Lighthouse Related Events
Overview: This table lists physical lighthouse events from September 2025 through December 2026 The chart includes festivals, open days, tours, amateur radio activations, and holiday illuminations. Dates based on confirmed announcements or recurring patterns as of September 18, 2025; verify via official sources (e.g., ARLHS.org, GLLKA.org, MichiganLighthouseFestival.com).
| Date | Event Description | Type | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 5-7, 2025 | Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival (Mukfest) | Festival | Mukilteo, Washington, USA | Free family event at Lighthouse Park with parade, live music, children’s activities (inflatables, foam party, pirates, line dancing), food vendors, beer garden, salmon bake, crafts, reptile shows, drone show, and fireworks (Saturday at dusk). Tours of historic 1906 Mukilteo Light Station (Sat-Sun afternoons). Shuttle parking available. |
| September 13, 2025 | Maine Open Lighthouse Day | Open Day/Tours | Maine, USA (20+ sites) | Sponsored by U.S. Coast Guard, Maine Tourism, and American Lighthouse Foundation; free/low-cost access to climb and tour lighthouses like Portland Head Light, Pemaquid Point, and offshore sites (e.g., Isle au Haut via boat tours). Draws 15,000+ visitors; some require reservations or ferries. Includes special cruises and onshore exhibits. |
| September 14, 2025 | Point Betsie Lighthouse Closed (Ironman Race) | Special Note/Closure | Point Betsie Lighthouse, Frankfort, Michigan, USA (Lake Michigan) | Historic 1858 lighthouse tours paused for Frankfort Ironman race; grounds may be accessible. Normally open May-Oct with $5 guided tours. |
| September 18, 2025 (approx.) | Crisp Point Lighthouse Season Close | Seasonal Close | Crisp Point Lighthouse, Paradise, Michigan, USA (Lake Superior) | Visitor center and restrooms close after October 17; last full services. Tours of 1904 lighthouse end; volunteer cleanups possible. |
| October 11, 2025 | Lakeside-Marblehead Lighthouse Festival (29th Annual) | Festival | Lakeside and Marblehead, Ohio, USA (Lake Erie) | Free peninsula-wide event (9am-6pm) with tours of Marblehead Lighthouse and Wolcott Keeper’s House, live entertainment, children’s crafts/games, pumpkin-decorating contest, 100+ vendors, farmers’ market, hayrides. Rain or shine; organized by Lakeside Chautauqua and Marblehead Chamber. |
| October 17-19, 2025 | Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival (Annual) | Festival/Cruises | Alpena/Cheboygan area, Michigan, USA (Lake Huron) | Organized by GLLKA; maritime market, presentations, lighthouse cruises (e.g., Lady Michigan), auctions, 100+ vendors. $45-95 passes; ties to National Lighthouse Day. Dates approx. mid-Oct; confirm via GLLKA.org. |
| October 18-19, 2025 | Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey | Challenge/Tours | New Jersey, USA (11 lighthouses + sites) | Two-day self-guided tour visiting lighthouses (e.g., Sandy Hook, Cape May), lifesaving stations (e.g., Ocean City), and museums from Sandy Hook to Cape May/Delaware Bay. Collect stamps/souvenirs; $10 registration fee includes T-shirt. Climbs available (extra fee); promotes preservation. |
| November 1, 2025 | Crisp Point Volunteer Keeper Sign-up for 2026 | Volunteer Program | Crisp Point Lighthouse, Paradise, Michigan, USA (Lake Superior) | Sign-up begins for 2026 season; teams stay in keeper’s quarters, greet visitors, lead tours/maintenance. $250/person; 30 hrs/week. Training March 2026. |
| November 2025 (TBD) | Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Service | Memorial/Observance | Whitefish Point, Michigan, USA (Lake Superior) | Annual commemoration of 1975 shipwreck; ceremonies, exhibits at Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society museum. Free/public; ties to lighthouse history. |
