The BridgeHop! Festival is back for its second year and features a wide range of fun events for families, couples, and friends!

You can participate in the local 5K run/walk, do “Yoga at the Weathervane,” enter your pup in the “Waggin’ – Tails” Pet Parade, or take a rest from all the active stuff and delight your palate at the BBQ Cook-Off and Community Picnic at Goodrich Park.

This festival is put on by the White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and is meant to encourage all who attend to “hop the bridge” between Montague and Whitehall and enjoy various festivities in both locations.

Here’s a schedule of the festival’s events:

Thursday, August 3rd

• White Lake Community Picnic – 6pm – 8pm
  Goodrich Park, 100 N. Lake St., Whitehall, MI 49461

  Come hungry to the White Lake Community Picnic at Goodrich Park! This fun outdoor event will kick off the BridgeHop! Festival with games, music, a penny scramble, and of course lots of delicious food (including brats, hot dogs, and more). All are welcome! Check here for more details.

 

Friday, August 4th

• First Friday Fan Fundraiser – 7pm – 10pm
  The Book Nook & Java Shop, 8744 Ferry St., Montague, MI 49437

  Have the mayor of Montague (Jim Neubauer) or the mayor of Whitehall (Ed Whalen) mix you a signature cocktail at this celebrity bartender event! Dinner specials will also be served, plus, there’ll be a live performance by Kate Hinote & the Disasters.

  All tips plus 20 percent of the proceeds will go to support the marketing and promotion of our White Lake community. More information can be found here.

 

Saturday August 5th

• 5K Run/Walk Event – 9am – 12pm – $25
  White Lake Chamber, 124 Hanson St., Whitehall, MI 49461

  Tour both Whitehall and Montague on foot in this run/walk race for all ages! The route follows a picturesque trail through the area, starting and ending at the White Lake Chamber of Commerce in Whitehall.

• “Waggin’ – Tails” Pet Parade – 10am – 12pm – $10
  Goodrich Park, Thompson St., Whitehall, MI 49461

  Could your furry friend bring home Nicest Hair, Best Mannered, Best Dressed, or Best Trick? Find out by bringing Fido or Fluffy to participate in this fundraising dog show event at Goodrich Park! More details here.

• Yoga at the Weathervane – TBD
  More details on this event to come. Check the Facebook event to stay updated.
• BBQ Cook-Off  – 8am – 6pm
  Fetch Brewery, 100 W. Colby St., Whitehall, MI 49461

  Come to compete … or to eat. This event, hosted by Bone-End’s Rusty Morningstar, will offer prizes for the Best BBQ Ribs, Best BBQ Chicken, Best BBQ Sauce, and Best Booth. With entry fee, chicken and ribs will be provided. For those not competing, napkins will be provided!

• Music @ The Gazebo – TBD
  More details on this event to come. Check the Facebook event to stay updated.

 

Sunday, August 6th

• Blessing of the Boats – TBD
  More details on this event to come. Check the Facebook event to stay updated.

 

What Else Is There to Do in the White Lake Area?

If you’ve never joined us in White Lake before, welcome!

While you’re here for the festival, we hope you’re able to explore our area a bit as well. With the festival beginning on a Thursday, feel free to come earlier in the week to take advantage of smoother traffic through Grand Rapids or Lansing — plus shorter lines and less crowded beaches once you get here.

The BridgeHop! Festival plays on the fact that “White Lake” is an area encompassing two towns: Montague and Whitehall. The two are connected by a bridge over White Lake at the mouth of White River.

Well-known for our close proximity to Lake Michigan as well as our numerous lakes, rivers, and trails, White Lake is a top vacation destination for couples from all over the state. Each year, The Weathervane Inn welcomes guests from nearby cities like Grand Rapids, Holland, and Kalamazoo and as far as off as Lansing, Flint, Jackson, and Ann Arbor.

Spending a few days in our area, you’ll see that it’s perfect for you and your spouse or sweetheart — whether you two love being “outdoorsy” or sticking a little closer to “civilization” …

 

Into Outdoor Recreation?

Many of our guests coming from Kalamazoo, Flint, Jackson, and beyond like to get away from the city and come up north to enjoy the out-of-doors. Nowhere is that easier than in White Lake. Simply step out the doors of our lakeside inn, and you’ve got hiking, biking, kayaking, swimming, and more at your footsteps.

Not only are we located right on White Lake and right on the Hart-Montague Bike Trail, but we’re also just a two-minute walk from rental outfitters who can hook you up with bikes, kayaks, paddleboards, and more. Just a bit further away, you’ll also find places to rent boats and canoes, horseback riding, golf, charter fishing trips, and more.

And of course, there’s always our famous beaches. Go to swim, sunbathe, make sandcastles, or even do yoga.

 

Looking for Something a Little Less Adventurous?

No problem! Both Montague and Whitehall have great downtown areas for shopping, eating, or grabbing a drink. And when you get the hankering for an evening ice cream fix, just head across the street from our lakefront hotel to Twisters for a cone!

Next to Twisters is also Montague Foods — great for stocking up on snacks and drinks for your room. Did we mention we have kitchens in several of our guestrooms? We want to give you the comforts of home plus the luxury of a fine inn stay.