2024 Traveler Guide

Nothing to do in Huron County? You’re not trying hard enough

Welcome to Huron County, and Michigan’s Thumb.

I’ve been a part of the Huron County community since 2019, when I became the editor of the Huron Daily Tribune. Previously I came from another area that was frequented by tourists and visitors from around the state — West Branch.

There’s one big difference between West Branch and the Thumb, however. West Branch is often known as the “gateway to the north,” as a lot of people stop there and visit on their way somewhere else.

That is not the case with Huron County. If you find yourself here in the Upper Thumb, you’re here for a reason. Huron County is a destination, not a stop on the way to another place. The only thing further north is the water.

That’s not to say Huron County isn’t worth stopping in. Quite the contrary. As thousands of people have learned, there are a huge number of great things that go on each here in Michigan’s Thumb.

Probably the biggest is the annual Cheeseburger in Caseville festival, a celebration of Jimmy Buffet and the Thumb’s position as “Key North.” The festival draws thousands of people over a couple of weeks every year as they enjoy more cheeseburgers than you can imagine, great music, and the ever-popular Tropical Parade of Fools. It’s a great event.

But it’s certainly not the only one worth attending. We kick things off with Memorial Day weekend in the Thumb, and there’s no better place to honor those who have lost their lives serving for our country than right here in Huron County. A couple of years ago, I attended my first Memorial Day ceremony in Port Hope, and it quickly became my favorite. There are also great ceremonies in Bad Axe, Caseville, and especially Port Austin, but none touched me the same as the small, quiet service in Port Hope. While hundreds will pack into Port Austin for its ceremony this year, Port Hope’s will be small and intimate, and I think it’s definitely worth attending.

Of course, the Huron Community Fair is a big draw each year. From its great rides to fun grandstand events, a visit to the fairgrounds in Bad Axe is definitely in order during Fair Week.

Harbor Beach has it’s popular Maritime Festival each year, which always draws a huge crowd. The strongman competition hooked me when I attended. It was fascinating to see the competitors battle it out, demonstrating their amazing strength.

Of course Ubly has its annual Homecoming each year, which includes one of my favorite events to watch, the mud volleyball tournament. I remember going to cover it the first time I attended the event, planning on staying for a few minutes, and instead staying for a couple of hours, enjoying

Eric Young eric.young@hearstnp.com

the competition.

And if you’re looking for something to do on Fourth of July, you can’t beat Cass City’s Freedom Festival, one of the biggest Fourth of July events in the Thumb. The parade alone is massive and entertaining.

And I’m just scratching the surface — during the summer it seems as if there is another festival every weekend in Huron County. If you ever hear someone say there is nothing to do in the Thumb, they aren’t trying hard enough.

Check out our schedule of events located in this book for a list of some of the great events around the community. And enjoy your time in Michigan’s Upper Thumb.

Eric Young has been the editor of the Huron Daily Tribune since August 2019.

The mud volleyball tournament during Ubly’s Homecoming event is one of my favorite events to attend each year.

Welcome to Huron County

Huron County is located in the Upper Thumb of Michigan. It is surrounded on three sides by water — Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. The county has a land area of 824 square miles, which is 139 square miles greater than the average for the other 82 counties in the state. Of the 28 townships in the county, only 15 are about 36 square miles.

The irregular shore, 93 miles long, makes the other 13 townships irregular in size, ranging from one square mile (Pointe aux Barques Township) to 44 square miles (Sherman Township).

Bad Axe is the county seat and the

largest city, and has a population of just over 3,050 people. Harbor Beach and Caseville are the other cities in the county.

The villages are Elkton, Kinde, Owendale, Pigeon, Port Austin, Port Hope, Sebewaing and Ubly.

Huron County ranks as one of the top agricultural counties in Michigan based on agricultural farm income. Major crops grown in the county are corn, dry edible beans, sugar beets, wheat and oats. Major enterprises include dairy, livestock and poultry production.

Because of the natural beauty, ideal topography and sandy beaches,

Huron County has an ideal setting for the tourism industry.

The shoreline offers numerous opportunities for vacationers. There are two state parks — Sleeper State Park and Port Crescent State Park and two roadside parks — Jenks Park and Brown Park.

Also, Huron County maintains nine county parks along the shoreline, including Caseville Park, Lighthouse Park, Stafford Park, Wagener Park and Sebewaing Park, all of which offer overnight camping. Others are Philp Park, Port Austin Bird Creek Park, McGraw Park and Oak Beach Park, which are day use only parks.

Turnip Rock in Port Austin is always one of the major attractions in Huron County. Here it is pictured at night with a comet in the background.

Photo by Tyler Leipprandt/Michigan Sky Media

Bad Axe: The hub of the Thumb

From unique shopping to a great tour of Huron County’s past, Bad Axe offers visitors a wide range of entertainment.

With attractions like the Pioneer Log Cabin Village in City Park to the Huron Community Fair, a week-long celebration in July through August, there’s always something happening in the heart of the Thumb.

Bad Axe got its unique name from Capt. Rudolph Pabst, a surveyor who mapped several trails between Harbor Beach and Sebewaing. Those trails would later become M-53 and M-142, which intersect Huron County vertically and horizontally, respectively.

The intersection where they meet was dubbed

“Bad Axe,” and the name took. Pabst, the story goes, established headquarters at an abandoned hunter’s camp where he found a broken axe. Bad Axe became the county seat of Huron County in 1873 and was incorporated as a village in 1885. Twenty years later, in 1905, it achieved city status.

Bad Axe plays host to

the Huron Community Fair from July 28 through Aug. 3. The fairgrounds are abuzz with action and a wide array of activities for all ages.

But the fun doesn’t end with summer. There’s always something to do in Bad Axe, just ask Santa Claus. He visits this city each November for

the annual Christmas parade, which draws thousands into town.

A popular spot all year long is The Pioneer Log Village, 205 S. Hanselman St., which is the largest collection of authentically restored pioneer log buildings in Michigan.

The six individual museums include a pioneer home, general store, one-room school house, chapel, barn and a blacksmith shop. They were originally built between 1875 and 1900, and moved to this site from elsewhere around Huron County in the 1980s. All of the buildings are fully furnished to show what 19th Century pioneer life was like. And the chapel is available for weddings.

Kids enjoy a ride during last year’s Huron Community Fair. This year’s fair runs from July 28 through Aug. 3.

The American flag is carried during last year’s Bad Axe Memorial Day parade.

7 questions with Christine Anthony, owner of Petal N Bean

By Shawn Robinson Staff writer

Meet Christine Anthony, owner of several businesses in Cass City, including Petal N Bean.

Petal N Bean, in the downtown corridor, has been a staple in the community since 2019. Christine, along with her husband Matt, saw the need for this in the community as there was no other coffee shop in the area. Since opening, the eatery has been there for the community providing coffee, boba tea, smoothies, and great food.

