The Harbormaster

03/30/2026

📍 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗳𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲! Michigan sits smack on the 𝟰𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗹 — literally halfway between the Equator and the North Pole. 🌎❄️

Buckle up for a Northern Michigan road trip like no other: quirky markers, wild lake views, and small towns full of charm. 🚗💨 Explore 𝗔𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗮, 𝗚𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗱, and 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 on this unforgettable halfway-to-anywhere route.

03/02/2026

A sure sign of spring, our countdown sign is up. We open Friday, March 6th at 11:00 for our 29th ice cream season.
(open daily 11-8 thereafter)
See you all in a week!

02/04/2026

Grand Traverse Bay is officially frozen for the first time since 2019 and only the seventh time this century. After a prolonged stretch of temperatures ranging from cold to brutally cold, ice slowly built on both bays after first appearing in significant quantities last week. Much of East Bay was fr...

01/05/2026

Renewal by Andersen putting in a couple new windows. The upper trapezoid windows will be installed at a later date.

12/10/2025

💙💛 Big news, air show fans! The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are returning to Traverse City in July 2027!

Festival officials were on hand at the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Convention as the Blue Angels unveiled their next two-year schedule. We’re honored to be selected as a featured U.S. Navy Blue Angels show site for 2027!

✈️ Stay tuned - more details about the 2026 Airshow and our 100th Festival celebration are coming soon!

10/29/2025

10/29/2025

The roundabout is finally complete!

10/27/2025

10/14/2025

Just north of us.

To the north of Suttons Bay, near the casino along M-22, you’ll find an old wooden structure beside Belanger Creek. This historic mill was constructed in 1859 by Antoine Manseau. The creek was originally named Keywatosa Creek after a Native American Chief, Keywatosa. Manseau created a dam on the creek, built a 26-by-30-foot mill, and began grinding grain using a pair of millstones imported from France. It was likely the oldest grist mill in the Grand Traverse area, serving local farmers who brought their grain to be processed. At the time, it was quite advanced, featuring 56 belts that powered multiple rollers to turn grain into flour.
In 1906, the mill was purchased by Eugene Belanger and his sons—Ignatius, Alexis, Luke, and Edwin. It continued to operate until 1934, when it closed due to a partial collapse of the concrete wall and a decline in local grain farming. Today, the old mill stands by the roadside, overlooking Belanger Creek as cars rush by on their way to the nearby casino or the many wineries scattered throughout the Leelanau Peninsula.

09/29/2025

🚧 Roundabout Construction = Extra Caution Needed 🚧

Our crews are hard at work in tight traffic zones, often just feet away from moving vehicles. They’re building safer roads for all of us - but right now, they need your help.

📞 Phones down.
👀 Eyes on the road.
🕔 Take your time.

Thank you for slowing down and staying alert when driving through construction. A moment of distraction can put lives at risk. Let’s work together to keep everyone safe. 👷‍♂️👷‍♀️💛

09/23/2025

Here’s another shot of the now confirmed tornado near Torch Lake from earlier this evening.