Pearl and Oyster fest to bring weekend of music to Bay City

Returning for its third edition, the Bay City Pearl & Oyster Music Festival is set to rock and roll on August 24 and 25. Co-hosted by the Headlight Herald, the festival welcomes four bands on Saturday before shifting focus to kids’ day on Sunday.

According to co-organizer Kathleen Leipzig, the festival’s organizers hope to create a sustainable, free event to entertain residents and visitors to the town.

“This is our big event for the year,” Leipzig said. “It’s a bedroom community, it’s a sleepy little town and so, we really want to highlight all the great things about Bay City and bring our community together.”

First held in 2019, the festival was forced to take a three-year hiatus during the pandemic, before returning in 2023 for its second year.

The festival will again take over fourth street in Bay City, with more than forty vendors expected, as well as Al Griffin Memorial Park, where a stage will be erected.

On Saturday, activities will start at 11 a.m. with waterball games and the opportunity for kids to touch a truck and tour Bay City Fire’s station.

At 1 p.m., the musical entertainment begins, with Tombstone Shadows, a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover band, followed by Alabama cover band Roll On at 4 p.m. and Petty Fever at 7 p.m. Local group Mercury Coast will be playing two sets at 3 and 6 p.m. on a secondary stage, between the main-stage performances.

Sunday is kids’ day with games to be set up in the park and kid-friendly vendors scheduled, before an afternoon talent show.

The festival is free to attend and any money raised by the committee is being set aside to support a future grant for playground equipment.

“It’s a festival for tourist but also for locals alike,” Leipzig said, “we want to celebrate the connectedness of the community."