“My goal was to give people

a pleasant and comfortable place to eat, shop, and socialize,” Anthony said. “I just wanted to bring some life into our community for our elderly and youth. That was the dream, quality products and services in a beautiful environment.”

The comfy, vintage scenery inside the building brings the Cass City atmosphere to life. With the old, rural wood look inside and coffee shop vibes, the place is really inviting to everyone and continues to be a place where everyone goes.

Caseville: The Thumb’s Key North

Caseville has celebrated more than 100 summers on the beautiful Saginaw Bay, but the fun is just beginning. The city is famous for its sandy beaches, marina facilities, breathtaking beauty, and of course, its fishing.

The city was settled in 1836 by Reuben Dodge. Lumbering was an important early industry with the first sawmill constructed in 1852. Other important early industries were shipbuilding and salt mining.

Famous visitors include President William McKinley, who vacationed in Caseville as a young man.

Caseville boasts one of Michigan’s most popular beaches. A harbor of refuge and great boating facilities bring anglers to the area in search of walleye, perch, trout, salmon and more.

Caseville also plans a number of events throughout the year for the enjoyment of visitors and local residents. Some of the annual events include Cheeseburger in Caseville, Shanty Days, Country RibStock, the Caseville Walleye

Volunteers prepare to slather barbecue sauce on some racks of ribs during last year’s Country Ribstock event.

Tournament, a spectacular fireworks display, Pumpkin Festival and the Holly Berry Fair.

Cheeseburger has proven to be wildly popular as thousands flock to the city as it transforms itself into “Key North,” complete with wacky events, cool tunes, tasty burgers and tropical attire.

Caseville also features a park east of Clay Street. It has a twocourt tennis court, horseshoe pits, playground equipment, a ball diamond and restrooms.

There’s also a ball field and playground equipment at Caseville Public School.

Go karts, a giant slide, miniature golf and bumper boats also are available in the community.

Caseville Municipal Harbor on Dock Street has spaces for boats as long as 70 feet. Slips are rented on a first-come, first-serve basis. More than 60 slips are available. The harbor is within walking distance of the business district. The marina has diesel gas pump-

out, launch ramp and laundry facilities.

Filion Road Public Access, located four miles west of Caseville on Wild Fowl Bay, has a class-one boat ramp, suitable for small trailer-able boats. The access has channel markers, and the area can handle boats up to 16 feet in length.

A skid pier for the handicapped and concrete ramp are located at this site. The area has two handicappedaccessible vault toilets and handicapped-accessible parking.

Caseville’s Inner Bay alone contains 300,000 shallow sandy acres — truly an angler’s paradise.

Its Outer Bay, however, with depths to 90 feet and countless reefs, offers excellent walleye, salmon and lake trout fishing.

The Charity Islands located in the Outer Bay have a reputation of producing limitcatches from the surrounding deep water reefs.

For more information about Caseville, visit www. casevillechamber.com.

Thousands enjoy last year’s Tropical Parade of Fools, a popular event each year during the Cheeseburger in Caseville festival.

Caseville transforms into Key North for this 10 day festival that celebrates the lifestyle & music made popular by Jimmy Buffett. Music by dozens of performers & bands. Fun events for all ages: Kiddie Parade, Free Kids Day, Row-Row-Row Your Cardboard Boat, Beach Volleyball, Sand Castles, Golf Scrambles, Car Show & Much More!

• Pumpkin Decorating Contest • Hay Rides • Lighted Evening Parade & More!

Photo cour tesy of : StormchaserMike Photography

Continued from Page 10

Petal N Bean offers a variety of specialized drinks, pastries, sandwiches, and more. The restaurant’s menu caters to everyone and is open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Q: Why did you see a need for Petal N Bean in the Cass City community and what are the benefits of having a business in a smaller community?

A: Petal N Bean is an

important part of any community. We offer a space for people to connect, work, and relax. We also contribute to the local economy, support other businesses, and provide a venue for social and cultural events. Small businesses like Petal N Bean play a vital role in building and maintaining a strong sense of community, which is essential for the overall well-being of individuals and the community as a whole.

Q: How did you come to recognize the gap in the market

you could fill with the coffee shop?

A: In 2019 when I opened Petal N Bean, Cass City had no grocery store let alone a coffee shop. My goal was to give people a place where they can eat, shop, and socialize comfortably.

Q: What was your mission at the start of your company and how have you continued to carry that on?

comfort for people, businesses, and other social and cultural events.

Q: What do you believe sets Petal N Bean apart from other local coffee shops/eateries?

A: The level of detail to everything, from the food, interior design, and customer service.

Q: What do you want people to take from their visits to Petal N Bean?

A: I want everyone to have the best experience possible and to provide value.

PARKVIEW ARKVIE

A: Our mission was to provide the best atmosphere with the best Michigan-made products. I believe we have continued that while adding new products that brought in more happy customers.

Q: What was your vision for the store and how has that come to fruition over the years?

A: My vision was to be a very comfortable and welcoming place to make all senses happy. It’s become more than a coffee shop and has been a place of

Q: What can Petal N Bean provide that other coffee shops don’t?

A: The environment makes you feel like you are somewhere special. Our friendly and committed staff will make sure you have a fantastic experience each visit, offering smoothies, coffee, bubble tea, fresh pastries, and handcrafted sandwiches for all our guests.

The stores vintage, old scenic look makes the restaurant atmosphere comfortable, with many local items used to build the interior of the building,

Gagetown: Home of the Octagon Barn

Gagetown is a small town with a great claim to fame — the Thumb Octagon Barn.

The Thumb Octagon Barn, a truly unique historical site, was built in 1923-24 for James and Cora Purdy by builders George and John Munro. The Purdys lived in an elegant 12-room home built in 1919-22.

The Octagon Barn stands about four stories tall and boasts an enclosed space of about 8,600 square feet. There’s a large loft on six sides of the barn, which provides 6,200 square feet of storage space above in addition to stables, tack rooms and grain storage areas below.

The barn originally featured an overhead

tramway as well as a sophisticated ventilation system.

Friends of the Thumb Octagon Barn is a group of area volunteers who have diligently committed

themselves to the restoration and preservation of the barn complex for the community.

The group’s vision is to, “develop the Thumb Octagon Barn complex

for the community as an agricultural museum and educational center open to individuals, families and student groups to educate and stimulate awareness of our agricultural heritage.”

The barn is located one mile east of Gagetown and one mile north on Richie Road in Tuscola County, just south of the Huron County border.

September brings fall to the Upper Thumb and Fall Family Days to the Octagon Barn. Proceeds go toward efforts to preserve the historical gem.

For more information about the Thumb Octagon Barn, visit www. thumboctagonbarn.org/.

