Looking to fill out this year’s calendar with different events and celebrations? We’ve got you covered! Throughout 2022, the Mt. Pleasant area will be hosting a variety of events sure to please both visitors and community members. Whether looking to run a 5k, experience music and entertainment, eat some local food, or just kick back and relax, there’s something for everyone! Keep reading to learn more about the Central Michigan area’s biggest events of 2022.

This February, embrace the chill and challenge yourself at the Chili Challenge 5K, a fun race that gives participants an added challenge of competing in the frigid elements of winter in Michigan! This annual event, formerly Man vs. Mountain, winds through the city of Mt. Pleasant on paved trails, terrain, and along the Chippewa River. The race then ends at Mountain Town Station where you can enjoy chili and chili beer! Registration for this year’s Chili Challenge will be open until February 8.

What can you expect at the Central Michigan International Film Festival (CMIFF)? Oscar nominated films, multiple genres, independent films, as well as student produced short films throughout the Mt. Pleasant, Michigan community. This five-day festival gives moviegoers a front row seat to 2022’s hottest films, and is sure to give you the upper hand on your Oscar ballot this year!

On the last full weekend in April, come celebrate the Maple Syrup Festival in the Village of Shepherd, located just down the road from Mt. Pleasant. Here maple syrup is bottled and served with an all you can eat pancake and sausage breakfast – supplying up to 11,000 meals! This 3-day festival hosts an abundance of activities including crafts shows, entertainment, tractor pulls, parades, a carnival, a 5k and more! Join in on the fun while visiting the “Sweetest Little Town Anywhere Around.”

Watch nearly 1,000 pipers and drummers play at this year’s Alma Highland Festival and Games, hosted in Alma, Michigan over Memorial Weekend. This event brings members of Scottish clans and interested onlookers together for a weekend of Highland dancing, bagpipes, kilts, and camaraderie. Different events include arts & crafts, a heavyweight competition, dance competitions, a road run, and much more!

Special Olympics Michigan’s largest sporting event of the year is BACK! Athletes participate in up to ten types of competition including athletics, bocce, bowling, gymnastics, horseshoes, power lifting, swimming, weightlifting, volleyball, development athletics, and motor activities training program. This year’s state summer games will be hosting in person events at Central Michigan University as well as virtual events, offering everyone the chance to participate and earn their medal!

Visit the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Reservation to experience native traditions in a natural setting with authentic foods, arts and crafts, dancing, and storytelling. Enjoy and learn about history that is stored away in the center of Michigan. For over 20 years, this annual event has offered visitors the opportunity to observe and experience traditional Native American dress, dancing, drumming, chanting, cuisine, and crafts.

This August, watch Mt. Pleasant come to life with paintings, sculptures, and photography as state and national artists compete for prizes! Throughout the month, you’ll be able to browse the streets of Downtown Mt. Pleasant as art pieces are put on display for the public, as well as participate in art activities offered for children and adults alike. This annual event prides itself in keeping art alive and accessible to everyone in the community, and is looked forward to every summer by both visitors and community members.

Calling all beer connoisseurs! The Mt. Pleasant Craft Beer Festival will be back this September, taking place along Broadway Street Downtown. Sip on some of the greatest brews throughout the state of Michigan while enjoying live music and food vendors. The Mt. Pleasant Craft Beer Festival is a celebration of the beer culture in Central Michigan and is a great time to step out of your comfort zone and try something new!

The Mt. Pleasant Christmas Celebration is held annually in historic Downtown Mt. Pleasant the first weekend of December. Have breakfast with Santa, take a hayride to see Christmas lights, shop the Downtown stores, and end the weekend by watching the Lighted Christmas Parade. Come celebrate the most joyous time of the year with us at Mt. Pleasant’s 28^th Christmas Celebration!

While having fun at these events, don’t forget to snap a photo and share your experience with us using the tag #MeetMtP. Looking for more events? Check out our full Calendar of Events in the Mt. Pleasant area. Remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up to date on the latest in Central Michigan.