8 Towns in Michigan With Unique Traditions

Michigan is a smorgasbord of culture, ranging from Scandinavian cuisine in the north to German architecture in the center, Indigenous relics on the island, and African American industry on the coast. Emerging like diamonds in Michigan's peculiar and pressurized climate are longstanding traditions. They come in many forms but typically present as unique festivals celebrating everything from a rock star to rocky mountain oysters. Here are eight small Michigan communities and the boisterous traditions that they birthed.

Belleville

You will have a burning love for Belleville. Don't worry: it's not hard to reach. Rather, this 4,000ish-person city lies just outside Detroit and will shake you up for more than one night. Belleville is the home of Michigan Elvisfest, a two-day tribute to the King of Rock that began in Ypsilanti in 1999 and now takes place at Belleville's Wayne County Fairgrounds. This year's fest has already happened, but always keep Belleville on your mind for future editions. When you book Elvisfest, also book the Baymont by Wyndham as your heartbreak hotel and the Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center for fun down by the riverside.

Crystal Falls

In 1992, a fungus discovered in Michigan's Upper Peninsula was estimated to span 37 acres and weigh over 11 tons (later amended to 440 tons). It was considered the largest fungus and one of the largest organisms on planet Earth. Although larger fungi have since been found (the biggest is in Oregon), Michigan's fungus is undeniably "humongous" and thus inspired the nearby city of Crystal Falls to start the Humongous Fungus Fest. Its 33rd edition just passed with a parade along Superior Avenue, a concert at the historic Crystal Theatre, a mushroom dinner and cook-off at the Harbour House Museum, and a mushroom forage in the surrounding wilderness. Crystal Falls puts the fun in fungus.

Hell

Hell is more a gimmick than a community. This unincorporated town has no official population, but what it lacks in residents, it makes up for in novelty sites. They include the Gates of Hell, Hell Saloon, and Screams Souvenirs from Hell & Helloween & The Creamatory at Screams Ice Cream. Hell also brims with novelty events like Hellvis, an even creepier Elvisfest; Friday the 13th in Hell, a raffle and party at Screams Ice Cream; and Hell-O Summer Fest, a soon-to-be seven-year-old searing summer jam. One of Hell's longest-burning spectacles was HearseFest, an annual convoy of hearses that first assembled in 2000, but it moved to nearby Fowlerville.

Frankenmuth

Frankenmuth is called Michigan's Little Bavaria due to its heritage, architecture, and events. Bavarian immigrants founded the settlement in the 1840s, built icons like the St. Lorenz Lutheran Church and Wolkensdörfer Log House, and inspired an array of annual festivals. The most obvious is Oktoberfest, which has been held in Frankenmuth since 1990 and, according to the Frankenmuth Festivals website, was the first Oktoberfest to be blessed by the original celebration in Munich. A less obvious Franken-fest is the Frankenmuth Dog Bowl, which began in 2008 and is considered the "world’s largest Olympic-style festival for dogs." In between are the Frankenmuth Summer Music Fest, Scarecrow Fest, Zehnder's Snowfest, Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival, and several others. Who knew a city with about 5,000 people could handle so many eclectic events?

Yale

Forget ivy. Michigan's Yale is full of bologna. This 1,900ish-person city makes its own bologna, "Yale bologna," and has been doing so since C. Roy Processing opened its doors in 1922. You can taste many forms of Yale bologna at C. Roy or try Yale bologna pizza at Yale Bakery. However, the biggest sampling of bologna can be found at the Yale Bologna Festival, an annual summer spectacular that began in 1989. In addition to literal tons of bologna sandwiches, the fest features bologna ring tosses, a big bologna parade, and, since Yale is nicknamed Bolognaville, a Ms. Bolognaville contest.

Fremont

Fremont, though home to only about 4,500 people, is the birthplace of the multibillion-dollar company Gerber. As such, Fremont is called the Baby Food Capital of the World and has been hosting the National Baby Food Festival since 1991. Although the fest is very much catered for kids (activities include a baby crawl and baby food eating contest), it has plenty of food and entertainment for adults. Some of the highlights are food trucks on Main Street, comedy at Veterans Memorial Park, a farmers' market at the Fremont Market Place Pavilion, and Gerber-sponsored parades throughout town.

Deerfield

Deerfield is the name of a township and an enclosed village in Lenawee County. Despite the name, both Deerfields have little connection to bull deer, but their residents do consume a staggering amount of bull balls. For well over two decades, Deerfield² has hosted the Deerfield Testicle Festival, where hundreds of pounds of deep-fried "rocky mountain oysters" startle and satiate thousands of guests. This annual cook-out is held at the American Legion Hall and also involves chicken gizzards, baked beans, slaw, rolls, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. After gorging, festivalgoers can load up on merchandise like shirts and hats. "Have a ball" is the festival's motto.

Trenary

Trenary, Michigan, though a small unincorporated community in Upper Michigan’s Mathias Township, holds a special place in Yooper culture. Its fame comes from two local icons: Trenary Toast and the Trenary Outhouse Classic. Trenary Toast, a hard Finnish-style rusk bread, has been baked at the historic Trenary Home Bakery for nearly a century and is a beloved Upper Peninsula staple, often dunked in coffee.

The annual Trenary Outhouse Classic, however, is what truly sets this town apart. Every February, creatively designed outhouses are mounted on skis and pushed down a 500-foot snow-packed track. Each outhouse must have a toilet seat, a roll of toilet paper, and a push bar.

Wrapping Up

Look far and wide to find quirky traditions in Michigan. They are scattered across the state, peaking in peculiarity in small settlements rather than big cities. One can worship Elvis in Belleville, a giant mushroom in Crystal Falls, hearses in Hell (hopefully in the future), canine Olympians in Frankenmuth, bologna in Yale, baby food in Fremont, bulls in Deerfield, and outhouses in Trenary. Which order will you see them in? We suggest putting Trenary last, especially after eating in Yale and Deerfield.