Grand Haven’s Coast Guard Festival is family friendly!
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There’s something special about summertime in Grand Haven, Michigan—especially during Coast Guard Festival. This well-loved event draws people from all over to enjoy food, fun, and lake views, but it’s also a wonderful experience for local families looking to make the most of summer. Tonight, we took our two young kids (ages 1 and 3) for a simple, family-friendly night out—and I wanted to share our experience to inspire other families to do the same!
What is Grand haven’s Coast Guard Festival?
Coast Guard Festival is an annual event held in Grand Haven to celebrate and honor the men and women of the United States Coast Guard. The festival began in 1924 as a small picnic and has grown into a week-long celebration featuring ship tours, parades, fireworks, live music, and carnival rides. Grand Haven is proud to be called “Coast Guard City, USA,” and during Grand Haven’s Coast Guard Festival, you’ll experience one of the town’s biggest and most exciting traditions.
While Coast Guard Festival can be busy—especially on weekends—we found that a weekday evening was a great time to visit with small children. The crowd was manageable, and we were able to find roadside parking in front of Grand Haven State Park, which made things much easier with strollers and gear.
A Walk to Pronto Pup – A Grand Haven Classic
From the State Park, we took a short 10-minute walk to Pronto Pup, a food stand that has been a Grand Haven favorite since the 1940s. If you’re not from the area, a Pronto Pup is a hot dog coated in a crispy cornmeal batter and served on a stick—it’s similar to a corn dog but has its own unique taste.
A few things to know before you go:
- Pronto Pup is cash only, so be sure to bring a few dollars with you.
- The prices are very affordable, which makes it easy to enjoy a quick bite without breaking the budget.
- It’s a great stop for kids and adults alike! Part of the fun is how simple and classic it is.
Ice Cream by the Pier
After our snack, we decided to continue our walk. We stopped at Pier Peddler, a small shop that has been around since I was a child. I have many great memories of getting ice cream in Grand Haven during the Coast Guard Festival and walking along the pier with my family. My husband and our older daughter shared a scoop of black cherry hard ice cream, which was a sweet and simple treat.
A New Experience: Hawaiian Ice at Halaula
Next to Pier Peddler, we discovered Halaula Hawaiian Ice, a new spot for us and a fun surprise. I had never tried Hawaiian ice before, and it turned out to be a fun and refreshing treat—perfect for a summer night. I’ll describe the process because perhaps ordering Hawaiian Ice is unfamiliar to you as it was to me. 🙂
Here’s how it works:
- Choose your size – I picked the smallest, called the Shortboard, and it was still very large.
- Pick your base – You can add a scoop of ice cream to the bottom (choices included vanilla, coconut, or superman). I went with coconut.
- Choose your flavors – There were over two dozen syrup flavors. I chose pina colada, guava, and mango (clearly I feeling tropical!)
- Add toppings – I picked the “sno cap”, which is a drizzle of a sweetened condensed milk type concoction. Other toppings included coconut flakes and more.
It was a refreshing and fun treat for us to enjoy on our way to the beach!
A Walk On the beach to end the night
We wrapped up the evening with a walk along the water and a stop at the beach. We put our stroller and other gear into our car and enjoyed the beautiful beach at Grand Haven State Park for a bit. Grand Haven Beach is wide, sandy, and full of space for families to relax and play. It’s absolutely beautiful and never disappoints, especially during Grand Haven’s Coast Guard Festival.
Final Thoughts: soaking up Summer Memories
If you’re a West Michigan local, you have probably been to Grand Haven’s Coast Guard Festival before. But if you haven’t been in a while- or if you have young children and aren’t sure it’s worth the effort—I hope this post encourages you to give it a try.
Here are a few tips for families with little ones:
- Weeknights are less crowded and easier for parking and walking.
- You don’t have to do it all to enjoy the festival atmosphere. Riding the rides and staying out late can be reserved for another time.
- Simple moments like walking, getting a treat, and visiting the beach can be a perfect summer evening.
Summer goes by quickly. Nights like this remind us seize opportunities to enjoy it! Our little kids who will be little for only a few summers.
Wishing you all a happy Coast Guard Festival week—and many more family adventures to come! I’d love to connect on social hear about your adventures! You can find links to my socials on the homepage. If you’re looking for more family friendly summer activities, Mac Woods Dune rides is a must! Check out my post on that here!