| November 15, 2025 – January 11, 2026 | Nights of Lights (Citywide, includes Lighthouse Viewing) | Holiday Display | St. Augustine, Florida, USA | Annual illumination of 3M+ white lights; view from lighthouse top or bayfront. Includes boat/trolley tours, parades, events like Luminary Night at St. Augustine Lighthouse. Light Up! Night kickoff Nov 15 with orchestra/fireworks. |
| November 21, 2025 – January 10, 2026 | St. Augustine Lighthouse Illuminations: Tides, Tidings, & Trees | Holiday Tours | St. Augustine, Florida, USA | Evening tours during Nights of Lights (select Wed/Fri/Sat, starting 6:30pm); climb 219 steps for views, explore 21+ themed holiday trees (e.g., shells, nautical adventures, American lighthouses). Admission: $26.95 adults, $22.95 children (44″ height min. for climb). Grounds decorated with lights/garlands. |
| January 23-26, 2026 | Grand Lighthouse 2026 (Winter Edition) | Festival (Electronic Music) | Bad Gastein, Austria | Intimate winter electronic music festival at historic site; lighthouse-themed visuals, sustainable focus. Tickets via official site; combines music with alpine heritage. |
| February 2026 (TBD; likely mid-Feb) | Lighthouse Festival (South Africa Edition) | Festival (Electronic Music) | Cape Town, South Africa | Boutique electronic event with lighthouse themes; community activities, no food/drink restrictions. Part of global series; exact dates pending confirmation. |
| March 3-5, 2026 | Great Lakes Boutique & Gift Show (Lighthouse Vendors) | Trade Show/Market | Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA | Wholesale event with lighthouse-themed vendors (gifts, souvenirs); open to public for maritime items. At Kalamazoo Expo Center; free entry. Ties to Great Lakes heritage. |
| May 29-30, 2026 | Door County Lighthouse Passport Days (Spring) | Tours/Passport | Door County, Wisconsin, USA (Lake Michigan) | Fundraiser for Door County Maritime Museum; access to 11+ lighthouses (e.g., Cana Island, Eagle Bluff) via land/boat/air tours. Includes exclusive sites like Chambers Island, Plum Island. Tickets required; supports preservation. |
| June 1-2, 2026 | Door County Lighthouse Passport Days (Early Summer) | Tours/Passport | Door County, Wisconsin, USA (Lake Michigan) | Continuation of spring passport; guided tours to historic lighthouses and beacons (e.g., Baileys Harbor Range Lights). Special excursions; non-refundable tickets fund museum. |
| June 3-7, 2026 | Lighthouse International Film Festival (18th Annual) | Film Festival | Long Beach Island, New Jersey, USA | Independent cinema showcase with Q&As, panels, parties; films from Sundance/TIFF/SXSW. Coastal venue enhances lighthouse theme; includes surf films and industry events. |
| June 3-7, 2026 | Lighthouse Festival 2026 (Croatia Edition) | Festival (Electronic Music) | Poreč, Croatia | Five-day boutique electronic music festival on Istrian coast; media arts, sustainable picnics, intimate vibe. No food/drink restrictions; coastal lighthouse-inspired setting. |
| July – September 2026 | White River Light Station 150th Anniversary Celebrations | Anniversary/Tours | White River Light Station, Whitehall, Michigan, USA (Lake Michigan) | Summer museum open with special events for 150th (built 1875); tours of octagonal tower, keeper’s house; $5-10 fees. Focus on lumber/resort history. |
| July 1 – September 2026 (approx.) | Big Sable Point Lighthouse Open Season | Open House/Tours | Big Sable Point Lighthouse, Ludington, Michigan, USA (Lake Michigan) | Extended hours post-renovations; 5 bus days for access (1.5-mile walk otherwise). Climb 112 steps ($8 fee) for dune/lake views; museum on-site. |
| August 7, 2026 | National Lighthouse Day | Observance | USA (nationwide) | Commemorates 1789 Lighthouse Act; local open houses, tours, exhibits (e.g., Cape May climb 199 steps, Cape Henry free event). Ties into heritage month; many sites offer stamps/passports. |
