Add Ons You Don’t Want to Miss!
Breakfast at Black Eden Brews
Saturday and Sunday
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Visit a local staple for a feel-good breakfast.
Black Eden Brews Idlewild Coffee Bar
located inside Morton’s Motel
6389 Tacoma St, Idlewild, MI 49642
Cost:
This is an affiliate event. Breakfast is not included with ticket admission
and must be purchased separately.
Space is Limited:
First Come, First Served.
Bus Tour of Idlewild with Chris Grier, Idlewild Historian
Saturday and Sunday
General Admission Ticketholders:
9:00 AM and 10:15 AM
VIP Ticketholders:
11:30 AM
Each tour lasts approximately 1 hour and departs from just outside the Festival gate.
Once known as “Black Eden,” Idlewild, Michigan, was one of the most significant African American resort communities in the United States during the early to mid-20th century. Founded in 1912, Idlewild offered Black Americans a rare place of rest, recreation, and refuge during the Jim Crow era. At its peak from the 1930s to 1960s, it was a vibrant cultural hub, hosting legendary performers such as Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, Della Reese, and the Four Tops. Idlewild was a symbol of Black excellence, entrepreneurship, and joy—a place where families created memories and civil rights leaders gathered in unity.
Come enjoy a bus tour with Chris Grier, Idlewild Historian, and experience Idlewild’s rich history firsthand.
Cost:
$15 for General Admission Ticketholders
FREE for VIP Ticketholders (Registration required).
Space is limited.
VIP Ticketholder Dinner &
“Past, Present & Possibilities” Exclusive Presentation
Saturday
8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Exclusive Presentation featuring meaningful dialogue with community leaders exclusively for VIP Ticketholders featuring a Special Appearance by Alexander Zonjic! This ticket includes a free entry to the Saturday Night After Party (in the same building on festival ground), which includes a DJ, dinner, and 1 free drink ticket on us!
($15 donation in addition to your ticket to Lake County Merry Makers)
Cash Bar Available
This dinner is only available to VIP festival ticketholders — Don’t wait to secure your spot!
Saturday Night After Party!
Saturday 8:30 PM – 11:00 PM
You don’t have to go home, and you CAN stay here!
Ready for dinner, dancing and drinks?!
Join us for an after party and dance the night away!
Located within festival grounds (map will be on the program)
Cash Bar Available
$15 Cover collected at door, no registration required
Pop Up Tent Spaces
Want to set up your own tent or pop-up canopy during the festival? We’re offering dedicated spaces for attendee tents within the festival grounds — but advance reservations are required.
SOLD OUT! Visit below to add yourself to the waitlist!
RV Parking Reservations
We’re excited to offer limited RV parking on-site for our festival guests! To help us accommodate everyone safely and comfortably, RV parking is available by reservation only.
Cost:
$30 per day (2 day ticket holders may park overnight, 1 day ticket holders must be gone by 7am)
Space is limited, so reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
SOLD OUT!! Visit below to add yourself to the the waitlist!
Lodging
Idlewild is also referred to as being in the “heart of nature” in the Manistee National Forest, with abundant natural beauty, lakes, and trails surrounding it. We have a variety of lodging and campgrounds within the area and in nearby cities.
Why not stay a little longer and explore it all? Extend your vacation and truly experience the history, nature, and culture that make Idlewild so special.
Click on a Visitor’s Bureau link below to explore local accommodations:
There is currently a flagging lane
closed for construction on:
EB/WB US-10 from
M-37 to S Twin Creek Road
Mon-Fri: 7am – 7pm
It is estimated to end on 06/27/2025.
Contact MDOT Cadillac TSC 231-775-3486
or visit here for updates.
Click below to visit
for important places and reasons to explore the area!