Locals Lake Leelanau

08/18/2026

💙 SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE THAN TEAMMATES… THEY ARE FAMILY. 💙

There are some people who become part of your TEAM… and then there are those who become part of your FAMILY. 💙🥹

This past weekend, we said goodbye to one of those special people — Maximus, aka “Max.” 💪❤️

After being part of our team since DAY ONE of Locals — and working at the Lodge for two years before that — Max wrapped up his time with us in true Max fashion… helping us cater an AMAZING event at French Valley, where that signature smile of his helped stamp the day with love. 😁🙌🏼

Now, he’s heading into the final phases of his college studies as he works toward earning his degree, and while we’re incredibly excited for what’s ahead, saying goodbye is definitely bittersweet. 🥹🎓

I’ve had the privilege of watching this young man grow and accomplish SO much — State Football Championships 🏈, Rugby Championships 🏉, Wrestling Titles 🤼‍♂️, supporting his teammates ❤️, embracing leadership 😎, and so much more.

Honestly… we could write a BOOK about the content of this young man’s character. 📖

But what stands out most? His heart. ❤️

Max LOVES his family. He loves his teams. He shows up for the people around him. And he leads with a quiet, giant heart that makes an impact without ever needing the spotlight. 💙

Max — we are SO PROUD OF YOU, DUDE!! 🤘🏼

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being exactly the person God made you to be. 🙏🏻 We are grateful for every laugh, every hard-working day, every event, every memory and every moment you’ve shared with the Locals family.

This isn’t goodbye… it’s “see you down the road.” ❤️

Go chase those dreams, Max. We’ll always be cheering you on — and probably the loudest — from the Leelanau Peninsula! 🙌🏼🤩💪🏼

Once a Local, ALWAYS a Local. ❤️

08/16/2026

Happy Sunday from the Locals Team! ☀️🍖

We’re closed today as we’re excited to host a private catering event right here at the restaurant! 🎉

Our crew is coming off an AMAZING week of welcoming wonderful guests at Locals, along with multiple offsite catering events throughout the week. From French Valley to Blustone, Northport to Frankfort… the Thunderbird smoker has been on the move! 😎🔥

And what a way to cap off our offsite catering week! Last night we had the BEST time at Music in the Vineyard at Blustone — serving up BBQ for 200+ guests, enjoying incredible blues music, and sipping on some excellent wine. 🍷🎶

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who welcomed the Locals crew this week! We love bringing our food, our smoker, and our Locals love wherever the party takes us. ❤️

Now it’s time to fire up the smoker, enjoy today’s private event, and get ready for another great week at Locals!

Happy Sunday, friends! We’ll see you soon! ☀️🍖🍷

08/05/2026

🎶☀️ LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT AT LOCALS! ☀️🎶

It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time to head to The Narrows Nook! 🎸🍻

Join us TONIGHT from 6–9 PM as Keith Scott brings the tunes and kicks off another perfect summer evening at Locals Lake Leelanau!

📍 The Narrows Nook — our outdoor venue at Locals
⏰ 6:00–9:00 PM
🎸 Keith Scott LIVE

Bring your people, grab some great BBQ + cold libations, and settle in for an evening of music, food, drinks, and good times together. 🍖🍺🎶

Good food. Great music. Summer nights. ❤️
That sounds like a pretty perfect Wednesday to us!

Come hang with us tonight! 👏🏻

07/23/2026

🔥 Black Lager Brined Ribs are BACK! 🔥

You asked… and we listened! 🤤 Our fan-favorite Black Lager Brined Ribs are back and ready to satisfy those BBQ cravings.

Each rack is served with:
🥔 Your choice of TWO fresh Locals sides
🍞 A warm Hawaiian roll with our house-made honey butter

Choose from:
🥔 Potato Salad
🥃 Maple Bourbon Beans
🥣 Cottage Cheese
🥔 Great Lakes Potato Chips
🥬 Cilantro Lime Coleslaw
🥗 Side Salad

Smoky, tender, juicy, and packed with flavor—these ribs won’t last long! Gather your crew, grab a cold drink, and let us handle dinner. 🍖🍺

Come hungry… leave happy! 😋

07/08/2026

🎶 LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT AT LOCALS! 🎶

Looking for the perfect way to spend your Wednesday evening? We’ve got you covered!

Join us TONIGHT as Keith Scott takes the stage in our NEW Narrows Nook Outdoor Venue for an evening of incredible live music.

🗓️ Tonight
⏰ 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 Narrows Nook at Locals Lake Leelanau

Come hungry for our slow-smoked BBQ, grab your favorite drink, and kick back with friends and family while enjoying great music in the heart of beautiful Lake Leelanau. 🍖🍻🎸

Summer nights were made for this. See you at Locals!

