The Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival honors the men and women of the United States Coast Guard with two exciting parades and concludes with a spectacular fireworks display that is one of the best in the nation. Festival participants are invited to tour a Coast Guard cutter, an exciting midway carnival, a water ski show and a nightly schedule of live musical performances. Additionally, the popular Street Dance for old and young alike is a fun night not to be missed.

Coast Guard Festival is a festival in Grand Haven, Michigan. Founded in 1924, the festival is a ten-day event that starts in the last weekend in July, and ends in early August. Over 350,000 people attend the festival, including the nation’s highest-ranking United States Coast Guard dignitaries from Washington, DC. The focus of the annual festival is to honor the Coast Guard and those who sacrificed their lives in the service of their country

The Festival unofficially began in 1924 as a Coast Guard personnel only picnic when the local Coast Guard station held rowing competitions for those service members stationed in Grand Haven. The first festival began in 1937. In August 1971 it was officially recognized as Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival, Inc. as a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Grand Haven was named “Coast Guard City, USA” by an Act of Congress and signed by the President of the United States on November 13, 1998.

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