The Thumb Octagon Barn draws hundreds of visitors during lest year’s Fall Family Days.

Visitors learn about school in the past during last year’s Fall Family Days at the Thumb Octagon Barn.

Bad Axe

Ameriway Inn & S uites

898 N. Van D yke Road

989-269-3200

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Bad Axe Motel

1595 S. Van D yke Road

989-975-2203 989-269-6997

Franklin Inn

1070 E. Huron Ave. 989-269-9951 or 800-645-0211

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Bottoms Up

809 E. Huron Ave. 989-269-5041

Holiday Inn Express 55 Rapson Road

989-269-5293

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Caseville

A Great Getaway Cottage

7708 Por t Austin Road 989-550-5348

Bella Vista Inn 6024 Por t Austin Road

989-856-2650

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Cabins of Caseville 5924 & 5946 Por t Austin Road 989-621-6458 cabins@snlprop.com

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Caseville Lakefront Homes 5946 and 5924 Por t Austin Road, Caseville

248-421-4086

Crews’ Lakeside Resor t 4750 Por t Austin Road 989-856-2786

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Fox ’s Lodge at Oak Pointe 5857 Por t Austin Road 989-856-3055 foxslodgeatoakpointe.com

Purple Mar tin Rentals

8038 Crescent Beach Rd 989-551-9463

Harbor Beach

Harbor Beach Inn

722 State St. 989-479-9424

Motel Huron 1115 S. Lakeshore Road 989-479-9162

Por t Austin

85ten Hotel & Event Center 8510 Lake Street MI 989-738-8510

Beachcomber Motel

158 W. Spring St. 989-738-8354

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Blue Spruce Motel

8527 Lake St. 989-738-8650

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Harbor View Cottages

60 W. Spring St. 989-738-5277 or 586-337-1923

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Krebs Lane Cottages 2966 Por t Austin Road 989-738-8548 or 313-886-5752

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Lake Vista Motel & Cottages 168 W. Spring St. 989-738-8612

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Lakeside Motor Lodge 8654 Lake St. 989-738-5201

Little Yellow Cottages 114 Union St 989-402-4813

Lucky Horseshoe Motel and Cabins 8527 Lake St. 989-738-8650

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Por t Austin Bed & Breakfast 8526 Lake St. 989-738-0361

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Sun & S and Motel 891 Por t Austin Road 989-738-7513

S andcastles on the Beach 1368 Por t Austin Road 989-738-4200

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Por t Hope

Forest Bay Cottages 2888 N. Lakeshore 989-428-4335

Forestbay1@hotmail.com

Lightkeepers Cottages 7432 Lighthouse Road 989-553-6960

Sebewaing

Airpor t Motel 647 W Sebewaing St 989-883-3320

facebook.com/Airpor t Motel

The Downtown Loft LLC 14 N Center St 810-577-8526

facebook.com/thedowntownloftsebewaing

Cass City has something for everyone

Wonderful lodging accommodations, public golf courses, great fishing — think Cass River — state game hunting areas, and a scenic walking trail are just some of the hallmarks of this charming village.

Home to an outstanding library, a classic movie theater, fantastic playscape, bowling facilities, assorted eateries, unique retail shopping, and an excellent community hospital, Cass City truly offers something for everyone — residents and visitors alike.

Cass City, home of astronaut Brewster Shaw, sports an impressive

recreation area, complete with baseball diamonds, lighted tennis and basketball courts, playground equipment, picnic facilities and a community swimming pool that hosts classes and open swimming. It’s a hub of activity in the spring and summer months.

Speaking of summer activity, this village is typically home to one of the biggest and most actionpacked Fourth of July festivals around. The annual event draws thousands from around the Upper Thumb and state to this tiny haven which exudes friendliness and hospitality. People line

the streets of Cass City for the monster parade before heading to the park for various activities.

Games for kids of all ages, arts and crafts and the flea market are big draws. Dozens of teams enter the 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and the festival wouldn’t be complete without the antique cars and renowned fireworks that light up the sky.

With the winter months comes Christmas in the Village with a craft show, carriage rides and Santa’s arrival, to keep the fun rolling throughout the year.

Two golf courses and a

first-rate library round out the various recreational gems.

And anglers will find great fishing at the Cass River while hunters set out at the state game hunting areas. The downtown is home to an abundant amount of specialty shops, perfect for a day of shopping.

So whether it’s the highenergy action that the town’s festivals supply or a more relaxing pace on the golf course or strolling through the downtown shops, Cass City truly is home to “something for everyone.”

Parade attendees enjoy a cool splash of water during the 2022 Freedom Festival.

Deckerville welcomes visitors to Homecoming festival

Named for the man who created a lumber business here in the late 1800s, Charles Decker, Deckerville is nestled in the northeastern corner of Sanilac County.

With a history intense in pioneer and Indian lore, Deckerville has seen many industries, including wool and flax mills, fur trading, brick making and even sauerkraut and cheese factories.

With a population just over 800, the community sports its own school district, hospital and even a village newspaper, the Deckerville Recorder, which has been in business since 1892.

Area residents enjoy the 2019 Deckerville Homecoming festival, one of summer highlights for the Deckerville area.

The summer highlight is the Deckerville Homecoming festival, which occurs in August, complete with sidewalk sales, garage sales, tractor pulls and other activities at Wilson Park in town and the

Sportsmen’s Club located on Goetz Road, about five miles east of town.

The Deckerville Library is built on a historical site which originally was an

Episcopal Church built in 1880, and then converted to a library in 1923.

The original church structure still is part of the library today.

7 questions with Kraven Coffee House of Caro

By Shawn Robinson Staff writer

Meet Raven Jewell, owner of the newest coffee shop in the Thumb, Kraven Coffee House.

Just last week, Jewell and her husband, Earl Scott, opened the coffee house located at 258 S. State St. The coffee shop specializes in a variety of different breads, including muffins, cinnamon rolls, doughnuts, and drinks including coffee and noncoffee beverages and more. Raven and Earl tasted different coffees to find the right bean, and after three months, they found the right one.

Kraven Coffee House has been in the making for quite a while, dating back to January. She started to buy different coffee makers and other equipment to brew homemade coffee. Though they had a few setbacks, the couple stayed positive and never looked back. Raven always had aspirations of having her own restaurant or eatery,

and she found her niche within the coffee business.

“We didn’t look back, we just kept going and pushed forward,” Scott said. “It was a blessing, we got better and bigger things. It’s exciting and tiring, but worth it.”

Jewell looks to expand her business, offering lunch items such as soups and sandwiches, and drive-thru services. She’d also like to eventually expand and become a franchise.

Kraven Coffee House is open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Have you always aspired to open a coffee shop?

Jewell: We actually planned on having a food truck, which was going to be completely different. But we went this route.

What was the process of getting going and opening like?

