Fun For Fathers Day Weekend

Father's Day is this Sunday. If you're like me, you are probably still racking your brain about what to get dear old dad. You don't want to be "that person" who goes for the old standbys like a tie or something like that. There's the dilemma of figuring out what he may want though. I don't know how many times I've tried to find hints of something he might want but most of the time he pretty much says "I have everything in the world I need."

The solution? Why not take him out and spend some time with him this weekend. The Blue Water Area has a few things going on that might be right up his alley.

First things first, even if pops says he doesn't want any gifts, he's probably just being nice. I mean, who doesn't enjoy opening a gift, right? But what if you end up waiting right before the last minute to get him one?

This Saturday, June 16th, the Grand Trunk Marketplace in Port Huron will have 40 vendors inside and many outside for a Father's Day flea market. You never know what kind of unique item you'll find for pops there.

When you're young your dad is bigger than life. And what should a bigger than life fellow have? A big truck, right?

This Saturday there will plenty of big rig on display for the big man at the Harbor Beach Truck Show. From the super semi's that ply the highways to the trusty workhorses that run the back roads, trucks of all shapes and sizes with buffed and shined to show off. Who knows, maybe you can even talk someone into letting your dad up in the cab so he can blow the horn.

What dad doesn't enjoy great storytelling and jokes? Take him out to see comedian Norm Stulz at the Lexington Village Theater. Norm's a father of three and talks about plenty of things parents will laugh along with.

Also up Lexington way on Saturday night are the Mountain Babies at the Water Tower Sports Pub. The Water Tower has been voted one of the top ten best pizza places in the state of Michigan according to MLive and the Mountain Babies laid back rural psychedelia sound can often be reminiscent of Neil Young. What dad doesn't dig Neil Young, right? 

Think about taking the ol' man out for a brew this weekend. The Blue Water Area has three great craft breweries making tasty suds. In Marysville, the Harsens Island Brewery opens their doors at 9am to fill pints all day as well offering several different Father's Day dinner specials. If you're just looking for a quick one or two to sip with him, don't forget that War Water Brewing in St. Clair and the Lexington Brewing Company are welcoming you and dad to belly up to the bar this weekend as well.

Perhaps your plan is to take your father out for breakfast on Sunday but you don't know where yet. Every year Kate's Downtown in Port Huron has a brunch based around bacon, beer and bourbon. This year is no different. Spots for it fill up fast though so if you need some seats to it contact the cafe at 810-984-2233.

Looking toward things happening in the following weekend, the Blue Water Cruise Weekend is June 22nd & 23rd, Porch Fest in Port Austin is happening and the St. Clair Art Fair runs the 23rd and 24th as is Civil War Weekend in Lexington. 

Find out about more things happening this summer around the Greater Port Huron area at our events page.

Happy Father's Day!

From local artists and shiny chrome to sipping brews and state settlers: What's happening this weekend in the Blue Water Area

All along Michigan's eastern shores, there's plenty going plenty to see and do this weekend. Let's take a look at some of the events happening in the Blue Water Area for it.

Art On The River, a two day art and music festival, has become a tradition for the second weekend of June in Port Huron. This year they're shaking things up a bit. The family friendly event with art workshops, hands on art, music to dance to and food to enjoy will still be happening on Saturday and Sunday but also this year they're adding Friday night to the mix with a dance party and beer tent.

Over the weekend, Art on The River will play host to many different artists and musicians including 4 time Detroit Music Award winner Barbara Payton, who is the headline act at the festival on Saturday evening this year.

On Saturday, June, 9th see hot rods, custom and muscle cars at Rumble In The Park at Marysville Park.  The next day, the park will host stock and unmodified rides that are at least twenty five years old for The Past and It's Wheels. This show well known for having quite a few Wills Sainte Claire cars. Wills built approximately 12,000 cars between 1921 and '26 in a Marysville factory. There are only 75 remaining in the entire world.

Just a ten minute drive from Marysville is St. Clair. On the evening of the 9th, you can sip on many hop, barley and malt beverages at the St Clair Beer and Wine Festival. The festival, which will take place at St. Clair's Riverview Plaza courtyard, features over 100 beers, wines and craft cocktails from more than 40 breweries, wineries & distilleries from across the state and around the globe. Tickets are available here.

