Pickerel and other picks for this coming weekend

If you're asking yourself "What to see? Where to go?" this coming weekend, check out what's happening in the Blue Water Area.

Presented by the Algonac Lions Club, the Algonac Pickerel Festival enters its 80th year in 2018 and is full of fun for the family the entire weekend.

Festivities kick off Wednesday with the start of the fishing tournament itself but along with a carnival midway that opens at 5pm that afternoon other activities, such as the Kids & Pet Parade and donut eating contest are on the slate for the day too. Thursday events include a magic show and a pie eating contest.

Things kick into high gear on the weekend at the Festival. Friday features live music tributes to Garth Brooks, Micheal Jackson and the Eagles throughout the evening and afternoon. Other events for the day include a horseshoe competition and a kids watermelon eating contest.

Saturday morning starts out with a 5k Run/Walk and a pancake breakfast. Day events include a duck race, a hot dog eating contest and a local talent show. One of the big favorites of the festival, the Antique Boat Parade is at 4pm. Live music in the evening includes Moving In Stereo (A tribute to the Cars) and Teddy Petty and the Refugees playing the hits of Tom Petty.

There will be fireworks on BOTH Friday and Saturday along the Algonac riverfront (weather permitting of course.)

To wrap things up on Sunday, there's a parade at 2pm and awards for the pickerel tournament at 6pm.

Click here to see the complete schedule for the 2018 Algonac Lions Club Pickerel Festival.

On Saturdays this summer you can tour the historical Harbor Beach Breakwater Lighthouse by taking the one mile from shore boat taxi ride between 9am and noon.

In Lexington this Saturday they'll be answering the question of "Who's Bad" when the ultimate Michael Jackson tribute band takes the stage at the Village Theater at 8pm.

The live stage scene in the Blue Water Area this weekend includes Rosie the Riveter at the Barn Theater in Port Sanilac, Port Huron's Citadel Stage presentation of the Odd Couple and Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Riverbank Theater in Marine City.

Looking toward next week, there are fireworks displays all over the Blue Water Area to celebrate the 4th of July and the Blue Water Sand Fest in Port Huron starts on July 6th.

Find out all the things that are happening at our events page.

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.