South Bend Farmers Market
A weekly farmers market downtown featuring local produce, baked goods, crafts, and live music. A community gathering spot all summer long.
Event website →Events & Festivals in South Bend, Niles & Southwest Michigan
A guide to annual events, festivals, and seasonal activities across South Bend, Mishawaka, Niles, St. Joseph, Dowagiac, and the surrounding region. From Notre Dame football weekends to the Hunter Ice Festival, there is something happening year-round.
Published July 31, 2026
Event dates and details may change. Please check the official event website for the most current information.
Spring
Sunburst Races
A popular annual running event featuring a marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K. The races start and finish near downtown South Bend and the Notre Dame campus.
Event website →Mishawaka Market
A weekly outdoor marketplace at Ironworks Plaza in downtown Mishawaka, offering fresh produce, artisanal goods, baked goods, food trucks, live music, and a kids zone. Sundays from May through September.
Event website →Dowagiac Dogwood Fine Arts Festival (Dowagiac, MI)
A multi-day arts festival in Dowagiac featuring nationally known musicians, authors, and artists. Includes concerts, storytelling, youth fine arts events, and the Up Front Art Walk. Celebrates over 30 years of arts programming in Cass County.
Event website →Summer
Michiana Festival of Beers
An annual craft beer festival in downtown South Bend featuring regional breweries, food trucks, and live music. A popular summer event for beer enthusiasts.
Event website →Art Beat
A celebration of the visual, performing, and culinary arts in downtown South Bend. Features local artists, live performances, food vendors, and interactive art activities.
Event website →Summer Concert Series at Howard Park
Free outdoor concerts at Howard Park throughout the summer, featuring local and regional bands. Food trucks and a family-friendly atmosphere.
Event website →South Bend Cubs Baseball
High-A affiliate baseball at Four Winds Field. Affordable family fun with fireworks nights, themed events, and a great atmosphere all season long.
Event website →Antiques on the Bluff (St. Joseph, MI)
A popular antique and vintage market in Lake Bluff Park overlooking Lake Michigan in downtown St. Joseph. Over 50 vendors on the first Sunday of each month from May through October. Running for over 25 years.
Event website →Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff (St. Joseph, MI)
One of the premier art fairs in the Midwest, set against the backdrop of Lake Michigan in downtown St. Joseph. Features 172 artists from across the United States. Celebrating its 64th year in 2026. Free admission.
Event website →Chalk the Block (St. Joseph, MI)
Annual sidewalk chalk art festival in downtown St. Joseph drawing around 40,000 visitors. Artists transform streets and vertical panels into works of art, with live music, kids zone, and Antiques on the Bluff all weekend.
Event website →Dowagiac Summer Festival & BBQ Competition (Dowagiac, MI)
A summer celebration in downtown Dowagiac featuring a BBQ competition, food trucks, live music, and family activities. Part of the city's ongoing summer event series.
Event website →Music in the Park (Dowagiac, MI)
Free open-air concerts every Thursday night throughout the summer in Dowagiac. Features local and regional musicians with food trucks available. A long-standing Cass County tradition.
Event website →Fall
Notre Dame Football Weekends
Game days at Notre Dame Stadium bring tens of thousands of visitors to South Bend. Tailgating, the marching band, and the campus atmosphere make these weekends a regional highlight.
Event website →Bike South Bend
A recreational bike ride through the scenic roads and neighborhoods of South Bend and Mishawaka, with multiple route options for all skill levels.
Event website →Four Flags Apple Festival (Niles, MI)
A four-day family festival in downtown Niles celebrating the apple harvest for over 50 years. Features carnival rides and games, food vendors, daily entertainment, a Saturday parade, and free nightly concerts.
Event website →Winter
Holiday Light Parade
A festive downtown South Bend parade featuring illuminated floats, marching bands, and Santa. Kicks off the holiday season with tree lighting and community celebrations.
Event website →Ice Skating at Howard Park
The Howard Park ice skating trail offers outdoor skating along the St. Joseph River all winter long. Skate rentals, warm-up areas, and seasonal events.
Event website →Morris Performing Arts Center Winter Season
The Morris hosts Broadway tours, concerts, comedians, and the South Bend Symphony Orchestra throughout the winter season. A cultural highlight when outdoor events wind down.
Event website →Hunter Ice Festival (Niles, MI)
Annual festival in downtown Niles celebrating the history of the Hunter Brothers Ice and Ice Cream Company. Features over 100 ice sculptures, live carving demonstrations, ice fights at the amphitheater, chili crawl, ice sledding, and family activities. Free to attend.
Event website →Frequently asked questions about events in South Bend and Southwest Michigan
What events happen in South Bend during the summer?
Summer events include the Michiana Festival of Beers in July, Art Beat in September, free concerts at Howard Park throughout the summer, South Bend Cubs baseball from April through September, and weekly farmers markets in South Bend and Mishawaka.
When is Notre Dame football season?
Notre Dame football home games run from September through November, typically on Saturdays. Game weekends bring large crowds to South Bend, so book hotels and restaurants well in advance. The campus atmosphere on game days is a regional highlight.
Are there free events in South Bend?
Yes. The Summer Concert Series at Howard Park is free. Farmers markets are free to attend. Ice skating at Howard Park requires a small fee for skate rental but the park itself is free to enjoy. Many downtown events like Art Beat have free admission.
What winter events are in South Bend?
Winter highlights include the Holiday Light Parade in December, ice skating at Howard Park from December through February, and the Morris Performing Arts Center winter season featuring Broadway tours, concerts, and the South Bend Symphony Orchestra.
What events happen during Notre Dame football weekends?
Notre Dame football home weekends transform South Bend. Campus hosts tailgating beginning early morning, the band performs on the steps of the Main Building, and downtown restaurants and bars fill with fans. Book hotels and restaurant reservations weeks or months in advance, as the city fills up on game weekends. The atmosphere is one of the biggest draws of living in South Bend.
What events happen in Niles, Michigan?
Niles hosts the Hunter Ice Festival in January with over 100 ice sculptures and live carving, the Four Flags Apple Festival in October with carnival rides and a parade, and events at the Riverfront Park amphitheater throughout the year. Niles is about 15 minutes from South Bend.
What festivals are in St. Joseph, Michigan?
St. Joseph hosts Antiques on the Bluff on the first Sunday of each month from May through October, the Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff in July with 172 artists from across the country, and Chalk the Block in August drawing around 40,000 visitors. The downtown band shell also hosts free Friday night concerts throughout the summer.
What events happen in Dowagiac, Michigan?
Dowagiac hosts the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival in May featuring nationally known musicians and authors, the Summer Festival and BBQ Competition in July, and free Music in the Park concerts every Thursday night throughout the summer. The city also has the Dowagiac Area History Museum open year-round.
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