This weekend Native, Voyageurs & Settlers Days are at the Sanilac County Museum & Historical Village in Port Sanilac. At this event, families can expect to have talks and demonstrations that include beeswax candle making, showing furs, rope making, cooking and much more. Everyone is invited to come experience and learn about the rich history connected with the voyagers, Coureurs de Bois native Americans and early settlers of our Great Lakes. It runs from 10am-4pm this Saturday and Sunday.

On the live stage scene, Hypnotist Amye Scharlau is at Lexington Village Theatre on Friday. Also, the Snug Theater in Marine City presents "Two Across" and Lewis Black's "One Slight Hitch" is at the Barn Theater in Port Sanilac this weekend.

Find out more when you Discover The Blue at our events page.

Summer is already off to a great start in the Blue Water Area

Though the calendar says summer doesn't officially start until June, 21st, the warm weather events are already starting to go into full swing in the Blue Water Area.

First, let's take a peek at what's happening in Port Huron this weekend.

Starting at 10 AM on Saturday, June 2nd is Be a Tourist in Your Own Town which features many of Port Huron’s signature attractions and many at no charge. Be A Tourist is a chance for visitors and area residents to discover and rediscover the attractions and history that brands Port Huron the Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes.

See the list of the things to see and do at Port Huron's Be A Tourist In Your Own Town here.

The Blue Water Sturgeon Festival offers close encounters with lake sturgeon, the “Gentle Giants of the Great Lakes”. 

It kicks off at 8 in the morning this Saturday with Run With The Sturgeon, a 5K race and 1K fun run along the beautiful Blue Water River Walk on the shores of the St. Clair River.

At 10 AM the festival opens at the Great Lakes Maritime Center and Vantage Point. Check out the full list of activities at the Sturgeon Festival's website.


Also on Saturday, Harbor Beach's Pro King Fishing Tournament is a going on. It's a contest where all anglers fish with the same spoon.

Saturday evening, the Obitsuns (featuring Vinnie of 90's alternative rock hitmakers Sponge) bring their Motor City Outlaw Country to the Lexington Village Theater.

The summer live theater scene is blossoming again. The Barn Theater in Port Sanilac kicks off their summer season with Louis Black's One Small Hitch. In Marine City, Two Across starts its run a the Snug Theater. Port Huron's Citadel Stage present their production of the Odd Couple starting on June 15.

Looking towards next weekend, Shiny chrome and high gloss paint will be glittering in the sun at Marysville Park.

On Saturday, June, 9th see hot rods, custom and muscle cars at Rumble In The Park.  The next day, stock and unmodified rides at least twenty five years old will be shown off at The Past and It's Wheels. This show well known for having quite a few Wills Sainte Claire cars. Wills built approximately 12,000 cars between 1921 and '26 in a Marysville factory. There are only 75 remaining in the entire world.

Just a ten minute drive from Marysville is St. Clair. On the evening of the 9th, you can sip on many hop, barley and malt beverages at the St Clair Beer and Wine Festival.

Also on the 9th & 10th, Art On the River is in happening in Port Huron and Native, Voyageurs & Settlers Days are at the Sanilac County Museum & Historical Village.

Find out more when you Discover The Blue at our events page.

The 2018 Harbor Beach Game Show Series is set to be their most advanced and most-expensive show yet

What started as a fun experiment eight years ago, the Harbor Beach Game Show Series has now become a Mother’s Day tradition in the Huron County town. This year show is on track to produce their most advanced and most-expensive show yet.

According to Clark Ramsey, the show’s executive producer and host, this year’s production has been in the works for nearly three years. Ramsey said, “When we celebrated our five-year anniversary show, we decided it was time to double down and take the show to the next level. That bet is coming to fruition this year. Our website is finally up-and-running, the ticket sale structure has been updated and the show itself is more technologically-advanced than ever before in our history.”

Typically, HBGS debuts a new game to play each year; May 2018 will bring that number to ten: $100,000 Pyramid, Minute to Win It, Family Feud, Card Sharks, Wheel of Fortune, Match Game, Let’s Make a Deal, Password Plus, Press Your Luck and Hollywood Squares. With each game, the set and construction has become more complex, with none greater than Hollywood Squares.

