Did You Know That Michigan Has Its Own Surf Festival?

When most people think of surfing, they don't automatically think of the Great Lakes. But surfing is a thing here in Michigan, and we have our own surf festival to prove it!

Get our free mobile app

The festival will be taking place this weekend in Muskegon.

Michigan's Great Lakes Surf Festival

The Great Lakes Surf Festival isn't new. 2025 marks the seventh year of the festival that takes place annually in Muskegon.

This year's festival will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Pere Marquette Beach in Muskegon.

What to Expect at the Great Lakes Surf Festival

The festival features surf lessons, demonstrations, vendors, and more! The event will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

READ MORE: Epic Ice Beards: These Brothers Surf Lake Erie In The Winter

Alternate dates of August 11th (5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) or August 13th (9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) are secured in case of inclement weather.

The event will also feature a raffle (must be present to win), yoga, art, music, and more!

Surfing in the Great Lakes

Generally, when people think of surfing, they think of oceans and warmer climates. But it turns out that the Great Lakes are great for surfing. Folks have been surfing the lakes since at least the 1960s, according to SurferToday.

There are several spots around the Great Lakes in Michigan and other states that are perfect for surfers. SurferToday even put together a map of the best locations.

And people don't just surf the Great Lakes in the warmer months. Folks have been known to surf in the winter when the waves are arguably better.

SurferToday says,

The peak surfing season in the Great Lakes is between mid-September (late summer) and early April (early spring).

While that may be true, I don't even want to dip a toe into a Great Lake during those months, let alone surf in those waters.