Scott: A big part of it was the health department. We’d go to the health

The newest addition to the city of Caro, Kraven Coffee House open 7 days a week.

department, and they’d give us a new list. We finally got that going and about 30 days after that we were able to open. We’re open now bigger and better.

How have the first opening weeks been and the feedback?

A: It’s been good, extremely busy. I’ve had one person say their drink wasn’t strong enough, but other than that every person has said they loved it.

What do you plan to bring to the Caro community?

Jewell: I want this to be a safe spot for business meetings, bible study, anything like that. I offer

top-tier customer service, employment, and many other things.

Scott: We’re going to make a room and have a lounge so that people can come in and chill, take care of their meetings and things like that.

What are some goals, short and long-term, that you have for the place?

Jewell: Getting the drivethru together is a short-term goal I have for the place. I want to have a signature Kraven drink, something like Starbucks. I want something like that.

Scott: Long term, we’re going to open another store and become a franchise. We’re looking to branch out

Nicole Kaufman Admissions & Marketing Direc tor

E decker ville_admissions@cienafacilities.com P (810) 376-2145 • F (810) 376-4093

and move around. What is one thing you want customers to remember when they come and visit?

A: The service and hospitality. Also, our prices are half of any other coffee shop, and it makes them happy.

What is your favorite item on the menu?

Jewell: It would probably be the cinnamon cupcake or the Carmel and brownie cheesecakes. For drink, the Red Bull Dragonfruit lemonade.

Scott: The brown-cinnamon hazelnut is great, crazy. We always run out of those.

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Harbor Beach has enjoyment for all

Nestled on the shores of Lake Huron is Harbor Beach, a close-knit community noted for its local businesses and friendly atmosphere.

Harbor Beach has the world’s greatest man-made fresh water harbor. It’s picturesque lighthouse built in the 19th Century is the focal point for breathtaking natural beauty of the harbor, located on the sunrise side of the Upper Thumb.

Originally founded in 1836 as Sand Beach, the town’s livelihood has always revolved around the lake. It’s also home to large industrial leaders as well as a U.S. Coast Guard Station.

One of Michigan’s most famous statesmen, Frank Murphy, was a native of Harbor Beach. His birthplace, now the Frank Murphy Museum on Huron Avenue, is set up to tell the world about one of our former U.S. Supreme Court justices,

ambassadors and governors.

As you drive downtown, you’ll want to take a closer look at the Community House, which is decorated with a two-story mural depicting the history of Harbor Beach.

With a gymnasium, meeting rooms and movie theater, the Community House is the center of many events in Harbor Beach.

The city’s Maritime Festival has made a big splash among area events. This year’s event will feature free music and other free events.

Several city parks offer a variety activities. Davidson Park, off Court Street, has tennis and basketball courts.

Judge James H. Lincoln Park is home to volleyball nets, beach, pier, playground and

more. Adjacent to the Harbor Beach Marina, Water Works Park, and it offers a pavilion and cottages that are available for rent. Nearby is North Park Campground, which offers all modern amenities.

The city is also home to the Harbor View Trail, as well as the PFC Brian Backus Nature Trail, with access points at North Park Campground and Pierce Road.

Launch your boat at the Harbor Beach Marina for great fishing and water sports. The marina features more than 100 boat slips, six boat ramps, restrooms and shower facilities, a fish cleaning station, diesel and gasoline fuel, and pump-out facilities.

Other sites to see include the city’s farmers market and the Harbor Beach Lighthouse. Tours of the lighthouse are held regularly throughout the tourist season, and more information is available at harborbeachlighthouse.org.

A water sports enthusiast enjoys the water just off short in Harbor Beach.

A competitor carries weights during a strongman competition at a past Maritime Festival.

7 Questions with Justin Selke of Sandy Dunes Adventure Golf

By Connor Veenstra Staff writer

Originally started by the Polega family, the Sandy Dunes Adventure Golf course changed hands to the Selke family in late 2020. Justin Selke, who runs the location, sat down with the Tribune to talk about his experience living in the Thumb and how running a rural business is different from running one in the Metro Detroit area he grew up in.

When did your family start this business?

We weren’t the ones that actually started it. The Polega family was the one that

developed it, built it, and they were the ones who owned and operated it for the first 30-plus years. This is currently our second season up here and we purchased it in late 2020.

Why did you buy the business?

My father has a background in entrepreneurship, I have a background in mortgages. He was looking for another new business, I was looking to change careers. And we loved the area up here after checking it out, we thought it could be a good situation for us and the family, with him growing older and me looking to figure out my footing. So we decided to go all in up here and this is

where we’re at now.

Why did you switch from your mortgage career?

That was just the first career

path I took out of college. It wasn’t necessarily something I wanted to do, but it was just the opportunity I took at that time. And I was getting burnt

out after a couple of years of it. I wasn’t really interested in doing mortgages anymore and when the opportunity presented itself I was like, “I’m willing to come up to Port Austin and establish my footing up here.” And just switch up. I know every now and then you kind of just need to go on a limb and do something. Why a golf course specifically?

So, (we have a) background in entertainment, specifically, like bowling allies and stuff like that. So, we thought golf would be a smooth transition, especially mini golf. And then we like ice cream; we all have background in the food and service industry going back to

our teenage years, so we didn’t think it would be anything that was too far-fetched for us to do. How have you liked being up here these last two years?

I like it a lot. I grew up in Metro Detroit and, for me personally, the change of scenery, everything’s more spread out. I like that a lot more, it suits me a little bit better. I have no complaints with the less traffic or anything like that. Obviously, I like being close to the water, that’s great. And it’s just been a great vibe up in this area, that’s what made it really easy to transition.

How is running this

place different from running a place in Metro Detroit?

They’re definitely similar in the aspect of like, you’re trying to connect with your customer base and you want to have that communication, but I would say really the only difference is that it’s so dense down there. Up here, everything’s a little bit of a slower pace, except for holidays and stuff when it gets crazy hectic. But I’d say the major difference is just the sheer amount of people. And the attitude; I feel like a lot of people up here are just really, really nice and open arms and… I mean, I can’t say that about every person in Metro Detroit, just because there’s so

many people,you know what I mean? I just think it’s been a great switch up, personally. What upgrades or improvements have you made?

We did the turf, we redid the entire inside of the building, we added a new freezer, we redid the floors, we redid the counters, we’re redoing all the paint. We put the game room in, such as like the pinball machines and the claw machines and I guess just some minor things that maybe someone might not notice right off the bat. So, that’s pretty much the goal right now is to make steady improvements as the years go on.

Elkton is the town with a smile

Elkton is a friendly community known for its many activities, including Autumnfest, which welcomes people from all over Michigan on Labor Day weekend. Games and activities keep the kids busy, and there are a host of attractions for the adults too. Good food, musical entertainment, tractor pulls, and one of the largest car shows in the Thumb are other amenities. The grand parade kicks off Autumnfest in spectacular tradition and fireworks cap off a non-stop busy day.