| August 7, 2026 | Door County Lighthouse Passport Days (National Lighthouse Day) | Tours/Passport | Door County, Wisconsin, USA (Lake Michigan) | Special access to 11+ lighthouses via tours; fundraiser for preservation. Includes exclusive sites; tickets via DoorCountyTickets.com. |
| August 9-10, 2026 | US National Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend (NLLW) | Amateur Radio Event | USA (nationwide) | Ham radio activations at U.S. lighthouses; coincides with National Lighthouse Day. All bands allowed; celebrates history via contacts and public access. Organized by Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society. |
| August 15-16, 2026 | International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend (ILLW) | Amateur Radio Event | Worldwide (500+ sites) | 48-hour global activation (00:01 UTC Aug 15 to 24:00 Aug 16); free, non-competitive. Operators at lighthouses (e.g., Blacksod, Ireland) for contacts; includes open houses and heritage tours. Promotes preservation; 400+ registrations expected. |
| August 15-16, 2026 | International Lighthouse Heritage Weekend | Open Day/Tours | UK and Europe (various sites) | Coincides with ILLW; public access to lighthouses for tours/exhibits. Organized by Association of Lighthouse Keepers; focuses on history and restoration. |
| September 4-6, 2026 (TBD; post-Labor Day) | Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival (Mukfest) | Festival | Mukilteo, Washington, USA | Recurring event with parade, music, kids’ activities, food, fireworks, lighthouse tours. Free entry; volunteer-driven community event. |
| September 12, 2026 (TBD; mid-Sep) | Maine Open Lighthouse Day | Open Day/Tours | Maine, USA (20+ sites) | Annual event; tours/climbs at onshore/offshore lighthouses (e.g., Burnt Island, West Quoddy Head). Boat access for some; sponsored by Coast Guard and tourism board. Draws 15,000+ visitors. |
| October 2-3, 2026 | Door County Lighthouse Passport Days (Fall) | Tours/Passport | Door County, Wisconsin, USA (Lake Michigan) | Fall edition; boat/plane/car tours to 11+ lighthouses, including remote ones. Fundraising for preservation; tickets via Door County Tickets. |
| October 10, 2026 (2nd Sat, likely) | Lakeside-Marblehead Lighthouse Festival (30th Annual) | Festival | Lakeside and Marblehead, Ohio, USA (Lake Erie) | Family event with lighthouse tours, crafts, pumpkin contest, vendors, hayrides. Rain or shine; 9am-4pm. |
| October 17-18, 2026 (3rd weekend, likely) | Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey | Challenge/Tours | New Jersey, USA (11+ sites) | Stamp-collecting tour of lighthouses/lifesaving stations; $10 fee for souvenirs. Climbs and exhibits; supports restoration. |
| October 20-25, 2026 | Great Lakes Planetarium Association Conference (Lighthouse Ties) | Conference | Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA | Hosted by Grand Rapids Public Museum; includes astronomy/lighthouse heritage sessions (e.g., night skies over Great Lakes). Registration TBD; ties to maritime exhibits. |
| November 20, 2026 – January 9, 2027 (TBD) | St. Augustine Lighthouse Illuminations: Tides, Tidings, & Trees | Holiday Tours | St. Augustine, Florida, USA | Annual evening climbs and themed tree displays during Nights of Lights (select evenings). Height min. for tower; tickets required. |
| November 2026 (TBD) | Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Service | Memorial/Observance | Whitefish Point, Michigan, USA (Lake Superior) | Annual commemoration of 1975 shipwreck; ceremonies, exhibits at museum. Free/public; lighthouse ties. |
| December 2026 | Tawas Point Lighthouse Keeper Program (Ongoing Sign-ups) | Volunteer Stay/Program | Tawas Point State Park, East Tawas, Michigan, USA (Lake Huron) | Teams of 4 stay in keeper’s dwelling ($250/person); greet visitors, tours, maintenance. Applications for 2027 open; climb 85 steps. |