Planning began shortly after Labor Day 2017 and will be the largest and tallest set in the show’s eight-year history. Spanning 21 feet across and 15 feet tall, Hollywood Squares has been in construction since early April. When completed, the set will contain nine video inputs, 450 feet of XLR audio cable, 225 feet of cat6 internet cable and 147 feet of addressable LED lighting – all being controlled by a team backstage. The Hollywood Squares set is an exact replica of what was on television in the early 1970s, with the exception of newer technology.

Press Your Luck, which debuted last year, is set to kick off the 2018 edition of the HBGS. Complete with real-life Whammys and a state-of-the-art game board, Press Your Luck has quickly become
a crowd favorite. Ed Klump and Rob Little will be the featured Whammys again this year. On top of being a Whammy, Rob Little, a national stand-up comedian act and Maxim Magazine’s
Comedian of the Year, will warm up the crowd starting at 6:40pm. NBC’s Last Comic Standing called Rob Little the “Happiest Comic in America” and the “Top Cruise Line Comedian” by Carnival
Cruise Lines.

The Harbor Beach Gameshow Series takes place Saturday, May 12th at 7pm at the Harbor Beach Community Theatre. All proceeds benefit the Harbor Beach Maritime Festival. Runtime is
approximately two hours and 20 minutes with an intermission. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased online at HBgameshow.com

5 Nature Trails to Explore in the Blue Water Area

As Michigan’s earth begins to flush with color again, the bright vegetation and spring breezes are a refreshing boost in the Blue Water Area.  If you are ready to get outside and enjoy the natural wonders that sprout on this beautiful planet, along with a few man-made additions that make it a little easier on us humans, here are 5 nature trails to check out this spring:

Fort Gratiot Bike Path & Nature Preserve – Keewahdin Road, Fort Gratiot

After school adventures.

A post shared by Douglas Haney (@hanster007) on Sep 15, 2015 at 4:21pm PDT

You’d never guess this nature preserve is a stone’s throw from one of the busiest commercial corridors in the Blue Water Area (one entrance is right behind Meijer in Fort Gratiot).  This park is easily accessible and once you’re there, the buzz of traffic fades away to the hum of nature in its glory.  The nature preserve expands across 90 acres of woodland, ponds, wetlands and trails.  The wide, paved walking path takes visitors along serenely wooded terrain and makes a complete loop around the large pond.  The pond is a fond spot for swans and birds, plus it’s open for catch-and-release fishing.  An observation deck lets visitors lean over for a closer look at the fish, frogs, turtles and other active pond species.
Walking Terrain: paved path
Distance: 3.7 miles

Chrysler Beach Riverfront – River Road, Marysville

This riverfront park and trail weaves along the St. Clair River waterfront.  Its living shoreline means that instead of a seawall along the water, there is cobble, rocks and aquatic plants that provide a habitat in which fish can live and spawn.  Native plants are now flourishing here and have encouraged the return of natural wildlife.  A gazebo and several seating areas make for good resting spots and give walkers a chance to enjoy the river view and perhaps the passing freighter traffic.  The dazzling blue of the St. Clair River plus the fresh green plants waking from their winter slumber are sure to get your blood pumping and ready for a spring adventure.
Walking Terrain: concrete and composite wood path
Distance: 1+ miles

BP Dome Petroleum Nature Trail – Fred Moore Highway, St. Clair

This trail was established especially for pleasant walks through woods and along the Pine River.  When you’re ready for a rest, take a pit stop at Turtle Beach where there’s a pavilion and lounging spot alongside the peaceful river.  River wildlife is abundant here, so keep an eye out for turtles, ducks, fish mink and maybe a kayaker or two. 
Terrain: dirt path
Distance: 2.5 miles

Backus Nature Trail – Harbor Beach

This is a great trail for a peaceful walk through the woods.  Watch for wildlife and appreciate the mature forest’s tall trees and vibrant plant life.  The path meanders through wooded areas and features boardwalks and bridges over the natural stream that runs through the woods.  The trail connects to the Harbor View Trail which is a paved, two-mile stretch of path linking the northern part of town to the marina and downtown.  The Backus Nature Trail was created in memory of PFC Brian Backus who lost his life in 2011 while serving in the United States Army.  A gazebo is expected to be completed this summer on the east side of the trail, honor all military service members.
Walking Terrain: grass and mulch path, wooden bridges
Distance: 2+ miles

Find out all the things the Blue Water Area has to offer when you #DiscoverTheBlue at BlueWater.org