THE LOWDOWN GUIDE · UPDATED OCTOBER 2026

Free things to do in Muskegon and Grand Haven

Museums, beaches, dune trails, concerts and one very famous fountain. All free, with the parking fine print included so nothing sneaks up on you.

Get the best free stuff each weekend, every Tuesday and Friday.

Free any time of year

Muskegon Museum of Art

296 W Webster Ave, MuskegonFree every Thursday, 11 AM to 8 PM, and the second Saturday of every month (except June). Kids 16 and under are always free. Some special exhibitions cost extra.

Tri-Cities Historical Museum

200 Washington Ave, Grand HavenAlways free. Lumber camps, Coast Guard history and an old soda fountain right on the main drag. Closed Mondays, with longer hours in summer.

Carr-Fles Planetarium

Muskegon Community CollegeFree public shows on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from September through June. Check MCC's schedule for showtimes.

Grand Haven Boardwalk and Pier

Downtown to the Grand Haven lighthousesAbout a mile and a half along the Grand River, ending at the red lighthouses. Sunset is the move. Stay off the pier when the waves are up.

Grand Haven City Beach

Just south of Grand Haven State ParkThe locals' beach. No entry fee and no Recreation Passport needed, with its own small lot.

Muskegon Lakeshore Trail

Along Muskegon LakePaved path for walking, running and biking along the water, connecting downtown toward the beach side of town.

Pere Marquette Beach

Beach St, MuskegonMuskegon's big Lake Michigan beach, with the breakwater out to the south pier lighthouse. Free to enjoy, but parking is paid from mid-May to mid-September.

Rosy Mound Natural Area

Lakeshore Ave, just south of Grand HavenA 0.7-mile dune trail with about 1,000 feet of stairs down to Lake Michigan. Parking is free from Labor Day to Memorial Day weekend, with a county fee in summer. No dogs.

Free in summer

Roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day. Save this page for next year.

Grand Haven Musical Fountain

Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium, 1 N Harbor DrFree 25 to 30 minute shows nightly at dark from Memorial Day to Labor Day, plus Fridays and Saturdays in May and September. Running since 1962.

Parties in the Park

Hackley Park, downtown MuskegonFree admission Friday evenings all summer, with live music and a family-friendly crowd.

Music on the Grand

Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium, Grand HavenFree concerts on the waterfront every Wednesday evening. Pair it with the fountain after dark.

McGraft Park Summer Concerts

2204 Wickham Dr, MuskegonFree 7 PM concerts at the band shell in July and August. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Beach Yoga at Pere Marquette

Pere Marquette Beach, MuskegonDonation-based classes Sundays, 8 to 9 AM, June through September. All levels welcome.

The Deck

1601 Beach St, MuskegonNo cover for the live music on the sand, May through mid-September. Just bring parking money.

The fine print

State parks like Grand Haven State Park, Muskegon State Park and Hoffmaster are not free. They need a Michigan Recreation Passport. County parks don't take the passport and charge their own summer parking fees.

Never pay for a boring weekend

The Lowdown rounds up the best things happening in Muskegon and Grand Haven, free stuff included, every Tuesday and Friday.

Looking for live music? See the venue guide →