Festival week means busy time in Nautical City
A full schedule of events is underway as Rogers City rolls into festival week. The event runs through Sunday, highlighted by the grand parade on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. featuring grand marshal Ken Piechan. Each night, the Lakeside Park festival tent will be booming with polka, country, and rock and roll sounds each night. Other activities are planned all over town. The Community Dance Night is Thursday at the big tent. “Gamblin’ Fever,” a staple at the festival for many years, will be the performers from 8 p.m.-midnight. Gamblin’ Fever returns Friday to share the stage with the rock and roll band “rather go blind” from 8:30 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. Saturday is a mix of country and polka. Kalii, a country singer, will alternate with Toledo polka bandleader Duane Malinowski. The dance starts at 8:30 p.m. and runs until 1:30 a.m.
THE TENT opens for free all day Sunday as many bands from the grand parade give one more performance in the tent. The music starts around 2 p.m. after the parade ends. Roscoe the Clown and Seona McDowell also will perform. The music portion of the festival wraps up with performances by Duane Malinowski and the variety band “Main Street” from 4-10 p.m. Although the festival tent will be filled each night and most of the day with music, that is not the only place for music during festival week. A youth beach party is planned for festival Saturday at Lakeside Park from 9 p.m. until midnight. DJ music by “Pink Noise Productions,” a bonfire, refreshments, and prizes will be featured. There will be no shortage of food at this year’s Nautical City Festival.
FESTIVAL FRIDAY it is the Lutherans’ turn at feeding the masses. The bi-annual German Festival Dinner is on at St. John Lutheran School at 145 North Fifth Street. The menu includes Plath’s Smoked Loin and chicken with all the fixings. Prices are $8 for adults and $4 for children aged 5-12. Children under age five eat free. The event runs from 5 until 7 p.m. The Knights of Columbus Scholarship Fundraiser breakfast is set for festival Saturday at 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. at St. Ignatius School. Admission is by donation. A breakfast will be served at St. Ignatius School festival Sunday, hosted by the Daughters of Isabella. The event runs from 9 a.m. until noon. Get your fresh strawberry shortcake and ice cream at Westminster Church from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on festival Sunday.
WHILE STROLLING about on festival Sunday, those great barbeque smells you are experiencing most likely are coming from the Lakeside Park area where the Rogers City Sportsmen’s Club is cooking great chicken. Their dinners sell out, so be sure to get there early. The event begins at 11 a.m. Peace Lutheran Church, RC Masonic Lodge, the Natural Helpers, and the Kiwanis Club of Rogers City sponsor food booths at the courthouse during the arts and crafts sale. The Rogers City Optimist Club sponsors the food booth in the festival tent selling hot dogs, Polish dogs, popcorn and soft drinks. St. Ignatius Catholic School provides a food booth at the Antique Car Show. SCHMIDT AM– USEMENTS will again operate the festival rides and midway. They will feature $1 rides on festival Wednesday from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m., according to the festival schedule. Thursday’s hours for rides are 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. Kids’ days feature $10 for unlimited ride action. Hours for this are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from noon until 6 p.m each day.
LIGHTHO– USE TOURS will be offered the last three days of the festival. The historic 40 Mile Point Lighthouse will be open for tours from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The area has undergone much restoration in the past several years and is a significant link to the area’s maritime history. Bring your camera and prepare to soak up history at the lighthouse. It is located approximately six miles north of Rogers City on US-23.
THERE IS NO shortage of games and amusements for all ages at the festival. Bingo will be played at the festival tent Thursday from 1-4 p.m. for those interested in picking the right numbers. According to the schedule, hands-on arts and crafts are planned for festival Thursday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. for ages 3-12. Kiddie games are planned for festival Saturday at Lakeside Park at 9:30 a.m. for ages 2-10. A kiddie tractor pull for ages 2-7 will take place immediately following. Pre-registration is required.
Many come to Rogers City’s summer festival specifically to compete in one of many sporting events offered over the weekend. The biggest draw of all is the softball tournament for men and women. The double-elimination tournaments begin at 8 a.m. festival Saturday on various fields throughout the county.
THE BIG FINISH to the tournaments comes late in the afternoon at Sports Park, between Second and First Streets on Rogers City’s south side. Cozy fences, live softballs, and powerful hitters make this a slugfest enjoyed by many fans who line the outfield in lawn chairs, on blankets, and in trucks and campers. The Nautical City Run for Health is another great draw. The serious and not-so-serious runners will run through the city streets on festival Saturday. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at Lakeside Park Pavilion, or pre-registration forms can be obtained at many local businesses (including the Advance). The fun run, a one-mile event, starts at 8:45 a.m. from the corner of First and Erie Streets. The 6K run starts 20 minutes later from the same spot.
THINK YOU HAVE what it takes to be a horseshoe-throwing champion? Give it a whirl at the tournament set for festival Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the Lakeside Park tent. Registration is taken at the site of the event. Those who take Spitzer seriously should seriously consider entering the 18th Annual Nautical City Spitzer Tournament. Registration is limited to the first 48 people, so call early to reserve a place. More information is available at 734-2790 or 734-3696. The games will be played at 9 a.m. on festival Saturday at the Servicemen’s Club on Erie Street in Rogers City. Archery, handgun silhouette, bull’s eye pistol, and shotgun shooting are planned from noon to 4 p.m. festival Saturday. The event is sponsored by and takes place at the Rogers City Sportsmen’s Club, 1.5 miles west of US-23 on Cedar Street.
This event is geared for ages 7-13 and will be closely supervised by certified range instructors. All equipment is provided, including hearing protection. An adult guardian must accompany participants. Not really a sport, but a competitive event, is the annual Pet Show, planned for festival Friday at 4:30 p.m. For more information call 734-7359. Fishing is not forgotten in the Nautical City as the Youth One Day Fishing Tournament is set for festival Friday from noon until 9 p.m. The event is only for those ages 16 or younger. Call the festival office for details on how to register and where to weigh in the fish.
THE ANNUAL arts and crafts sale
The Nautical Festival Committee, Inc., the city of Rogers City, and several local businesses sponsor the fireworks. The festival events are organized by the Nautical City Festival Committee, Inc., which includes two members from six civic organizations. Those groups include the Rogers City Chamber of Commerce, Optimist Club, Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, Servicemen’s Club, and Knights of Columbus. The chairman of the committee is Bob Urlaub of the Lions Club.