Festival schedule busy through Sunday

by Peter Jakey– Managing Editor

Months of planning come to fruition this week with the start of the 2008 Nautical City Festival. A vast array of events has been planned for this year?s celebration including several new events and a host of returning favorites. Longtime business owners Ervin Grulke and Evelyn Heller will handle the duties of grand marshals leading the parade as the town?s honored citizens, along with newly crowned Miss Rogers City 2008 Jordyn Lamb and her court. The parade starts Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

Live bands perform each night in the festival tent at Lakeside Park and many special events are set for this week.

?This year we have one band on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and two bands on Sunday,? said Nautical Festival Committee (NFC) executive director Kammie Dennis. New to the festival is the DETOUR Band. They will rock the tent Thursday and Friday. Part of their show will include a lightshow. Saturday night marks the return of the 2007 favorite, ?Jedi Mind Trip.?

NCF CHAIRMAN Eric Muller also said here will be added varieties at the bar this year, including a handful of

speciality beers. The Presque Isle County Historical Museum has two special events with the Indian Pow Wow Saturday and the opening of the Ferris Parsons Exhibit. The Presque Isle Pieceable Lighthouse Quilters are back with their every other year exhibit on display at the Grambau Center. Schmidt Amusements has brought in something new this year as they have set up bumper cars on the Avenue of Flags. The company will be offering unlimited rides each night at a set price. The rides will be open through Sunday.

?This is a week long event in Rogers City, that has something for everyone in the family,? said Dennis.

?We?re hoping for a big crowd,? said Muller. ?The weather is going to be a big thing. The weather looks like it should be really good this weekend.? The fireworks will be at 10 p.m. Sunday in the lakeside area.