Quarterly Update

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

Summer in the White Lake Area

There’s just something magical about summer in the White Lake Area. Maybe it’s the way our lakes sparkle a little brighter, how the farmers market buzzes with life, or the joy of hearing live music drift through the air on a warm evening. Whatever your “it” is—exploring, adventuring, relaxing—summer is the season to do it in Montague, Whitehall, and the surrounding communities that make up this vibrant place we call home. As students break for vacation, seasonal residents return, and visitors discover our charming towns, the energy shifts—and it’s contagious. From trails to beaches, local eats to live music, there’s something happening every day to soak up the season.

Montague, Whitehall, and our surrounding areas work hard to ensure no summer day is wasted, rain or shine. The Montague Farmers Market and Artisan Market are weekly staples. The White River Light Station is a must-visit for its sweeping views, maritime museum, and live concerts. The Arts Council of White Lake hosts its beloved free summer concert series, and The Playhouse at White Lake fills the season with its summer theatre festival. Don’t miss the free shows at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, or family adventures at Michigan’s Adventure, Double JJ, Lewis Adventure Farm and Zoo, and Country Dairy—all offering unforgettable fun for every age.

You’ll find locals and visitors alike enjoying White Lake, Duck Lake, Lake Michigan, and the White River, whether they’re swimming, boating, fishing, or paddling—thanks to our many boat and kayak rental businesses. And if they’re not on the water, they’re hitting the trails to walk, run, or bike (hint: we’ve got great trail maps at the Chamber office!).

Top it all off with outdoor seating, seasonal menus, and fresh summer sips at our many local restaurants and breweries, and you’ve got the recipe for a truly unforgettable summer.

☀️ Click here for even more ideas, and keep reading to see how the White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau wrapped up spring—and how we’re diving into the season ahead!

Image by Connor Rake Productions.

Looking Back: Spring

April-June, 2025

As we say farewell to spring and dive head first into summer, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a busy and exciting April through June. Take a look below at some of the highlights from our spring season!

Trash Bash: Community Wide Clean-Up

In April, we kicked off spring with our annual Trash Bash, a community-wide cleanup throughout the White Lake Area. Over 150 volunteers came together on a perfect spring day to help clear litter from local trails, parks, shorelines, and waterways—doing good while soaking up the sunshine!

Sponsored by Consumers Energy, this event offers a fun and meaningful way for individuals, families, teams, and organizations to give back to the community we love.

Special thanks to:

Greg Hillebrand of The Lewis House Bed & Breakfast for helping us organize,
WaterDog Outfitters for offering free kayak and bike rentals for volunteers,
Walmart for providing trash bags,
Knight Transfer for donating a refuse container to haul it all away.
Team Captains to help us keep volunteers organized and sent to the locations that were the best fit: Melissa with Wesco, Tamara with White Lake Area Climate Action Council, and Sara with White Lake Association
Jimmy'z Pub for helping Weathervane Lane be an additional drop-off site for our volunteers

💚 Click here to view the photo album on Facebook.

Legislative Breakfast

On Monday, May 12, we hosted our first Legislative Breakfast at The Playhouse at White Lake, where community members, elected officials, and business leaders gathered for a morning of meaningful dialogue and connection. With thoughtful conversation and a delicious breakfast from The Gnarly Heifer, it was a strong start to what we hope becomes a valued annual tradition.

A huge thank-you to our incredible panelists: Mark Eisenbarth (Muskegon County Administrator), Representative Will Snyder, Representative Curt VanderWall, and Wendy Block (Sr. VP of Business Advocacy, Michigan Chamber of Commerce) for sharing their insights and time.

Special thanks to our event sponsors—CatchMark Technologies (Gold), Consumers Energy (Silver), and Hilite International (Bronze)—for helping make this important event possible.

📸 Click here to view the full photo album on Facebook.

Feet on the Street

We kicked off the summer season with our fourth annual Feet on the Street, held the first Sunday of June at the N. Mears Promenade in Whitehall. This free community celebration continues to grow each year—and we love seeing so many familiar faces (and new ones!) join in the fun.

Sponsored by Re/Max West and Salon Peggy Sue, this event is packed with live music, local food vendors, and activities for all ages—think artwork, bounce houses, yard games, scavenger hunts, crafts, and more. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the start of summer in true White Lake fashion.

We're so grateful for the support that makes this feel-good tradition possible—and we’re already looking forward to next year!

🎉 Click here to view the photo album on Facebook.

Arts & Crafts Festival

Father’s Day weekend brought one of our favorite traditions—the 46th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival in downtown Montague! With over 80 talented vendors, live music, food trucks, inflatables, and kids crafts, it was a weekend full of creativity and community.

Saturday gave us sunshine and crowds, while Sunday reminded us who’s boss with a bit of wind and rain—but our incredible vendors and attendees powered through, umbrellas and all!

A huge thank-you to our sponsors for making this event possible:

Premier Sponsor: Redi Rental

Gold Sponsors: Hilite International, Scheid Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc.

Silver Sponsors: New Beginnings Church, Shoreline Restoration & Construction LLC

Bronze Sponsors: Aludyne, MasterTag

🎨 Click here to view the photo album on Facebook.

Welcome Our Newest Members

April-June, 2025

We'd like to give a special thank you and welcome to these new members who joined the White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau during quarter two! The mission of our Chamber is to serve and advance the business interests of members and to strengthen the economic climate of our area. We are always thankful and appreciative when businesses trust us and allow us to partner together to fulfill that mission!