Labor Day Weekend in Michigan's ThumbCoast

Here we are at the end of August already. I know many of us are asking "Where did summer go?" Don't fret though, as there's always something happening in the Blue Water Area. 
Especially for Labor Day weekend which is this weekend. Check out some of the things going on.

Now in its 16th year, it is safe to say that ThumbFest has become a tradition in Lexington, Michigan.  The event highlights great local and regional musicians playing music, teaching workshops, and sitting in on jams. Bring your instrument (and maybe your lawn chair) and join in all the great music!

Find the full schedule at ThumbFest's Facebook page.

What started as a backyard party at a home in Fort Gratiot Township has now grown into a celebration at St. Clair County’s largest public park. The annual BlueChiliGrass Festival is at Goodells County Park on Sunday and Monday and will feature continuous music on 2 stages and a chili cook-off.

Before heading to BlueChiliGrass on Monday, why not Trek The Trestle? This five mile Labor Day event has been held annually since 2007. 

The walk starts at 9 am at the at the Avoca Road Trailhead in Downtown Avoca and crosses the 640ft. Mill Creek trestle, the longest bridge of its kind in the state of Michigan. The Trestle Trek is one of the Labor Day Community Walks that are held throughout the state in conjunction with the Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Walk. Community Walks help provide a similar experience to residents unable to participate in the annual walk across the Mighty Mac.

When you dip a chip do you like it mild? Or perhaps spicy is your thing.No matter your flavor preference this Saturday's Salsa Tasting in Harbor Beach has something to tantalize your taste buds from 11 in the morning to 2 pm. 

If browsing some art is your thing, the Blue Water Area has a couple shows that are just the thing for Labor Day weekend too.

Port Austin's Art In The Park will have many original artworks to look at and for sale for sale this Saturday and Sunday. 

A wide array of mediums including everything from watercolor, oil, acrylic and photography to decorative ironwork, stained and fused glass, gourd art and much more will be on display.

From one end of the Blue Water Area to the other the city of Algonac is holding its Annual Art Fair this Saturday and Sunday too. 

With the St. Clair River serving as a picturesque backdrop, the fair was started in 1972 and has continued ever since. With around 100 artists as well as entertainment for all ages this fair is a fine way to spend the day in the river flats region of the Blue Water Area. 

Just a quick ferry ride over from Algonac is Harsens Island. This weekend they'll be having days filled with family fun! The Harsens Island Lions Club Turkey Shoot includes parades, food and beer tent, live music, dancing, 50/50 drawings and daily raffles along with kids, teens and young adults games and activities. 

Find out more by visiting the Harsens Island Lions Club on Facebook.

Discover all the happenings around the Blue this month at our events page.

Rev It Up!: 2019 Blue Water Area Car Shows

So, you've got the motor running and heading out to the highway. Why not rev it up and head to one of the many classic car shows happening in the Blue Water Area this summer.

The season of shows kicks off in June with two cars in one weekend at Marysville City Park. On Saturday, June 8th, Rumble In The Park will feature hot rods, custom and muscle cars.

The next day the Past and its Wheels show will feature not only many un-modified and in stock condition rides but also quite a few Wills Sainte Claire cars. Wills built approximately 12,000 cars between 1921 and '26 at a factory in Marysville. There are only about 75 Wills Sainte Claire automobiles remaining in the entire world.

If you're a fan of bigger machines, check out the Harbor Beach Truck Show on Saturday, June 15th. The downtown streets of this ThumbCoast community are closed off and then lined with over 75 trucks ranging from semis to pickups and tankers to trailers. Along with the trucks of all sizes, there will be food, beverages, vendors and live music.

From trucks used for work to equipment for working in the field. Take a trip back to see how farming was done in earlier times at the Lexington Antique Tractor Show. Taking place behind Lexington’s A&W restaurant, tractors will stand shiny and tall for viewing for vintage farm equipment enthusiasts. It's happening on Saturday, June 15th.

The last weekend of June is a huge weekend for classic car enthusiasts from Michigan's ThumbCoast and beyond. Running from June 27th through the 30th, the Blue Water Cruise Weekend kicks off with a carnival at Birchwood Mall. 

On Friday, the 28th, the wheels will be in motion as the cars cruise 24th Avenue and Pine Grove. 

Get a closer look at many of the cars from the cruise on Saturday at the Keith Peterson Memorial Car Show. That evening, check out the fireworks display along 24th Ave.

The streets of Downtown Port Huron will be glimmering with high gloss and chrome on Saturday, July 27th. The Mainstreet Memories Car Show is a community-based, non-judged event that brings auto aficionados from all over the area to check the many sweet street machines.

