 p.m., followed by the new duct-tape cardboard boat races at 3:30 p.m. and family bingo at 4 p.m.

Saturday evening will feature the Detroit Social Club Band from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and FiftyAmpFuse from 8:30 p.m. to midnight. A new drone show is scheduled for 10 p.m.

Sunday

The festival wraps up Sunday with a car show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Murphy Museum lawn. An ecumenical worship service is set for 9:30 a.m. The craft show returns from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Zion Lutheran Fish Fry runs from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. under the tent. Dueling Pianos is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m., followed by the HBAA Community Cash Raffle at 3 p.m.

Food concessions, American Legion refreshments, and barbecue will be available during the weekend. Rustic camping at the beach is also listed as available throughout the festival.

Registration and event information are available at themaritimefestival.com and on the Harbor Beach Maritime Festival Facebook page.

Source note: Event details were drawn from the 2026 Harbor Beach Maritime Festival schedule and local newspaper coverage published ahead of the festival.