The fourth weekend in September has the town going all out for Museum Weekend, where the historical society’s Heritage Center, log cabin and blacksmith’s barn are open with displays of the past.

There are bouncy houses, games, a petting zoo, and carriage rides around town to see some of the historical sites. Added to this is a street fair with vendors, music, family activities and more.

This concludes on Sunday with an antique baseball game.

The town rolls out the red carpet for Halloween night for trunk-or-treating, with cars lining up and down Main

Street. This is in addition to trick-or-treating around town, and other kids activities.

The gazebo in the center of town lights the way for the Christmas holidays. As Santa and Mrs. Santa cruise through town on a horse drawn carriage, the streets come alive with the annual holiday celebration, which includes a cookie walk, dinners, giveaways, cookie decorating, and a craft sale. Children’s laughter can be heard all over town.

Elkton Parks and Recreation have activities all year long, either monthly or bi-monthly, from movies and music in the park, free ice cream and popcorn, to other outdoor entertainment.

The town with a smile welcomes you.

Elkton residents enjoyed last year’s Autumn Fest.

Around 200 kids and their families converged on Ackerman Park Saturday for Elkton’s second annual Kids Day.

7 Questions with Amy Guster, owner of Amy’s of Pigeon

By Dominic Sevilla Staff writer

Amy’s of Pigeon is offering clothes for women of all ages and sizes. Amy Guster, owner and operator, took over the business back in 1991 after working for the store as a manager.

“I just knew it was something I loved to do,” said Guster. “The people that I was working for at the time taught me so much while I was working for them. It just felt like the natural next step was to be the owner of the store. Everything just fell into place and I’ve been here ever since and have loved it ever since.”

The offerings at Amy’s include a range of casual to work-wear clothing as well as accessories, bags and scarves.

Q: What is an average day like for you as the owner?

A: When you’re the owner you pretty much do everything. You clean windows and bathrooms, vacuum, wait on customers and handle all inventory. You do everything.

Q: Being in downtown Pigeon, what are the customers like? Do you have regulars? How often do you get people from out of town?

A: We have both. We have regulars that I see once or twice every week. They’re the ones that keep your doors open. They go from being customers to feeling like family because you see them as much as your own family sometimes.

We also draw from all of the other areas. We have wonderful people who come up and have cottages up here too. A lot of them will say this is their first stop before they even open the cottage and

that’s pretty wonderful.

Q: What keeps you motivated working in the store?

A: I think probably the customers. Just seeing their faces every day and being able to help someone find something that they feel good in and they feel confident in.

Just the smiles on their faces when they think they are a hard fit and we can actually find something that makes them feel good about themselves.

Q: What might people find surprising about your store when they walk in for the first time?

A: Probably the amount of inventory that we carry. We have sizes from 2 through 18 and tops go from extra small to 2X, so we carry a nice variety of sizes.

We don’t gear toward any particular shape or age group, so mainly it’s just the variety that they are going to find when they come in.

Q: What is it like working in a small town and alongside the Pigeon Chamber of Commerce?

A: The Pigeon Chamber of Commerce can’t be beat. We’ve got wonderful people who put in a lot of time and effort into coming up with ideas and seeing them through.

Being in a smaller town you don’t have much to draw from. I think it takes everybody pitching in and just coming up with unique ideas to draw people into town and have them visit the wonderful shops that we do have. We have great restaurants in town so they can have lunches and dinners

Continued on Page 36

Museums

White Rock School Museum - White Rock

10 miles south of Harbor Beach on M-25, then 1/4 mile west on White Rock Rd. 989-864-3817. Free admission by appointment. Built in 1909 and is maintained to original decor with authentic maps and other period relics

Ten Cent Horse Barn Museum - Ubly Longuski Lane off M-19 at south village limit, nor thwest of Ubly Dragway. 989-551-0532. Open Sundays Memorial Day through Labor Day, 1-3 pm. Free admission; donations appreciated.

Frank Murphy Museum - Harbor Beach

142 S. Huron Ave Open Memorial Day through Labor Day: Mon.-Sat., 8:30-4 pm; Sun., noon-4 pm. The bir thplace of the U.S. Supreme Cour t Justice Frank Murphy consists of five buildings; three are open for tours Free admission - donations are gratefully accepted. For information, call 989-712-0909 or 989-551-3817.

Harbor Beach Lighthouse

- Harbor Beach

Guided tours of 1885 offshore lighthouse leave from Harbor Beach Marina on a licensed commercial boat mid-June to the first Saturday in September (weather permitting). See the replica Four th Order Fresnel lens and the reconstruc ted fog signal building. Tours are $25 per person. Reser vations (strongly recommended) can be made at harborbeachlighthouse.org. Call 989-470-9707 for more information. The lighthouse is not handicap accessible.

Harbor Beach Woman’s Club

- Harbor Beach

The organization was formed in 1885 and County Federated in 1919 and is responsible for a large por tion of histor y preser vation in the local area.

Grice House Museum - Harbor Beach 864 N. Lakeshore Rd - 989-479-3363. Open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, Wed. through Fri., 1 - 5 pm; Sat., 10 - 4 pm; closed Sun. through Tues Open County wide Museum Weekend, Saturday only. Call for private tours.

Admission: Adults - $5. Complex includes the original Fresnel lens of the Harbor Beach Lighthouse, one -room schoolhouse, and agricultural antiques display Member of the USLHS Passpor t Program.

Por t Hope Railroad Depot Museum

- Por t Hope

Renovated 1904 Pere Marquette Railroad Depot, Stafford County Park, 8046 Por tland St., Por t Hope, 48468. Open Memorial Day through September Museum Weekend, Sat., 10-4 pm; Sun., 1-4 pm. Phone: 517-420-4147.

(Museum, model railroad, walking trail, interac tive exhibits, kid friendly) http://por thopedepot.org or Facebook: FriendsOfThePor tHopeDepot

Por t Hope Area Historical Society

- Por t Hope

Located at the Lumber Yard Museum building at 8016 Por tland Ave Museum features genealogy research center, displays of local ar tifac ts, and grounds for community ac tivities Events for 4th of July celebration and ABC Day on third Saturday of August For information, call 989-553-4342.

Facebook: Por t HopeAreaHistor y.

Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse Museum

- Por t Hope

7320 Lighthouse Road - inside Lighthouse County Park586-243-1838. Museum open Memorial Day weekend through September. Check website for hours. Group tours welcome with advance notice $5 adults/$3 kids admission for tours of museum and keeper ’s quar ters with shipwreck ar tifac ts, lighthouse, and life -saving station histor y.

