PELLSTON, Mich. — From tug-of-war to water balloon toss, the University of Michigan Biological Station community celebrated the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding with a picnic and parade along Douglas Lake.
Gathering for Fourth of July festivities is a beloved summer tradition at the historic research and teaching campus in northern Michigan.
Students, staff, scientists, teaching faculty, alumni and their families enjoyed food, fun and games in the evening along Douglas Lake.
Children who live on the Pellston campus while their parents work at the field station decorated their own bikes for a parade.
Watch a video of the celebration on July 4, 2026, and scroll down to view the photo gallery.
The University of Michigan Biological Station serves as a gathering place to learn from the natural world, advance research and education, and inspire action. We leverage over a century of research and transformative experiences to drive discoveries and solutions to benefit Michigan and beyond.
Our vast campus engages all of the senses. Its remote, natural setting nurtures deep thought and scientific discovery.
Founded in 1909, UMBS supports long-term research and education through immersive, field-based courses and features state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for data collection and analysis to help any field researcher be productive. It is where students and scientists from across the globe live and work as a community to learn from the place.
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Picnic
Parade
Water Balloon Toss
Tug of War
