# Event Details - **Event Name**: Turtlefest 2026 - **Event Start and End Date**: Sat, 23 May, 2026 at 10:00 am - **Event Description**: Opening Ceremony! At 10 am we will proceed to the official MDOT turtle crossing sign for the invocation by master of ceremonies Mark Carlin and the tyings of the ribbons of promise, symbolizing how we are all connected in our ecosystem. Then we march back to the paint tent. Paint! Will and Marijke Church are graciously lending us their side yard, big tent, and restroom at the Elberta Campground (654 Frankfort Avenue) again for a lovely day making signs. You don’t need to bring anything except your imagination and some clothes that can get painty—all other supplies provided. 11 am–3:30 pm Learn about turtles! At 11 am Jane Haga will present amazing facts about the lifestyles of these 90 million-year-old reptiles in her talk on “Michigan Turtles.” If you aren’t already a herper, you may be one after you are infected by Jane’s love for our little native species, who you could say outlived the dinosaurs! This year, Jane will be presenting at the new Elberta Heritage Center (704 Frankfort Avenue), home of WUWU LPFM 100.1, and a sponsor of Turtlefest. Then, from 1 pm to 3 pm, Jim McGrath and his team from Nature Discovery will have an interactive exhibit of live Michigan turtles and Milberta the red-footed tortoise in a little tent by the paint tent! Donate! Since 2024, Turtlefests have raised some money for Sleeping Bear Wildlife Fund (last year it was about $350) through donations and sales of bumper stickers and other merch. This year we hope to do even better for them. We’re also going to add in the Conservation Resource Alliance, which does incredible work protecting our regional water habitats, the Elberta Heritage Center, which is seeking $14,000 in matching funds for a grant with a deadline of June 13, and Turtlefest itself, for paint, other supplies, and fees. Listen to Music! Courtesy of WUWU, there will be a down-home swampy tunescape to paint to. Get Merch and Eat Food! Ninja Turtle Ts, books, posters, bumper stickers, and other cool stuff, with all proceeds going to one of the beneficiaries listed above. New this year on the merch table: Giant Snapper treats from Kilwin’s of Frankfort! Other than chockies, there won’t be any food at the festival site itself, but there will be plenty of cups of fresh, cold, delicious Elberta drinking water (for free of course). If you were at last year’s event I hope you did not miss the Turtle Burger (not made out of actual turtle) and Turtle Milkshake created by the team at Mayfair Burger Bar. We headed straight there after 4 and we encourage you to do the same this year, anytime you paint up an appetite during the ’Fest. Thanks again, Nick Crawford! If you’d like to donate signs, items for sale as a benefit, volunteer to help with setup, cleanup, or another way, or have any questions, please call or email me at emilyvotruba@yahoo.com, 231-399-0098. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/frankfort/turtlefest-2026/200030078402346 - **Event Categories**: Nonprofit, Festivals, Workshops - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details ## Event venue details - **city**: Frankfort - **state**: MI - **country**: United States - **location**: 704 Frankfort Avenue, Elberta, MI, United States, Michigan 49628 - **lat**: 44.61798 - **long**: -86.22584 - **full address**: 704 Frankfort Avenue, Elberta, MI, United States, Michigan 49628, 704 Frankfort Ave, Frankfort, MI 49635-8733, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Turtlefest 2026 - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/a97c4353d5013acb641458063c0a92e131fed78d9c132625a6bf289cd2b2ca5b-rimg-w1200-h1717-dcffffff-gmir?v=1779294166 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Turtlefest 2026 being held? - **A:** Turtlefest 2026 takes place on Sat, 23 May, 2026 at 10:00 am to Sat, 23 May, 2026 at 10:00 am at 704 Frankfort Avenue, Elberta, MI, United States, Michigan 49628, 704 Frankfort Ave, Frankfort, MI 49635-8733, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Turtlefest 2026? - **A:** Turtlefest 2026 is organized by WUWU 100.1 Community Radio. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Turtlefest 2026 is ideal for festival lovers, culture enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a vibrant, immersive community experience. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Frankfort, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Turtlefest 2026 sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Turtlefest 2026", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/a97c4353d5013acb641458063c0a92e131fed78d9c132625a6bf289cd2b2ca5b-rimg-w1200-h1717-dcffffff-gmir?v=1779294166", "startDate": "2026-05-23", "url": "https://allevents.in/frankfort/turtlefest-2026/200030078402346", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "704 Frankfort Avenue, Elberta, MI, United States, Michigan 49628", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "704 Frankfort Ave, Frankfort, MI 49635-8733, United States", "addressLocality": "Frankfort", "addressRegion": "MI", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "44.61798", "longitude": "-86.22584" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "Opening Ceremony! At 10 am we will proceed to the official MDOT turtle crossing sign for the invocation by master of ceremonies Mark Carlin and the tyings of the ribbons of promise, symbolizing how we are all connected in our ecosystem. Then we march back to the paint tent.\n\nPaint! Will and Marijke", "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "WUWU 100.1 Community Radio", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/wuwu-1001-community-radio/25475842" } ] } ] ```