The Fourth at Walnut Hills

4th of July Camping at Walnut Hills: Family Olympics and Parades

The Fourth of July is one of the biggest weekends of the summer at Walnut Hills, with three days of family games, the Family Olympics, a kids’ bike parade, a golf cart race and a DJ dance party. Check the Walnut Hills events page for this year’s dates and schedule.

Book your siteSee this season’s events
3 days of eventsleading up to the Fourth
Family Olympicsat the baseball field
Golf cart raceplus a kids’ bike parade
DJ dance partyon the Fourth

What a typical Fourth of July weekend looks like

Last season the events ran over the three days leading up to and including the Fourth. Here’s how it went.

Day one: warm-up games

The first day is about getting the kids moving and meeting the neighbors: a potato sack race, a kids’ tug of war and kids’ trivia. It’s an easy way for families arriving early to settle in, and kids usually come out of it with a few new friends for the rest of the weekend.

Day two: decorate and dye

  • Bike decorating, so the bikes are ready for the parade
  • Fourth of July tie-dye (shirts sold at the store)
  • Family tug of war
  • Adult trivia in the evening

Tie-dye shirts dry in time to wear on the Fourth, so plan on matching family shirts for the parade.

The Fourth: daytime

  • 11 AM Fourth of July craft
  • Noon Family Olympics at the baseball field: tug of war, hula hooping, an egg race and a potato sack race
  • 4 PM kids’ bike parade
  • 5 PM golf cart race

Bring water and sunscreen for the Olympics. Teams are mixed ages, and the grown-ups get just as competitive as the kids.

The Fourth: evening

From 7 to 10 PM, DJ Dave runs a dance party at Pavilion 2. It’s the biggest crowd of the weekend, with families dancing together and kids running between the pavilion and the play areas next to it. The music ends before quiet hours start at 11 PM.

Between the events

July is peak season on the water. The Wibit floating water park is open Tuesday through Sunday and free for campers Tuesday through Thursday; wristbands apply on other days. The spring-fed lake has a sandy beach, and Cheff’s Canoe Rental, an independent outfitter, runs canoe, kayak and tube trips on the Shiawassee River from the campground launch.

Are there fireworks at Walnut Hills?

No. There are no fireworks at camp, and guests can’t bring their own. A wooded campground full of kids, pets and RVs is the wrong place for them, so we celebrate with parades, games and music instead. Some families drive to a nearby town’s public fireworks show in the evening; check local listings for times. Golf carts park for the night at dark, so take your car, and remember that kids and bikes need to be back at the site by dusk.

Book early for the Fourth

The Fourth of July weekend fills well ahead of time, so book early. Holiday dates are priced higher than ordinary weekends, and riverfront and full-hookup sites cost more than standard sites. Pick your dates on the Walnut Hills rates page to see your exact price. Staying a night or two before the holiday gives you the free Wibit days and quieter afternoons at the beach.

Planning a full summer week

Many families make the Fourth a long stay. Our guides to camping activities for kids at Walnut Hills and campgrounds with water parks in Michigan cover what there is to do on the days in between.

Walnut Hills sits just outside Durand, off I-69. It’s about 40 minutes from Flint, about 50 minutes from Lansing and about an hour and 45 minutes from Detroit, so you can leave after work on Friday and still have the fire going before dark. There’s no office check-in: your license plate opens the gate, and if you’re arriving after hours, call the store to pre-check in.

Questions

Does Walnut Hills have fireworks on the Fourth of July?

No. There are no fireworks at camp, and guests can’t set off their own. Some families drive to a nearby town’s public show; check local listings.

What is the Family Olympics?

It’s a midday team event at the baseball field on the Fourth, with tug of war, hula hooping, an egg race and a potato sack race. Everyone can join.

Is the Wibit open over the Fourth of July?

The Wibit is open Tuesday through Sunday in summer and free for campers Tuesday through Thursday. Other days need a wristband; see the rates page for prices.

When should I book for the Fourth of July?

As early as you can. It’s one of the first weekends to fill each year.

Can my kids ride bikes in the parade?

Yes. Decorate bikes the day before, then join the kids’ bike parade on the afternoon of the Fourth.

Ready to book?

Rates vary by date and site; see our rates page.

Book your site

Walnut Hills Family Campground · 7685 Lehring Road, Durand, MI 48429 · (989) 634-9782