Marine City’s flagship summer community event kicks off Friday with a packed schedule of fun family events around the towns’ center and in local parks.
Traditionally the first weekend of each August, this year’s three-day event includes a host of live entertainment, vendors, food trucks, and raffles all weekend.
“We’re excited to start the festival with a pulled-pork dinner, a hoedown, fun. We’re going to lead right into the lighted (boat) parade, and the fireworks,” said Tammi Graber, president of the board for Maritime Days. “But I’m really excited about Sunday and our pancake breakfast and cocktail competition, and then the parade, and we added in bingo.”
Why should people visit Marine City? And which day is best?
Maritime Days has been run by a local organization since the 1980s.
Talking on Wednesday about the festivities, which required the help of more 100 sponsoring businesses, Graber got emotional.
“And we’re grateful,” she said. “You can’t do it without money, and people don’t realize all the expenses to put on the festival. And it’s not a city festival. It’s a nonprofit festival.”
Graber encouraged first-timers to visit Marine City “whatever day they can come” because “each day stands alone” for Maritime Days. Their big focus, she said, was on being family friendly — though an adult beverage tent will also be on-site downtown.
“Bring the kids, and grandma and grandpa,” Graber said. Saturday is particularly slated to be kids’ day, she said, adding, “To me, if I have kids, that’s when I’m coming.”
For the schedule, list of bands slated to perform, sponsors, and more, visit at www.MaritimeDays.net .
What's on tap for Friday?
According to the Maritime Days schedule, the fun begins at 5 p.m. Friday with the start of the pulled-pork dinner and hoedown in the festival tent at Nautical Mile Park and vendors, carnival games, and a tractor show on Water Street.
The opening night also includes line dancing, crowning Miss Maritime Days, and 50/50 raffle drawings at the festival tent before a lighted boat parade on the St. Clair River at 9:30 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m.
In the case of rain, the fireworks will be held on Saturday.
Events set for all day Saturday — and big time for kids
The Fisterwald Arts and Crafts Show will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the old city hall building, or 300 Broadway, while vendors and carnival games continue on Water from noon to 8 p.m.
Of the arts and crafts show, Graber said 52 artisans had been lined up to participate for over a month. “It’s going to be awesome,” she said.
In the festival tent, a corn-hole tournament starts at noon with a roster of entertainment running from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. That entertainment includes “Maritime Days Unplugged” with an acoustic showdown slated to benefit four youth-related causes.
At 5:30 p.m., there will also be a collective ceremony, dubbed “Married at Maritime Days,” for marrying couples and those looking to renew their vows with Mayor Jennifer Vandenbossche.
A whole separate roster of activities for kids is also set for Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There will be a fishing contest from 9 a.m. until noon, and Graber highlighted a volleyball tournament with nine teams already registered. Both will be at Lighthouse Park.
There will also be a pizza lunch at the RiverPlace Art Pavilion, kids carnival games and a few rides, face painting, and more at several locations.
Graber additionally pointed to the “X Games Legends Freestyle Show” with a practice from 2 to 4 p.m. and a show from 6 to 8 p.m. on Water Street.
“We’re bringing four riders from the X Games that have medaled or contended (in major competitions),” she said. “Fire down on the streets, we would say. They jump 60 feet in the air. It’s crazy.”
Similar to Friday night, the festival and beverage tent will close at midnight.
Then, for the finale on Sunday?
The craft show continues from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, while the Scouts Car Show runs at Holy Cross from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., a vintage boat and motor show on South Bell River Avenue at 1 p.m., and foam parties at 2 and 4 p.m. at Drake Park.
The Maritime Days parade is set for 1 p.m. on Maine and Water streets downtown.
At the festival tent, the cornhole tournament picks up at noon, the cutest dog reveal at 1 p.m., and Maritime Days bingo at 2 p.m. The pancake breakfast and cocktail competition also runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The festival formally ends at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Contact reporter Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: 'Bring the kids': A quick guide to this weekend's Maritime Days in Marine City
Most Popular
Comments / 0