The leaves are turning, the evenings are getting cooler and Harbor Beach is getting geared up for the 13th Annual Harvest Festival/ Chili Cook-Off Week-end.
Chili, street vendors, craft show, music, water events…there’s something for everyone.
The events kick off on Friday, September 17th, with the 4th Annual Tip of the Thumb Heritage Water Trail Kayak Festival on the waterfront. There will be rustic tent and trailer camping, group paddles, sunrise paddles, free kayak trials and more. All Kayak enthusiasts are welcome. For more details, go to: www.thumbtrails.com
Joining us this year for the first time, also at the beach, will be the “Tin Can Tourists”. They are an organization committed to the celebration of vintage classic travel trailers and motor coaches. Come down and learn more about their love of camping. Bring your camper or trailer and enjoy camping on the waterfront in beautiful Harbor Beach. The week-end rustic camping fee is $35. Check them out at www.tincantourists.com
On Saturday, Sept 18th, the 13th Annual Merchants Chili Cook-Off will be held from 11 am to 3 pm. This one day event draws +500 people from all over southeastern Michigan. Visitors (aka “Judges”) gather in downtown Harbor Beach to sample dozens of homemade chili recipes made by our local merchants. Purchase a $2 Chili button at the Visitor Center (or only one buck if you have your 2010 Harbor Beach button) and sample all the merchant’s chili, then you get to be the judge and vote for your favorite. The Best Chili winner receives the traveling trophy for the year to display proudly and one lucky judge wins the “fabulous Harbor Beach chili basket.”
In addition to the Chili Cook-Off, stroll our quaint downtown and enjoy street vendors, homemade pie contest, Art and Craft and bake sale on the Murphy Museum Grounds and strolling musicians.
Check out our new attraction this year!!!.......”The Mine” - Saturday from 10 am – 5 pm on the Murphy Museum Grounds. (Admission Fee Applies) Discover valuable gems, minerals and fossils in the dark walls of the cave. Learn to sift at the Gemstone Sluice! Purchase a bag of mining rough and discover real gems, arrowheads, crystal point or fossils. Visit www.stonesandfossils.com for more details.
ALSO NEW THIS YEAR…..Marty Viers and the Music Doctors performing on the Murphy Museum grounds, Saturday from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. In case that name rings a bell, they just performed at the 12th Annual CHEESEBURGER Festival in Caseville…. for the 12th time!!!!! For your listening pleasure, they play Classic Rock, Blues, Buffet, and Reggae/Caribbean music. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the afternoon.
Last, but certainly not least, you’ll want to be at the beach for the 2nd Annual 1.7 Meter National Championship Regatta. The Detroit Model Yacht Club will be here racing their Radio Controlled Sailboats. Check them out at: www.dmyc.org
Kids of all ages can check out some fun on Saturday and Sunday, September 18th and 19th when radio controlled sailboats take to the water. This year, demos will be offered so if you ever wanted to be a “sailor”, now is your chance. Racing, demos and displays will take place from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm daily.
Enthusiasts from across the Detroit area will operate their crafts on the waters of Lake Huron. Using the Trescott St. Park pier as their control area, it is the perfect location for the club with open water and great visibility.
They may be small in size compared to the real thing, but they’re big on fun.
The boats run entirely on wind power using only a 6-volt battery to control servos that turn the rudder and bring the sails in and out. At around 1.7 meters (68-inches long), 10-feet tall from the keel to the top of the mast, and weighing in at 22 pounds, the craft looks and reacts the same way a real sailboat does.
Mark your calendars for the 13th Annual Harbor Beach Harvest Festival, Sept. 17-19. Kids, teens, grown-ups………there’s something for everyone in downtown Harbor Beach during the 13th Annual Harbor Beach Harvest Festival!!
Hope to see you there!
Events sponsored by the Harbor Beach Chamber of Commerce