Once the home of 14 sawmills on the banks of Pere Marquette Lake, Ludington was a lumber boom town in the late 1800s due to its abundant natural resources. While the mills are long gone, the city will celebrate its roots with its first Ludington Lumber Days, Oct. 3-5 – a new fall festival packed with lumberjack-inspired fun, history, music and adventure for all ages.

 

“We’re stepping into Ludington’s past and celebrating the rich lumber heritage that helped build our community,” said Brandy Miller, executive director of the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Don your plaid, grab your friends, and spend the weekend doing all-things fall fun. You can even take a stab at a log roll, ax swing or stump jump!”

 

Ludington Lumber Days – Celebration of History, Heritage and Lumberjack Fun 

This new fall event will feature activities throughout the weekend – many of which are free and a few that are ticketed events. For more information, visit PureLudington.com/LumberDays. The schedule includes:

 

Friday, Oct. 3

  • Lumbering History Photo Exhibition – 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mason County Research Center (Rose Hawley Gallery), 130 E. Ludington Ave. Discover the faces, places, and powerful stories of the lumbering era through a special exhibition of historic photographs curated by MCHS. Learn about Mason County’s men, women, and industries that transformed Michigan’s forests into thriving communities. $5 admission.

  • Behind-the-Scenes Tours of the Mason County Historical Society Archives – 1 and 3 p.m., Mason County Research Center, 130 E. Ludington Ave. Take a behind-the-scenes look inside the Mason County Historical Society. Visitors will discover rare artifacts, preserved documents, and learn how history is safeguarded for future generations. $10/adult, $8/senior, $3/youth and free for MCHS members.

  • Plaidurday Pub Crawl – 6-9 p.m., downtown.  Throw on your flannel and join for a night of craft beer and camaraderie, starting and ending at Ludington Bay Brewing Company. Explore Ludington's vibrant bar scene in the Ludington Outdoor Social District (LOSD), where you can enter a drawing to win prizes if you visit six LOSD locations. Zip City will provide entertainment at Ludington Bay 6-10 p.m. Cost: $12.51 per person; includes a commemorative Ludington Lumber Days koozie. Tickets for purchase online.

 
Saturday, Oct. 4

  • Kids’ Crafts with Lumber Stamps – 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sandcastles Children’s Museum. Kids can enjoy this educational and fun craft using lumber stamps. Cost: $9.50 per person

  • Lumber Days Workout – 10-10:45 a.m., Legacy Plaza. Join HarborFit Studio for a free workout inspired by Ludington’s logging roots – complete with log rolls, ax swings, stump jumps and more. Space is limited; pre-register through Mindbody or text Heather at 616-799-5996.

  • Lumber Baron Home Tours – 10 and 11:30 a.m. starting at the Mason County Research Center, 130 E. Ludington Ave. Hosted by the Mason County Historical Society, this guided walking tour of the exteriors of historic homes along Ludington Avenue features stories of Ludington’s lumber baron homes that still stand today. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the front desk.

  • Big Sable Point Lighthouse Tours – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Ludington State Park. Visitors can explore the grounds, tour the original Keeper’s Quarters which have been converted into a gift shop, stroll along the sand dunes or climb the tower. Tower climb: $8 for adults and $5 for students 17 and under; free for active service and veterans. NOTE: Visitors must walk a 2-mile, one way trail to the light.

  • Lumbering History Photo Exhibition – 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mason County Research Center (Rose Hawley Gallery), 130 E. Ludington Ave. Discover the faces, places, and powerful stories of the lumbering era through a special exhibition of historic photographs curated by MCHS. This rare look at Mason County’s past brings into focus the men, women, and industries that transformed Michigan’s forests into thriving communities. $5 admission.

  • Logging Encampment Reenactment – 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Historic White Pine Village. Witness a logging encampment reenactment and experience the region’s logging life firsthand, as costumed educators share the tools of the trade and details of life and culture unique to Michigan’s late 1800s frontier. Entrance fee. 

  • Behind-the-Scenes Tours of the Mason County Historical Society Archives – 1 and 3 p.m., Mason County Research Center, 130 E. Ludington Ave. Take a behind-the-scenes look inside the Mason County Historical Society. Visitors will discover rare artifacts, preserved documents, and learn how history is safeguarded for future generations. $10/adult, $8/senior, $3/youth and free for MCHS members.

  • Ludington State Park Fall Festival – 1-5 p.m., Lake Michigan Beach House. Enjoy wagon rides, music, face painting, cider and donuts and a cozy bonfire, plus live music by the Celtic band Selkie and a guided hike at 2 p.m. Free, but a MI Recreation passport is required. 

  • Ludington Lumber Days Beer Garden – 1-6 p.m., Legacy Plaza. Raise a glass while enjoying live music from Virgil Baker Band and Onager, ax throwing with Tapped Axes, kids’ activities, and live chainsaw carving by The Wooden Butcher. Hosted by Jamesport Brewing Company, Ludington Bay Brewing Company and Iron Fish Distillery. Cost: $32.78 per person for entry plus four drink tokens; free for children age 15 and under. Tickets for purchase online.

 

Sunday, Oct. 5

  • Ground Truth – 10-11:30 a.m., Ludington State Park Warming Shelter. Create your own map of Ludington’s dune landscape using simple tools and observation. Then take a one-mile walk and uncover how glaciers, wind, and water shaped the land and how to read the terrain like a story. Free, but a MI Recreation passport is required.  

  • Ludington State Park History Walk, 2-3 p.m., Ludington State Park Hamlin Dam. Join this one-mile walk on paved surface and learn the history of Ludington State Park and how it was once home to the town of Hamlin and later improved upon by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The area has transformed over time into a popular destination for outdoor recreation and conservation. No registration required. Free, but a MI Recreation passport is required. 

 

Other Fall Events 

The Ludington area is hosting other fall events in addition to Ludington Lumber Days (see full list at PureLudington.com/events):

 

Ludington Fall Lodging Specials 

Visitors who book a stay at Mason County participating lodging properties Sept. 2 through Oct. 30 can get a second night at 50 percent off Sundays through Thursdays (excludes Fridays and Saturdays). Visitors must mention the deal at the time of booking. Participating lodging partners include Best Western Lakewinds, Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, The Lamplighter Bed & Breakfast and Nader’s Motel & Suites.

Visit pureludington.com/packages for more details.