07/06/2026

⚽🇺🇸 USA vs. Belgium at Locals! 🇧🇪⚽

The road to World Cup glory continues, and there’s no better place to cheer on the USA than Locals Lake Leelanau! 🙌

📅 TODAY, Monday, July 6th
🕗 Kickoff: 8:00 PM

📺 ALL SIX big-screen TVs will be locked in on the match, so grab your crew, wear your red, white & blue, and help us bring the energy as Team USA battles Belgium in the Round of 16 matchup! 🇺🇸🔥

🍖 Monday BBQ Mac & Cheese Special
Our house-made smoked mac & cheese loaded with:
🥩 Smoked Brisket
🐖 Pulled Pork
🤤 Comfort food at its finest!

🍕 26% OFF ALL PIZZAS during the USA’s 2026 World Cup run! 🇺🇸
(It’s our way of celebrating every match!)

🍺 Pair it with our Locals Custom Beer, 🍷 Wine, or 🍎 Hard Ciders for the ultimate game-day combo.

Bring your friends, wear your USA gear, and let’s make Locals the loudest soccer watch party in Lake Leelanau! ⚽🙌

🇺🇸⚽

07/03/2026

❤️

Did you know Lake Leelanau native Emelia Schaub was Michigan’s first female prosecutor? Well, if you settle in for Emelia’s Prosecutor Poppers at Locals Lake Leelanau (bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers with cream cheese, served with a side of barbecue sauce) you might be curious enough to ask your ...

07/01/2026

🎆 4th of July Brisket Special is BACK! 🇺🇸🔥

Make your Independence Day feast effortless with a whole smoked brisket to-go, handcrafted by our very own Pit Master Bruce on the Thunderbird Smoker!

🔥 Perfectly smoked, ready to slice, and guaranteed to be the star of your holiday table.

📦 Each order includes:
🥩 Whole Smoked Brisket
🥗 Large Bowl of Coleslaw
🍒 Pint of our House-Made Cherry Barbecue Sauce

💲 $175 + tax

➕ Need more brisket? Add an additional whole brisket for just $75!

🍷 Pair your holiday BBQ with one of our Locals Custom Wines:

❤️ Red Blend
🤍 Riesling
🥂 Pinot Grigio

📞 Pre-order by 3:00 PM on Thursday, July 2nd by calling 231-994-2099.

🕓 Choose your pickup time on Saturday, July 4th, and let us do the smoking while you enjoy the holiday!

🇺🇸 Whether you’re hosting the whole neighborhood or bringing a dish to the party, Locals Lake Leelanau has your 4th of July covered.

06/22/2026

🎶☀️ SUMMER LIVE MUSIC IS HERE! ☀️🎶

The wait is over… our Summer Live Music Series kicks off this Wednesday at Locals Lake Leelanau! 🎉

Join us as we welcome the season with the talented Keith Scott 🎸
📅 Wednesday, June 24th
⏰ 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 The NEW Narrows Nook Outdoor Venue at Locals

Grab your friends, bring the family, and settle in for an unforgettable summer evening filled with incredible live music, mouthwatering BBQ, cold drinks, and all the laid-back Leelanau summer vibes we’ve been waiting for. 🍖🍻🌅

There’s nothing better than great food, great tunes, and great company under a Northern Michigan summer sky. 🌌

We can’t wait to see you at The Narrows Nook—let’s kick off summer the Locals way! ❤️

06/20/2026

🏈 GAME DAY! 🏈

We are so excited to cheer on our very own Colton Goethals as he takes the field tonight in the 2026 Detroit Shriners Children’s Michigan High School Football Coaches Association All-Star Game! 🧡💪

Catch the game tonight at 8:00 PM and help us celebrate this incredible accomplishment. We are so proud of you, Colton! 🏈🧡

Don’t have plans tonight? Come hang out at Locals Lake Leelanau — we’ll have the game on the screens, great food, cold drinks, and lots of Locals pride! ❤️🧡

Good luck tonight, Colton #33! Your Locals family is cheering you on all the way! 🙌🏈

🏈 2026 MHSFCA ALL-STAR GAME TONIGHT! 🏈

Check out the 2026 Detroit Shriners Children’s Michigan High School Football Coaches Association All-Star Game tonight at 8:00 PM from Lawrence Technological University.

📅 Saturday, June 20 at 8:00 PM | Lawrence Technological University

📺 WATCH LIVE on WDIV Local 4 / ClickOnDetroit in Detroit
💻 STREAM LIVE on the STATE CHAMPS! YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/live/LdUgY5DkABw