Ludington's 150 year anniversary 'capstone' events upcoming

The Ludington Lakestride Races start at Stearns Park on Saturday morning. The 43rd annual race series features a half marathon, 10K and 5K.

The Love Ludington Weekend celebration spans June 9-11, 2023 and features a Friday night street party with live music, free ice cream and fireworks.

An eight-horse Clydesdale hitch will parade through downtown Ludington for ceremonial beer deliveries. Then, the horses will stop at the main stage to kick off the street party.

LUDINGTON — Ludington is celebrating its 150th anniversary this summer.

The Love Ludington Weekend celebration starts this weekend and features a Friday night street party with live music, free ice cream and fireworks.

The Love Ludington Weekend is a public event for visitors and locals to celebrate Ludington's history.

March 22 marked the official anniversary that Ludington was incorporated 150 years ago in 1873.

Brandy Miller, Ludington Area Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director, said in a news release that there are events all year commemorating the anniversary, "but this is the capstone for the year when it comes to celebrating our city."

The Love Ludington Weekend is a public event for visitors and locals to celebrate Ludington's history.

• Friday evening street party: The weekend festivities start Friday with a downtown street party 6-10:30 p.m. featuring live music, children's games and activities, food vendors and fireworks.

• 5-7 p.m. — Budweiser Clydesdales on parade. An eight-horse Clydesdale hitch will parade through downtown for ceremonial beer deliveries. At 6 p.m., the horses will stop at the main stage to kick off the street party. The hitch will be stationed for the public to view and photograph until 7 p.m.

• 6 p.m. — Ice cream giveaway on Ludington Avenue near Robert Street

• 6-10 p.m. — Live music at main stage at Ludington Aveenue and James Street

• 6-6:30 p.m. — Ludington High School Band

• 6:30-7:30 p.m. — Whiskey Rebels live band

• 7:30-8 p.m. — D.J. house music

• 8-10 p.m. — Pop Vinyl live band

• 10 p.m. — D.J. house music until fireworks

• 10:15 p.m. — Fireworks

Other events throughout the weekend include:

Friday through Sunday

• Putt-Putt Celebration from noon to 10 p.m. at the Ludington Area Jaycees Mini Golf Course.

Golfing is $1.50 per-person all weekend, and each family receives a commemorative golf ball.

Saturday

• Badger Birthday Bash from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Maritime Heritage Park. The event celebrates the SS Badger's 70th birthday while attendees watch the ship come into port with cake, live music from Road Less Traveled and yard games. Attendees may donate an item to the Lakeshore Children's Advocacy Center at the event to be entered into a drawing to win roundtrip tickets on the ship.

• Ludington Lakestride Races – 8 a.m., starting at Stearns Park. The 43rd annual race series features a half marathon, 10K and 5K.

Saturday and Sunday

• Historic Homes Walking Tours at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., from Mason County Research Center. Visitors should arrive 10 minutes early to take a one-hour guided walking tour through Ludington's newly designated historic district while learning about people from Ludington's history.

Saturday tours will be of home exteriors; Sunday tours will go into historic bed and breakfasts.The cost is $20 per person.

• Clydesdales on parade/display from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday at Loomis Street Boat Launch, the eight-horse hitch will parade north along Lakeshore Drive and through Stearns Park Beach, returning to the lot for the public to view/photograph.

The Clydesdales make a final appearance from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Mason County Fairgrounds for photographs.