Leelanau Uncaged is ready for thousands of visitors to flock to Northport for the festival that celebrates the end of summer and beginning of fall.
Weather is forecasting a sunny and 75 degree day for the early fall festival that has become an instant classic over the past decade.
This will be the 10th year since the event was inspired by composer and philosopher John Cage in 2013. Uncaged did take two years off due to COVID.
“Our mission is to always be free and never charge a dime to join our street party. One thing we are always aiming for is doing better” spokesman Susan Ager said.
The all-volunteer, non-profit festival costs roughly $40,000 to put the street festival on. The performers alone cost $20,000 plus rentals of tents, chairs, tables and more.
“This year is a lot bigger, a lot more organized, and a lot more expensive,” Ager said.
Northport’s Leelanau UnCaged, the No. 1 event in Leelanau and Benzie counties according to RedHotBest, is a day to celebrate and stimulate the senses.
Under the tents on Waukazoo Street and Mill Street there will be a main stage and a smaller side stage for continuous music to enjoy all day. At Yard & Lake at the northern end of the festival there will be a smaller and more intimate outdoor venue. In the center of the festival will be the first ever stage devoted entirely to dance. The Traverse City Dance Project is renting a portable stage to welcome cultural dance, modern, ballet, jazz, and hip-hop dancers.
Locals will be boogying right alongside them, as most of those who attend Leelanau UnCaged end up dancing in the streets.
Funding comes from private donations along with generous grants from the Leelanau Township Community Foundation and from Andy and Gloria Thomas.
Grants allow UnCaged to cover the costs of the stage and its canopy, along with stipends for a stage crew and performers.
For the first time there will be a food court of vendors in the kiddie corner of the gas station that includes Pleva’s Meats, Scoops 22, Antojitos, and Lil’ Bo as of last week.
Local flavors of Northport include Pub & Grille, Faro, Mitten Brewery, New Bohemian Cafe, Around the Corner and Barb’s Bakery. Street vendors include Meredith Family Kettle Corn, Why Knot Pretzels, Kawa Cacao, Kolarik Corn, and the Leelanau Lemonade Stand.
Former director Sandy Dhuyvetter retired after speaking for the festival over the past decade.
The festival will be expecting at least 8,000 people. BATA Bus Information: FREE RIDES from Traverse City to Northport all day, Saturday.
BATA Transportation – Village Loop Route 10 (Free Rides) Service from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Suttons Bay Library: 9:58 a.m., 11:58 a.m., 1:58 p.m., 3:58 p.m., 5:58 p.m., 7:58 p.m.
Leelanau Sands Casino – BATA Bus Shelter Shuttle Transfer in North Parking Lot: 10:30 a.m.; 12:30, 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m.
Northport – Northport Public School (arrival): 10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m. 6:45 p.m., 8:45 p.m.
Northport to Traverse City Departures: Northport – Northport Public School: 12:10 p.m., 2:10 p.m., 4:10 p.m., 6:10 p.m., 8:10 p.m. and 10:10 p.m. (last departure) Leelanau Sands Casino – BATA Bus Shelter Shuttle Transfer in North Parking Lot: 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Suttons Bay Library: 10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m., 8:45 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.