Bad Axe Museum of Local Histor y

303 N. Por t Crescent St (Allen House). Exhibits of photos, ar tifac ts, memorabilia with “Ever ything Bad Axe.” See information at Pioneer Log Village for contac t numbers and open dates

Por t Austin Area Histor y Center

1424 Pointe aux Barques Rd., 1 mile east of Por t Austin - 989551-5532. Exhibits in six historic buildings, gardens, woodland walking trail Open 1 - 4 pm Sat & Sun. April, May, September, & Oc tober; daily June, July, & August. Free admission. w w w. por taustinhistor ycenter.com. Find us on Facebook: Por t Austin Area Historical Society Caseville Historical Museum

6733 Prospec t St. - 989-856-9090 - w w w.casevillemuseum. org - chscm@comcast.net Open year ’round Wed thru Sat., noon - 4:30 pm. Caseville Historical Museum is located in the Old Maccabee Hall, built in the 1890s.

Elkton Area Historical Society

Elkton Heritage Center located on corner of York and Mullen St The Log Cabin complex is located in Ackerman Park Large collec tion of local memorabilia. Open on Log Cabin Day, the 4th Sun. in June; Autumnfest on Labor Day weekend; and Museum Weekend last full weekend in September For information, call 989-550-2603.

Pigeon Depot Museum

59 S. Main St - Open June, July, and August: Fri., 10 - 3 pm. Ar tifac ts from Pigeon and the surrounding area. Free admission; donations accepted. Visit our Facebook page or website: w w w.pigeonhistoricalsociety.com.

Woelke Research Center

Nex t to Farmers’ Market - open year ’round. June, July, & August: Thurs - Fri., 10 - 3 pm. September through May: Fri. only, 10 - 3 pm. Leave message at 989-453-3242. For appointment, call 989-553-1944. Historical documentation of Pigeon, surrounding area, businesses, and families Free admission; donations accepted See Pigeon Depot Museum for Facebook and website.

Bay Por t Museum

1100 Kuhl Rd - 989-453-3638 - baypor thistoricalsociety@ gmail.com. Bay Por t Historical Society is located 3 miles south of Bay Por t on M-25, 1 mile west on Geiger on corner of Geiger and Kuhl Call for open times throughout summer Open Bay Por t Fish Sandwich weekend in August. Visit us at w w w.baypor thistoricalsociety.com or Facebook: BayPor t HistoricalSociety

Charles W. Liken HouseSebewaing Historic River Distric t:

325 N. Center - Downtown Historic River Distric t

Open the first Sat., and Sun. of Ever y Month June -September from 1-3 pm. Other dates by appointment - 989-883-2753; 989-883-2391

Special Ac tivities:

JUNE, Michigan Sugar Festival; AUGUST, Countr y Market &Music Festival; OCTOBER, Moonlight Madness; NOVEMBER, Spirit of Christmas, along withother annual Chamber events.

Old Sebewaing Township HallSebewaing Historic River Distric t

92 S. Center, Downtown Historic River Distric t

See information at Charles W. Liken House in above listing for contac t numbers and open dates For information, call 989-883-2753; 989-883-2391.

Huron Count y Historical Societ y Presents: Count y wide Museum Weekend!

The Huron Count y Historical Societ y kindly invites one and all to Huron Count y ’s Count y wide Museum Weekend on the last weekend in September Most museums in Huron Count y will be open on the:

Last Full Weekend in September

Saturday & Sunday: Noon – 4 p.m.

Pigeon ushers in Farmer’s Summerfest

Located between Bay Port and Elkton is Pigeon, one of the Thumb’s most proud communities.

One of the highlights this summer is the Pigeon Summerfest, which includes community events and games for kids. Summerfest returned last year after a year off due to the pandemic.

A drive through Pigeon reveals mile after mile of picturesque fields that produce corn, sugar beets, wheat and a variety of beans. The Cooperative Elevator Co.’s grain elevator in Pigeon is the largest in the state, and supplies commodities to major food producers all over the world. If it’s entertainment you crave, Pigeon’s got it. The Pigeon Band Shell, located in Pigeon Recreational Park, is known for its summer concerts.

Pigeon Recreational Park, located at the corner of Park Street and Rollie Smith Drive, features a

picnic pavilion, playground area, ball fields, tennis courts, horseshoe pits and basketball hoops. South Park, on Main Street, has a picnic area and swings.

On Main Street, amid the local shops and businesses, is the elegant yet modern Pigeon District Library. It offers story hours for children, senior citizen activities and quilt shows.

Not far from the library is the Pigeon Historical Depot Museum. The Depot Museum is alongside the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad tracks that run through the middle of the village. Adjacent to the Museum is Pigeon’s farmer’s market.

The Christmas Town Lighting rings in the holiday season at the end of November, and the Pigeon Chamber of Commerce is active in promoting the town and its businesses with special events throughout the year.

Tractors roll down the street during last year’s Summerfest.

Join Us Thursdays at 7 pm

June 20: Larry Lee & Back in the Day

Performing a mix of music that span multiple genres including R&B, Pop, Soul, Blues, Disco, & more.

June 27: Blue Water Ramblers

Sharing traditional songs of Michigan, America and your life.

July 11: The Whisnants

Singing Inspirational Southern Gospel music across the nation and around the world since 1970.

July 25: Magic Bus Band

Get on the bus, take a ride, and relive the music as you’re transported to the look and sound of 1967.

August 8: 3rd Degree Bur n

This classic rock time machine takes you back to an era that is keeping rock & roll alive.

TICKET PRICES

$6 Advance, $8 At the Gate, 12 & under FREE (accompanied by an adult)

ADVANCE TICKET SALES LOCATIONS

Bay Port State Bank: Bad Axe, Bay Port, Pigeon, Sebewaing

Pigeon One Stop Shop: Pigeon

Pigeon Telephone Business Office: Pigeon

Scheurer Family Pharmacy: Sebewaing

Thumb Bank: Bad Axe, Caseville, Cass City, Pigeon

Thumb Cellular: Bad Axe, Caro, Pigeon, Sandusky

Inclement Weather Updates WLEW 1340AM / 102 1FM, WHST 94.1FM, or visit: Facebook.com/PigeonBandShell or pigeonbandshell.com

Inclement Weather Location:

Pigeon Band Shell offers a forum for local talent, and provides a wide variety of entertainment for local residents and vacationers.

