The Solstice Festival in Manitowish Waters is for friends and families to enjoy our area trails and the beauty that surrounds us while promoting an active, healthy lifestyle.

The Solstice Festival is a first-class, family-friendly event that promotes Northwoods tourism through cycling, jogging and trail running.

The annual Solstice Festival is one of the area’s most anticipated, premier community events, offering a range of routes and activities, all planned around fun and the longest day of the year.

Event proceeds from the Solstice Festival support ongoing work toward equity, access and safety for Northwoods cyclists by proactively establishing a fleet of “adaptive” bicycles for public use.

Already, proceeds from the Solstice Festival allowed the Manitowish Water Alliance Foundation to purchase two adaptive bicycles for public use. Every little bit helps!

Join us in celebrating the beauty of the Northwoods.

The event supports our fund raising efforts to expand the current Mercer bike trail from Carow Park along Hwy J to WinMan Trails ultimately completing a 26 mile loop of Mercer and Manitowish Waters as part of the Heart of Vilas County trail system. In previous years this ride was known as Lupine Junefest. The volunteers who created and supported that ride did a wonderful job of building the foundation for the trail expansion project. We are proud to take up the cause.

Join us in our efforts by riding a 7, 24, or 50 mile route starting and ending at Carow Park on the shores of beautiful Grand Portage Lake. Participants will start their ride between 8 and 9am. When you return to Carow Park stay with us for music, food and raffles. Cool off with a swim in the lake! Learn more about the Mercer bike trails and how you can play a part in completing the loop. This event also kicks off the week of Loon Days with the annual Loon Day Art and Craft fair on Saturday with over 250 vendors. Loon Day has been a Mercer tradition for over 45 years!