Discover Elk Rapids

07/18/2026

Did you know Elk Rapids Cinema has the world's largest black light ceiling mural?

Or that Traverse Bay Farms / Fruit Advantage Recipes has a hand-built miniature train display to admire while you browse their delicious cherry products?

Most of our eateries and drinkeries 😉 have great selections of games available for customers to play!

The sweet boutiques offer a thoughtful mix of playful, creative, and cozy items meant to be enjoyed together and add a little magic to ordinary afternoons for kids, grown-ups, and furry companions alike.

Visit discoverelkrapids.com/what-to-do and you'll find itinerary-based lists full of ideas to help you plan your next Downtown Elk Rapids adventure in any weather!

07/14/2026

Flannigan's Goat, the go-to source for Michigan BBQ, has set up at Short's Brewing Company Pull Barn & Production Facility in Elk Rapids for the summer.

Flannigan’s Goat BBQ is called Michigan style for a couple of reasons: one is that [Garth] Parish sources just about everything from Michigan, so the name is a good fit. The other is to gently counter the patrons from other BBQ regions who want to tell him how to do his job. “We don’t do it that way in insert-BBQ-region-here,” he says. But Parish knows his way around a smoker. “Michigan style is what we do,” he explains. 🐐

Thanks to the Northern Express for this awesome spotlight on local favorite, Flannigan's Goat!

We all have our favorite food trucks; in fact, it’s almost a personal relationship, a place where we can score our favorite foods, fresh as can be i…

07/12/2026

The Elk Rapids Garden Club's Elk Rapids Garden Walk 2026 is coming up on Tuesday, July 14! There's still time to get your tickets➡️ elkrapidsgardenclub.com/gardenwalk/

Thanks to the Ludington Daily News for giving this celebratory summer event the (green) thumbs up. 😉🌿 Find the link to the article in the comments. ⤵️

07/06/2026

"This isn’t your average nature trail. 😍🌲🎨

One minute you’re walking through peaceful woods…the next you’re standing in front of giant sculptures on the beach, wondering how this place isn’t all over your feed already. 👀

Elk Rapids’ Walk of Art mixes forest trails, shoreline views, and massive metal art pieces that somehow feel both magical and slightly surreal—in the best way possible."

Thanks to the Awesome Mitten team for spotlighting the beautiful Art Rapids! Walk of Art Sculpture Park inside the Antrim County Parks Department Elk Rapids Day Park!

07/02/2026

Seven-year NFL veteran Adam Trautman, a Denver Broncos player, returned to his hometown of Elk Rapids to host a free youth football camp, helping over 150 young campers gain new football skills and emphasizing the value of relatability and hard work. 🏈

Here's the link to the full story—thanks, 9&10 News! 🔗 https://www.9and10news.com/sports/2026/07/01/nfl-veteran-adam-trautman-gives-back-to-hometown-with-free-youth-football-camp/

06/29/2026

Thanks to Awesome Mitten for including Elk Rapids Harbor Days in this round-up of August fun! ☀️

August is packed with Michigan festivals worth a road trip — from lakeshore celebrations to small-town traditions.

06/23/2026

We're three weeks away from a celebratory local summer tradition, the Elk Rapids Garden Club's biennial Elk Rapids Garden Walk! 🌿💦

This is a garden walk on a mission: Attendees will tour seven exceptional gardens across the greater Elk Rapids area whose owners are on a mission to preserve Northern Michigan’s beauty through water and land conservation.

This event helps our community grow: The Elk Rapids Garden Walk is the Garden Club’s sole fundraising event, supporting their work to protect and enhance the natural beauty of the Village of Elk Rapids.

➡️ elkrapidsgardenclub.com/gardenwalk/

Come tour gardens whose owners are on a mission to preserve northern Michigan's beauty through water and land conservation.

06/19/2026

"Not only will you find a gorgeous beach, this spot is also rich in art and nature trails.

The Art Rapids! Walk of Art Sculpture Park is a unique element to the shore where visitors can take in the serenity of nature and admire works of art all the same."

“When you are hiking through here, it's not distracting from the natural environment; it's in addition to the natural environment and something else to be looking for when you're out walking. You could be looking for animals or the birds, but also art pieces.” - Antrim County Parks Department Director Lyndsey Eccles

Thanks to UpNorthLive for spotlighting this beautiful gem in Elk Rapids!

ANTRIM COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- A quarter-mile stretch of shoreline on Grand Traverse Bay is drawing visitors with more than just beach access. Elk Rapids

06/11/2026

"Over the last fiscal year, the Elk Rapids District Library saw 40,477 visitors, checking out 33,262 items from a permanent collection of 20,073 total books and materials. (Not including what’s in storage.) All this in a building that has trouble seating a large group comfortably, necessitating that many programs are conducted off-site.

The steady use of the Island House proved two things: that the library is a community treasure and that it was in dire need of expansion.

Several expansion plans were studied over a decade, but they were impractical and sometimes even contentious, given the historical designation, and so focus switched from expanding the space to looking for a new space completely. (The Island House committee meets regularly to help transition the old location into its next iteration as a beloved community asset.)

In 2024, the library purchased the former Traverse Bay Manufacturing building on Cairn Highway.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for June 30, with construction commencing shortly after." 📚

Thanks to Northern Express for highlighting our wonderful Elk Rapids District Library!

After 75-plus years in the charming Island House, and despite a generous lease that stretches out to 2038, the Elk Rapids District Library is planning to …