t G uide

Restaur an

B A D AX E

Bad Axe Par ty Store

690 S. Van Dyke

989-269-4133

Bad Axe Steakhouse 113 S. Por t Crescent 989-269-6888

Belk ’s Café & Gifts 171 E Huron Ave Bad Axe, MI 989-963-7752

Big Boy Restaurant

900 N. Van Dyke Road

989-269-9515

Cafe 53

721 N. Van Dyke 989-975-8413

China King 162 E Huron Ave 989-269-2900

East Side Par ty Store Deli

706 E Huron Ave 989-269-8831

Emma’s Coffee Shop 123 N. Por t Crescent 989-975-6006

The Gathering Place

898 N. Van Dyke 989-269-8888

The Franklin Inn 1070 E Huron Ave 989-269-9951

Bottom’s Up 809 E. Huron 989-269-5041

Hungr y Howie’s 843 N. Van Dyke Road 989-269-3500

KFC

769 N van Dyke Road Bad Axe, MI

Little Caesars Pizza 897 N. Van Dyke Road, 989-269-9733

Longshot Lanes

845 N. Van Dyke Road 989-269-9581

Lugo’s Street Tacos

801 N. Van Dyke 989-269-8000

McDonalds

871 N Van Dyke Rd Bad Axe, MI

989-269-9331

Murphy ’s Baker y 110 W. Huron Ave 989-269-8291

Peppermill Restaurant

685 N. Por t Crescent St. 989-269-9347

Pete’s Bar 269 E. Huron Ave. 989-269-9107

Pizza Hut

790 N. Van Dyke Road 989-269-2291

Rachel’s Menu

754 N. Van Dyke Road

989-269-5000

S ubway 885 N. Van Dyke Road 989-269-2000

Taco Bell

852 N. Van Dyke Road 989-269-9492

Verona Tavern 12 N. Verona Road 989-269-2493

Wendy ’s

787 N. Van Dyke Road 989-269-6984

B AY P O R T

Bay Por t Inn

827 Promenade St 989-656-9911

Lefty ’s Drive-in Seasonal 9505 Por t Austin Road 989-656-9950

C ASE VILLE

Bay watch on the Beach Grill 6626 Beachway 989-856-1686

BK’S Burge Shack 6893 Dormey Street Caseville, MI 989-975-1373

Blue Water Inn 6584 Main St 989-856-3400

Beachy ’s Bar & Grill 6567 Main St 989-856-9210

Brew Moon Coffee House & Galler y 6815 Michigan Street

Chuck ’s Drive Thru Diner 6966 Main Street 989-856-1230

Dair y Q ueen Seasonal 6395 Main St 989-856-2534

Giuseppe’s Pizzeria 6562 Main St. 989-856-2035

Hersel’s on the Bay Grill & Lounge 6024 Por t Austin Road 989-856-2500 or 989-856-2650

Lefty ’s Diner and Drive-in 6937 Main St 989-856-8899

Lemon Tree Marketplace 6604 Main Street Caseville, MI 989-856-8733

MQs Pizza Express (Mainsail Quick Stop) 6631 Main St. 989-856-1645

Iggy ’s Pizza on the Bay 6409 Main St. 989-856-2242

Shipwreck Distiller y 4895 N Caseville Rd Caseville, MI 989-550-7083

S ubway (Clark Station) 7095 Main St. 989-856-8484

Thumb Brewer y 6758 Pine St 989-553-6758

Walt ’s Restaurant 6618 Main St. 989-856-4020 Wooded Island

Spor ts Grill 6868 Michigan St. 989-856-1240

C ASS CITY

Cass Tavern 6448 Main St 989-872-4838

Champs Chicken 6233 Church St 989-912-3600

The Charmont 6138 E Cass City 989-872-4321

Crossroads Junc tion 8510 Van Dyke Rd 810-404-5323

Gilligan’s 6444 Main St 989-872-4488

Little Caesars Pizza 4518 Leach St 989-872-4884

McDonald’s 6180 Main St 989-872-4841

Nick ’s Countr y Oven 6209 Main St 989-872-4500

Parkway Pizza 6703 Main St 989-872-5448

Petal N Bean Co. 6450 Main Street 989-912-2244

S ubway 6144 E. Cass City 989-872-4373

Taco Bell

6743 E Main Street 989-912-3245

Village Grill & Chill 6628 Main Street 989-872-4711

DECKERVILLE

Brown’s Pizza & S ubs

2010 Black River St. 810-376-2141

Corner Cafe

3452 Main St. 810-376-8450

Silver Tavern

Black River St 810-376-8563

S ubway

655 Sanilac Road Sandusky, MI

810-648-9856

ELKTON

Hitching Post

79 N. Main St. 989-375-2496

Phil’s Diner 4975 Railroad St 989-375-2600

S ubway (Clark Station) 5083 Whalen St. 989-375-2027

GAGETOWN

Sher wood on the Hill 6625 Third St 989-665-9971

GRINDSTONE

Days on the Lake 3337 Pointe Aux Barques Road 989-738-7665

Grindstone General Store 3206 Copeland Road 989-738-6410

Rybek ’s Ice Cream Store 3090 Copeland Road 989-768-0071

Shelley ’s Bar & Grill

8743 Pearson St. 989-738-5105

OWENDALE

HolliJays Place

7296 Main St. 989-373-5005

Stack ’s 7297 Main St 989-678-4500

HARBOR BEACH

Chester ’s Chicken

8974 Sand Beach Road 989-479-6800

Eighteen 87 118 State Street 989-479-2956

Ernesto’s Pizza

129 State St. 989-479-9013

Little Caesars Pizza 135 S. Huron Ave. 989-479-3222

Smalley ’s Bar 130 S. Huron Ave. 989-479-3477

Varney ’s

Coney Island 190 Ritchie Dr 989-479-6197

Williams Inn 129 State St 989-479-9013

MINDEN CITY

John’s

Stumble Inn 1500 Main St. 989-864-5541

KINDE

Biffs Bar & Grill 4680 N Van Dyke 989-874-3034

Heck ’s Bar

2990 W Kinde Road 989-874-4868

Kinde One Stop Shop 25 West Kinde Road 989-874-4500

The Pasta House 337 Main St 989-874-4070

PIGEON

Cottage Inn Pizza 15 N Caseville Road 989-453-2015

Little Caesars Pizza 27 N. Caseville Road 989-453-2722

Main Street Family Restaurant 15 S. Main St. 989-453-3663

Pigeon Inn

66 S. Main St. (989) 453-2327

Pigeon Loc al 7232 Michigan Ave 989-453-3434

Scenic Golf and Countr y Club

8364 W Filion Road 989-453-2233

POR T AUSTIN

The Bank 1884

8646 Lake St. 989-738-5353

Blue Moon (Seasonal)

