Nor East’r Music & Art Festival
June 7-9, 2013

The Nor East’r Music & Art Festival provides three days in June of incredible live music on three stages. The 10th year will take place June 8-9-10, 2012 at the beautiful Oscoda County Fairgrounds. There is a large main outdoor stage, and second and third stages in two of the six building on the grounds. The grounds and campgrounds are shady, safe and pleasant to be on, with optional buildings to use in case of inclement weather. We include special music workshops by performers and a Drum Kiva.

30 Artists demonstrate, offer workshops and sell their wares. Fantastic food vendors are always available. We present approximately 15 main musical groups from many different acoustical genres, providing the audience with a collage of music all in one place during any given day or night of the festival. Music runs from 5pm to midnight on Friday, 9am to midnight on Saturday and 9am to 5pm on Sunday. There is an open mic Friday night and frequent music workshops on Saturday and Sunday.

Parking lot picking continues at camp sites on into the night. Children will WIN GUITARS that come with an instructional packet, before they are whisked off Main Stage for their first lesson! AuSable Valley Nor-east’r Association of Folk host this event as well as several winter events & a college scholarship program. Festival tickets are priced on a graduated scale.
Get them early for the best rates!

See www.noreastr.net. For further information call 989-826-2159.

4th of July Parade
July 4, 2013 1pm

The 28 Annual 4th of July Parade, this years parade theme is “175 Years of Michigan History” LI” The parade will begin on S. Valley St. at 1pm and will travel down Houghton Ave. until 8th St.

We invite you to join us and watch our great parade!

For more information or to participate in this years parade please contact us at
(989) 345-2821

Click Here For a Printable Parade Application

West Branch Fireworks
July 4, 2013 Beginning at Dusk
Shown off of M-30 – Near Hospital

It was started in 1999 when the City was looking at having the water tower repainted. There was not enough money to do the “smiley” graphic so the Council had discussed sponsoring it, Pepsi stepped up and it was discussed to let Pepsi put their logo on it.

When Ralph Steinhauser, a former Clerk of the City of West Branch and an advocate of the original “smiley” tower, heard of the possible change he started cruising around town in his motorized chair asking for donations to save the “Smiley” tower. He as able to raise enough money to pay for the painting of the “Smiley” design.

Ralph Steinhauser (Mr. Smiley)

This years fireworks will be on July 4th, 2012 and will begin at dusk.

If you would like to donate: please mail to
Fireworks Committee
PO Box 141,
West Branch, MI 48661

Ogemaw Hills Bike Week
July 14-21, 2013

Celebrating 28 Years of Michigan’s Largest Motorcycle Rally at the Ogemaw County Fairgrounds, West Branch, MI.
Here is just a taste of the entertainment!
Friday – TBD
Saturday – TBD
And much much more

For more information about the events of bike week contact them at
(989) 896-OHBW (6429)  or www.ogemawhillsbikeweek.com

Pioneer Power Antique & Gas Engine Club Show July 18-20, 2013

Pioneer Power is a showcase of time, through the years with tractors and engines of all sorts during the July show in there event arena. Come out to see a tractor parade, try your hand at some old time events and have some good home cooking. They have something for everyone with vendors selling tractor parts and other antiques, a sawmill, and a blacksmith shop. 

In April, Pioneer Power host a flea market and swap meet at their event arena. A sure event for any collector or restorer. The July show also has a swap meet and flea market.

For more information please call Sondra Bortle (989) 473-4702

Relay for Life
July 27-28, 2013

The 24 hour event raises money for the American Cancer Society. The Relay is not a downer. It’s a celebration. It’s a community event, so all members of the community are welcome to attend from babies in strollers to Grandma and Grandpa or whoever. You can come for 10 minutes, all day our full event. After the relay begins with the open ceremony there will be plenty of activities and entertainment for all age during the 24 event. During the relay there will be a total of 4 ceremonies Fight back, luminaria, and open and closing ceremony. The best is the survivor and caregiver laps and luncheon. Survivors and caregivers can come to the ceremonies there’s lunch fellowship with other survivors and caregivers a free shirt for survivors then there will be the big survivor lap. Survivors need to come we will take care of them support them it’s really all about them. All the money that is raised at this event will go toward services that are provided for people in the community.

For more information please call Pam Hilts at
(989) 685-2552 or  www.relayforlife.org/ogemawcountymi

Victorian Art Fair at Iron’s Park
August 10-11, 2013 

An Victorian theme event with hundreds of vendors that make and sell handmade crafts. There is a lot to do and a lot to see. With shopping for the unique treasure you are sure to find there, entertainment all day, food vendors, games for the kids and maybe even a historical reenactment…

This event is always the second full weekend of August, on that Saturday and Sunday.
It runs Saturday from 9am-5pm and Sunday 10am-4pm.

For more information please contact 4th St. Gift and Gallery at
345-1451 or visit their website.

Ogemaw County Fair
August 13-17, 2013

Known for its tree and flower covered landscape and charming atmosphere, the Ogemaw County Fairgrounds 8 miles east of West Branch on Rifle River Trail offers visitors a park-like setting. Comfort and accessibility for visitors is a number one priority; evident in the paved walkways, numerous benches and picnic tables, and overall clean and safe environment. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the shade while sitting under one of the many trees and be sure to enjoy the tons of beautiful flowers.

Adding to the overall charm of the fairgrounds is a working/hands-on antique village. Here you can experience a bit of “life from days past” by touring a general store, blacksmith shop, livery stable, church, print shop, logger’s bunkhouse, and more. In addition, various period machinery and engines are on display as are basket weavers, a rope maker, and much more. You can try your hand at making a piece of pottery or watch an old fashioned thrashing machine at work and take home a bag of grain.

The whole week of fair offers a wide variety of free entertainment with evening concerts, children’s activities, grandstand events and various other acts.

We are also a State licensed campground with both rustic and modern sites (not available during fair week and certain other events). There is a pavilion available for campers to use when it is not rented by other people or groups.

The grounds and facilities are available for rental as a whole or on an as needed basis for a building or buildings.

For more information, check out www.ogemawcountyfair.com