Saturday, May 2, 2026

 

6:00 p.m. Miss Mancelona Pageant - The Miss Mancelona Scholarship Pageant is stepping back into the fabulous 1950s this year as we celebrate 70 years of the Bass Festival! Join us on May 2nd at 6:00 PM at the Mancelona Middle School Gymnasium for a fun, nostalgic evening as we crown the next Miss Mancelona and her court. Come out and support the beautiful, talented young ladies of our community as they take the stage and compete for the title! Your encouragement means so much to these contestants. Tickets ($10) are available at the door or directly from a contestant.

​

Wednesday, May 21, 2026

 

6:00 p.m. Mancelona Kids and Pet Parade - Meet at Mancelona Middle School at 6:00 p.m. Encourage kids to decorate their bicycles, wagons, scooters. Bring your pets, dress them in costumes. Prizes awarded in several different categories. Fun for all ages. Sponsored by Township Ambulance Authority.

​

6:30 p.m. Mancelona Kids and Pet Parade - Leaves Mancelona Middle School and everyone marches down State Street and will end at the Dairy Delite. Kid’s games will be held after the parade by Dairy Delite.

 

​

​

Thursday, May 22, 2026

​

5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. TJ. Schmidt Carnival Opens - New rides and attractions. Join the fun on the midway. Games, food, and thrilling rides for all.
 
5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Crafters Market opens - Check out the new craft booths that have joined the Mancelona Bass Festival this year. Bargains and unique items throughout.
​
5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Beverage and Entertainment Tent opens - Budweiser and Cox Distributors.  Join us for a relaxing beverage and mingle with friends and family. Bass Festival Button required for entry. Must be 18 to enter.
​
7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Euchre Tournament in Beverage Tent - Join us for the 1st Annual Euchre Tournament—a night of fun, friendly competition, and a chance to win some cash! Must be 18+ to enter!

​

​

Friday, May 23, 2025

 

5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. T.J. Schmidt Carnival opens - Join the fun on the midway. Take a spin on the bumper cars or enjoy any of the other exciting rides!
 
5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Crafters Market Opens - Check out the specials and try some of the new food vendors that have joined this year’s Festival.
 
5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Beverage and Entertainment tent opens -  It’s Friday and the end of the week. Come on down to the Bass Festival and relax and have a beverage or two. Bass Festival Button required for entry. Must be 18 to enter.
​
8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.: Entertainment by DJ Ed McCarty -  Come join us in the tent for a beverage and great music! Request all your favorite dance tunes, County, Rock, Pop, Blues! You name it, Ed can play it!! Bass Festival Button required for entry. Must be 18 to enter.  Entertainment sponsored by: JAILHOUSE CANNABIS

​

​

Saturday, May 24, 2026​

 

11:00 a.m. Mancelona Bass Festival Grand Parade -  Come enjoy the 70th annual Bass Festival Parade with floats, cars, businesses, and much more! Entrants will parade from Mancelona High School to M-88. Right on M-88. Through downtown, turning left on North Maple Street, ending at Hinman Street. ​
​
11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Mancelona Rotary Chicken BBQ Dinner - After the parade join the Mancelona Rotary as they prepare a delicious Chicken BBQ with all the fixings. Dinner will be served in the Beverage and Entertainment Tent located at Palmer Park. 
​
12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. TJ Schmidt and the Carnival Rides open for the Day - Enjoy the kiddie rides as well as rides that will take your breath

away.

 

8:00 a.m – 4:00 p.m. Mancelona Bass Festival Annual Classic Car and Bike show sponsored by Polar Equator Napa - Relive the dreams of the 50’s, 60’s 70’s and 80’s as cars from all over Northern Michigan come for the day and have a chance to win prizes and trophies in several classes. Register the day of the event when you arrive at the car show. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. Located at the festival tent. Car show begins at noon. 
​
12:00 p.m. Corn Hole Tournament begins - Register on the Scoreholio app, or by contacting Steve at 231-676-0248 Check in 1 hour before start time. Tournament held at the Beverage and Entertainment tent.  
 
12:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Entertainment and Beverage Tent opens - Join your friends and family for a refreshing beverage. 
​
12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Crafters Market opens - Special sales go on throughout the day as the Mancelona Bass Festival showcases some of its new vendors to this year’s festival.
​
12:00 noon. Corn Hole (Bean Bag Toss Tournament)
 
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Ice Cream Social. Free with Bass Festival Button - Located in front of Entertainment Tent

 

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Ice Cream Social. Free with Bass Festival Button - Located in front of Entertainment Tent

 

4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - FREE Entertainment In the Open Space - Come enjoy The Good Ole Boys! Bring your own lawn chair, blanket, or sit on the grass and enjoy some great music

7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.:  J Hawkins Band -  Join J and Danielle Hawkins and their band as they play a gritty blend of Southern Rock, Country and Americana crafted with heartland authenticity. Bass Festival Button required for entry. Must be 18 to enter. Entertainment sponsored by: JAILHOUSE CANNABIS​​

​

 

Sunday, May 24, 2025

 

9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Free Pancake Breakfast for the entire community of Mancelona - Sausage, eggs, pancakes, and beverages will be served. Please join your friends and family as the Bass Festival Committee would like to say thank you Mancelona for a great Bass Festival! 

 

12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. T.J. Schmidt Carnival opens
 
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Crafters Market Opens - Enjoy all of the booths at the festival! Maybe you will find that special something for someone, or for yourself!
 
2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Grand raffle -  Last chance to get your raffle tickets to win some great prizes that the Bass Festival will be giving away. 
​
 

Raffle tickets available until 2:00 Sunday at the Entertainment Tent for the Playhouse donated by Carter Lumber and Dean Stephenson, Avalanche Bay tickets, $100 gift card, and many other prizes. Tickets will be $1 each or 6/$5. They will also be available at businesses throughout Mancelona soon.
 
Bass Festival Buttons will be on sale at various businesses throughout Mancelona soon, as well as at the festival grounds in front of the Entertainment Tent during the festival for $3 each.
 

 

FISHING TOURNAMENT DETAILS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON.