Color Cruise and Island Festival

Photo courtesy of William Gibbons

This year's Color Cruise and Island Festival is being held in memory of Marilyn Smith (1933 - 2016).

The annual event celebrates with an unmatched combination of nature's glories and mid-Michigan good times in October.  The towering hardwood trees compete to see which can most beautifully reflect its colors on the river.

Our beautiful riverboat takes admirers up and down the river, providing a relaxing slice of history and an unmatched view of our historic 60 foot sandstone ledges. Rock climbers come from across the country to conquer the sheer ledges.  Try your hand, or just enjoy watching those who dare.

Voyageurs, fur traders, and wood carvers will inhibit the area all three days. Folk music played on traditional instruments, voices heard in hearty harmony, and the rhythmic thud of cloggers mark the weekend.

Community members can also enter a baby photo contest. Children can cuddle the bunnies and pet the sheep and llamas in the petting zoo.  Try a craft, paint a pumpkin, or even crank an old fashioned cider press.

There will be lots ot see: traveling blacksmith, Native American display and crafts, lamp work beads, wooden puzzles, spinning and carding, quilting, portraitures, log cabin building, and railroad safety display. 

We will have a new exhibit this year: beekeeping! Come see how a beekeeper safely handles a bee colony.

Then, there's the food! Chili, hot dogs, steak and cheese sandwiches, brats, freshly popped black kettle caramel corn, elephant ears, fresh lemonade, root beer floats, and more soothe appetites sharpened by the cool air. 

Friday is special for seniors. Bus tours are welcome and group packages can include step-on guides, a historic driving tour, and a ride on the authentic riverboat.  

There will also be a Diamond Dig at the Grand Ledge Opera House sponsored by Revival Collectibles.

The Grand Ledge Area Historical Society's Museum is open all three afternoons.  There is also a narrated boat cruise and nature walk on the ledges on Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 PM.

Capitol City Car Club is sponsoring a Vintage Vehicle Display on Saturday in downtown Grand Ledge.

Friday is special for seniors. Bus tours are welcome and group packages can include step-on guides, a historic driving tour, and a ride on the authentic riverboat.  

Eaton County Parks is sponsoring bike rides on Saturday, October 15 at 10:00 AM at Fitzgerald Park and 11:00 AM at Fox Park.

Grand Ledge Area Historical Society is sponsoring a Oakwood Cemetery Walk on Sunday, October 16 at 3:00 PM. 

'View from Above' airplane rides will be available for $20 per person for an approximately 20 minute ride - check in at the airport.  First come, first served.

Grand Ledge cloaks itself in finery so vivid and exciting in October that one would think there was a party.  We invite you to come!

Volunteers and Exhibitors Needed

Sponsored by:
Grand Ledge Chamber of Commerce
All In Gold Sponsor: MSU Federal Credit Union
All In Silver Sponsor: Doty Agency / Auto-Owners Insurance
Captain John's Galley | The Log Jam | Voya Financial Advisors

Learn more  

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Community Calendar

One of the Chamber's goals is to promote local community events that will take place within the Grand Ledge Public School (GLPS) District or that are sponsored by a local business or organization that is housed within the school district. If your event qualifies, please provide us with your event information. As soon as our calendar editor reviews and approves your event, it will become active in the calendar.

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The Chamber promotes the economic, recreational, and historical attributes of the Greater Lansing area.