Mint Festival
The annual St. Johns Mint Festival is held the second weekend of August each year and provides the entire family with an action-packed weekend. Held at the City Park and County Fairgrounds, over 75,000 people attend activities of the festival such as arts and crafts, flea market, antiques and collectibles, basketball tournaments, and children's activities. There is also free daily entertainment, a Mint Queen Pageant and mint information and foods. The festival begins Friday afternoon, and then kicks into high gear with the Grand Mint Parade on Saturday. Over 150 entries are highlighted in the parade. Don't forget to get your bowl of Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream at the festival!!
Mint Festival website: https://stjohnsareachamber.wildapricot.org/events
St. Johns is a rich and varied agricultural area with about 90 percent of the farmland in the county classified as prime growing soil. The growing of spearmint and peppermint is unique to this area, using the rich black soil that prevails. Mint farming began with a two-acre crop of peppermint in 1913. The county ranks first in the production of mint in Michigan, with approximately 5,000 acres of mint farmed. Each year the mint farming heritage is celebrated at the St. Johns Mint Festival.