What goes with summer and classic cars? Vintage campers of course. Saturday, July 27th is the day for the 11th annual Vintage Camper Show in Port Austin. Coordinated by the Tin Can Tourists, America's oldest trailer and motor coach club, this show brings antique trailers, some of them dating back to the 1930s to Port Crescent State Park. This year there will be over 100 trailers to celebrate our Michigan State Parks' 100th anniversary.

Wrapping up car show season in the Blue Water Area for the summer is The Rumble On The River. Held on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, this is a one day show that coincides with Algonac's annual art fair. It's one of many great ways to cap off summer adventures for both art lovers and car lovers in the Blue Water Area.

To find out more about these things to do and the plenty of others when you discover the blue, check out our events page here. 

Relaxing Adventures For Labor Day Weekend

Though we most likely have quite a few warm weather days ahead of us still, Labor Day weekend traditionally marks the end of summer for many. There are many events happening over the long weekend to say farewell to the season.

Now in its 15th year, it is safe to say that Thumbfest has become a tradition in Lexington, Michigan. Featuring multiple stages, workshops, jam sites, children’s stage area, dance, craft/food vendors and a hootenanny at the end of the night, Thumbfest 2018 will be held in the village’s Tierney Park on
Saturday. It starts at 11 am and will have a wide variety of music ranging from Celtic,
blues, bluegrass and gypsy to New Orleans brass, Americana, roots and folk. Bring your lawn chair or blanket, your friends and family and voice and join in on the fun. Find the full schedule at the
Thumbfest website.

What started as a backyard party at a home in Fort Gratiot Township has now grown into a
celebration at St. Clair County’s largest public park. The annual BlueChiliGrass Festival is at
Goodells County Park on Sunday and Monday and will feature continuous music on 2 stages and a chili cook-off.

Before heading to BlueChiliGrass on Monday, why not Trek The Trestle? This five mile Labor Day
event has been held annually since 2007. The walk starts at 9 am at the at the Avoca Road Trailhead
in Downtown Avoca and crosses the 640ft. Mill Creek trestle, the longest bridge of its kind in the
state of Michigan. The Trestle Trek is one of the Labor Day Community Walks that are held
throughout the state in conjunction with the Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Walk. Community Walks help provide a similar experience to residents unable to participate in the annual walk across the Mighty Mac.

When you dip a chip do you like it mild? Or perhaps spicy is your thing.No matter your flavor preference this Saturday's Salsa Tasting in Harbor Beach has something to tantalize your taste buds from 11 in the morning to 2 pm. Your tour begins at the Harbor Beach Visitor’s Center where you purchase a button and ballot for $2. Then stroll downtown following your map to be sure to stop at all salsa tasting locations. After you are done vote for your favorite.

Don't wait til noon to start your adventure in Harbor Beach this Saturday though. Hop on the boat taxi and take a ride out to tour the Harbor Beach Lighthouse. The taxi leaves the Harbor Beach Marina starting at 9:20 am and then about every 20 minutes until 40 minutes before closing time. Tickets are $20 each and also include admission to the Harbor Beach Grice House Museum, which houses the original Fresnel Lens from the lighthouse.  Find out more about the Harbor Beach Lighthouse at their website.

If browsing some art is your thing, the Blue Water Area has a couple shows that are just the thing for Labor Day weekend too.

Port Austin's Art In The Park will have many original artworks to look at and for sale for sale this Saturday and Sunday. With a wide array of mediums including everything from watercolor, oil, acrylic and photography to decorative iron work, stained and fused glass, gourd art, hand carved ice fishing decoys, and wearable art, there is sure to be something to catch your eye. Art In The Park is presented by the Thumb Arts Guild.

From one end of the Blue Water Area to the other the city of Algonac is holding its Annual Art Fair this Saturday and Sunday too. With the St. Clair River serving as a picturesque backdrop, the fair was started in 1972 and has continued ever since. With around 100 artists as well as entertainment for all ages this fair is a fine way to spend the day in the river flats region of the Blue Water Area. Find out more about the Algonac Art Fair at their website.

Just a quick ferry ride over from Algonac is Harsens Island. This weekend they'll be having days filled with family fun! The Harsens Island Lions Club Turkey Shoot happening includes parades, food and beer tent, live music, dancing, 50/50 drawings and daily raffles along with kids, teens and young adults games and activities. Find out more by visiting the Harsens Island Lions Club on Facebook.

Discover all the happenings around the Blue this month at our events page.