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Family fun just begins in the South Haven area and spreads throughout the region.  With beautiful beaches, scenic parks, pristine lakes and rivers, and trails for every purpose and reason, the greater South Haven area is an ideal destination to search out nature and more!

Enjoy the shopping, take time out for a movie, make a craft at the Center for the Arts, watch the local community theatre performance, bike the trail, visit the farmers market, catch story hour at the library, pick blueberries, how about a round of mini-golf or a game of bowls, or just grab a cup of Joe – the adventures are only limited by one’s mind not the multitude of amenities this community and the surrounding area have to offer!

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• Blueberries
• Coffee Shops
• Library
• Mini Golf
• Museums Theatres and Cultural Venues
• Trails

What makes the South Haven area so historical and nautical?  It’s all about our heritage and the South Haven culture!  Know as the land of "Beautiful Sunsets" or "Ni-Ko-Nong" by the first residents of the region the Native Americans of various Algonquin tribes found that South Haven's beauty and rich natural resources supported a rewarding lifestyle.

While a few early settlers made the region home in the 1830s, it wasn't until 1850 that the first permanent family established a homestead in South Haven.  Sixteen years later, George Hannas founded a sawmill, setting off a construction boom of stores, hotels, saloons and churches.  By 1869, South Haven was officially a town!

The city prospered from a thriving lumber industry for several decades and its location along Lake Michigan permitted timber shipments to cross the Great Lakes, supplying wood products to growing urban areas.  As land was cleared, fruit was planted and the region flourished from horticulture and agriculture.

Great Lakes ships also brought tourists eager to escape the summer heat of Chicago and other large Midwest cities.  During the first half of the 20th Century, the thriving tourism industry provided the impetus to South Haven being dubbed the ‘Catskills of the Midwest’ - marking the Jewish Resort Era, a time when the Midwest's Jewish community made South Haven its choice vacation spot.  It was a period characterized by luxury hotels and gourmet cuisine, nightly concerts, big band performances and elegant fashions.

Commercial shipping continued and it was not unusual to see foreign ships in port in the 1940s and '50s bringing in clay and paper pulp. The Michigan Maritime Museum continues to maintain a presence in South Haven, serving as home base for the Friends Good Will, a replica tall ship that offers sailors-to-be excursions on Lake Michigan and serves as a floating classroom for the area's students.

As vehicles were modernized, trucks began to move the area's freight.  Rail reached into the area.  Today, the community continues to serve as a hub of commerce, recreation and agriculture.

The Historical Association of South Haven brings history to life through exhibits, demonstrations, interactive lectures and Vintage Base Ball games.  It continues to preserve the area's history through written and oral presentations, as well as photographic collections.

The Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum in South Haven having celebrated its 150th anniversary of the birth of its namesake has been welcoming visitors for over 70 years.  The museum which also preserves the history of South Haven is open to tours of the Bailey home, museum library, gardens, wildflower trail and the carriage barn.

We invite you to visit South Haven and discover a compelling historic legacy and enjoy a fascinating look into the world of yesteryear.

The South Haven area offers a plethora of events and activities over all four season.  Each year breaks us in with the annual Ice Breaker festival hosted during the coldest month; this annual gathering brings people to the streets like the summer months though.  With ice carving and chili tasting, skating and entertainment, and a smorgasbord of family fun the Ice Breaker festival centrally coordinated by the Greater South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce is hosted in part to blow away those winter blues.

The Harborfest held in celebration of the area’s waterways is hosted on the Father’s Day weekend in June and combines entertainment, river activity and arts and crafts.  In August at peak harvest, the National Blueberry Festival is hosted in celebration of our status as the world headquarters for blueberry production.

The community of South Haven knows how to throw a party, and how to host a parade!  With four parades each year on Memorial Day, the 4th of July, during the National Blueberry Festival and the “Santa’s Coming to Town” parade on Black Friday, the town is abuzz with activity and celebration.  In neighboring communities Bangor hosts a lighted parade in celebration of the Holiday Season and an annual Harvest Festival themed after the time of fall apple harvest.  The community of Glenn recognizes their heritage by way of a Glenn Summer Fest held in August.

Artisans flock to the area during the South Haven Center for the Arts Annual Fine Art Fair, and also during the Blueberry Festival Craft Fair and the All Crafts Fair held over the Labor Day weekend, both centrally coordinated by the Greater South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce.  

Each year a full schedule of events is published and whether you’re here for just a day, a week or even longer there is always something to do, somewhere to go, and something new to see.  We invite you to visit our Calendar of Events showcasing activities, attractions, and happenings not only in South Haven but also throughout the surrounding area.

South Haven is a mecca for recreation and the outdoors!  Whether your desire is to canoe the Black River, rent a sea kayak and venture out on the big lake – Lake Michigan, explore the waterways via dingy, try your hand at catching salmon or perch, ride your bike or go BMX-ing, or simple take to the paths and set out on an adventure while in our walkable community, there is something for everyone!

Browse our listings:

• Amusement Centers
• Bicycles
• Camping
• Golf Courses
• Marinas
• Mini Golf
• Motorsport Sales and Rentals
• Race Tracks
• Trails
• Water Sports
• Youth Activities