The 440-acre Lake Orion makes memories with swimming, boating and fishing fun. With 560 feet of Lake Orion frontage, the village's Green's Park invites beach-going and swimming. Lifeguards are on duty throughout the summer. A public boat launch at Indianwood Road west of Michigan Highway 24 provides lake access. Fish on the ever-popular lake from boats or from the shore. Lake Orion's catches include largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, northern pike, walleye and pumpkinseed fish.
Nearby trails give Lake Orion visitors the chance to get up close and personal with southeast Michigan's natural world. The village's Meek's Park is a paved linear park hugging Paint Creek banks for more than a mile. The 14-mile nonmotorized Paint Creek Trail traverses pristine landscapes from Orion Township through Oxford and Addison townships and the villages of Oxford and Leonard. Paint Creek Trail, Michigan's first rails-to-trails project, stretches nearly 9 miles from Lake Orion to Rochester. As many as 100,000 users enjoy this popular nonmotorized trail each year.
Lake Orion Village welcomes visitors to six parks throughout the community. Facilities range from paths, picnic areas and playgrounds to ballfields, checkerboard tables, sledding hills and an outdoor ice rink. The Children's Park gazebo is the site for an annual summer concert series. Lake Orion Township operates five parks, including the undeveloped 40-acre Gingell Nature Area. Orion Oaks County Preserve at Lake Orion spans 916 acres, beckoning nature experiences. The preserve has 10 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, a boat launch, wheelchair-accessible pier and fishing along Lake Sixteen. The 24-acre Orion Oaks Dog Park promotes canine play with fenced-in areas for large and small dogs, a picnic shelter, water fountain and field area.
Visitors who appreciate history and architecture enjoy sightseeing along Lake Orion streets. The downtown commercial area is a designated National Registered Historic District and home to a variety of shops and restaurants. The downtown are hosts many community events and festivals. Lake Orion's signature event, the Dragon on the Lake Festival, is held each August. Highlights include dragon boat races, a lighted boat parade, children's activities, art demonstrations, a beverage tent and live music. Other community events include the New Year's Resolution Run, Halloween parade and Flower Fair.