Ice Cream Parlor 427 W Spring St

Café 53 Nor th 42 W Spring Street

The Dark Sky Lodge & Tavern 1884 Por t Austin Road

The Farm Restaurant 699 Por t Crescent Road 989-874-5700

The Tap Room at Bird Creek Farms 282 Grindstone Road 989-738-0218

Fireside Inn 1146 Por t Austin Road 989-738-8232

Green Clean Bean 124 E. Spring St. 989-738-0112

Lake Street Emporium 8687 Lake Street 989-738-8412

Lake Street Loc al 8724 Lake St 989-738-9750

The Landing 8724 Lake St. 989-738-9750

Pak ’s Backyard Café and River Garden 119 E. Spring St. Por t Austin

POR T HOPE

Buck ’s Por t Hope Diner 4411 Main Street 989-428-0940

Lewisville Smoke 4711 Kinde Rd 989-428-3056

Por t Hope Hotel 4405 Main St. 989-428-4808

R UTH

Farmer ’s Tavern 4522 S. Ruth Road 989-864-3714

UBLY

Angelina’s 2212 E. Main St. 989-658-2643

Fast Freddies 2245 E Main St 989-658-8172

S ubway 4497 N. Washington 989-658-8500

Ubly Pub 2211 E. Main St. 989-658-8811

SEBE WAING

Beeter ’s Brew Pub 902 E. Pine Street 989-883-2170

Dair y Barn (Seasonal) 634 Unionville Road 989-883-2421

The Lamplighter 8850 S. Unionville Road 989-883-9224

McDonald’s 599 S. Unionville Road 989-883-9898

Peking City 747 N. Beck 989-704-1087

S ubway 614 S. Unionville Road 989-883-9125

Village Pizzeria 638 N. Center St 989-883-2091

Kretzschy ’s Smokey BBQ 604 Unionville Road 989-975-1373

and do a little shopping.

Q: What are some of the challenges that you have faced over the years that you and the store have had to overcome?

A: Obviously the economy goes up and down through the years. Then it’s just developing a one-on-one with our customers.

I think just knowing kind of what our customers are looking for and what our customer base is, is a big help for us.

Q: Why choose to have the store in a small town like Pigeon over a larger city? What is the advantage of your business being here?

want to be.

If you or someone you know is a business owner, group/event organizer, or even just a person with an interesting story and wants to be featured for the next “7 questions with...”, contact Dominic Sevilla at dominic. sevilla@hearstnp.com. Continued from Page 29

When we go to the buying shows now, we kind of know what we’re doing and we know what we are looking for. Shipping has been great, we haven’t had any real slowdowns. That was really nice because that was a big issue for a lot of stores for a few years.

A: I think being in a smaller town, it goes back right back to my customers again. I know my customers by name and I know what they are looking for.

And I live in the area. I want to be at my business often. I know a lot of people try to do different branches but I think people want to see the owner at the business. For me, it is close to home, this is where I

Amy’s of Pigeon is located at 7266 Michigan Ave. and is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. The store can also be found online by visiting them on https:// www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=100050354963856 Facebook and can be called during normal business hours at 989-453-2515.

Cass City Farmers Market: Thursdays, May 16-September. Cass Cit y Farmers Market, 2:30-5:30 p.m., on Main Street in front of Rotar y Park. For more information, call 989-872-4311.

Market on Main, Caseville:

Saturdays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. May 25-Oc t. 5. Market on Main, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., on Main Street in Caseville. For more information, call 989-856-3818 or email email@casevillechamber.com.

Harbor Beach Farmers Market: Fridays May 24-Oc t. 11. Harbor Beach Farmers Market, noon-5 p.m., Murphy Museum. For more information, call Barb at 989-553-3317 or email tupperbarb1@yahoo.com

Pigeon Farmers Market: May-Oc tober Fridays 9 a.m.-2 p.m. May 3-Oc t. 25. Pigeon Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., downtown Pigeon. For more information, email pigeonfarmersmarket@gmail.com, visit w w w.pigeonfarmersmarket.com or tex t 989-545-5240.

Por t Austin Farmers Market:

Ever y Saturday May 18-Oc t. 5. Por t Austin Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., downtown Por t Austin. For more information, call 989-551-8100 or email farmersmarket@por taustinarea.com.

Amy Guster owns and operates Amy’s of Pigeon where she offers clothing and accessories for women of all ages and sizes.

7 Questions with Chris Boyle of Port Austin Kayak

By Connor Veenstra Staff writer

Every summer, tourists drive up to Port Austin with kayaks in the back of their cars or strapped to the hood. For those who don’t have one of their own, though, Chris Boyle has Port Austin Kayak waiting to provide them with a boat and a journey on the water.

The Tribune sat down with Boyle to discuss the origins of his business, how this past season treated him, and what he enjoys the most about running the onshore business.

How long were you a lawyer?

Since 1998 until… well, I’m still a lawyer, but I stopped practicing law in 2016. I was running all my businesses and being a lawyer at the same time. And then my businesses finally grew big enough that I had to pick between one or the other and chose to continue to try and grow my businesses. So, I practiced in Huron County from 2005 to 2016.

When did you start the kayak business?

We started it in 2006. I had moved up here with my family. I was a judge advocate in the United States Air Force, and we wanted

Continued on Page 39

Chris Boyle provides a summer spot for tourists with Port Austin Kayak and other businesses.

Kinde: The Thumb’s capital for Polka

Kinde is a cozy community nestled between the picturesque lakeshore and the hustle of the county seat of Bad Axe.

About nine miles north of Bad Axe, Kinde is steadily growing as a choice bedroom community. Close to the shopping, medical and county services Bad Axe offers, Kinde is even closer to the luxurious lakeshore view, quaint shops and fine dining of Port Austin.

Originally settled as Dwight Crossing, the town’s name changed when the Kinde family moved to town. They established the Kinde General Store, a hub for any supply you could think of.

At the heart of activity in Kinde is North Huron Schools. The recreational park in town is a center of activity, boasting plenty of softball games in the summer. It’s also a place for youngsters to play.

The town’s Polka Fest has been a huge hit and organizers again are tapping top-notch polka bands from across the country to perform at the festival. The festival will also feature a softball tournament and 5K. Food, drink, and dancing will be plentiful as people of all ages gather downtown for this annual festival, packed with friends, family and fun.

Dancing is the name of the game during the annual Kinde Polka Fest.

One of the bands performs during last year’s Kinde Polka Fest.

Bad Axe

Bad Axe City Park: 210 S. Hanselman Street

989-269-6479

w w w.cit yofbadaxe.com

Wilcox Community Park: 650 Whitelam Street

989-269-6479

w w w.cit yofbadaxe.com

Bay Por t

B. C. McLeish Memorial Park: Promenade Street

Brown Park:

M-25, state highway rest area, 2 miles south of Bay Por t Caseville

Philip County Park:

M-25, between Caseville & Oak Beach. 989-269-6404 huroncount yparks.com

Sleeper State Park: day use area, M-25 east of Caseville

Caseville County Park: village nor th edge, open Apr. 15 -Oc t. 31. 989-269-6404 huroncount yparks.com

Cass City

S anilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park: 4 miles east of M-53 on Bay City-Forestville Rd. & 1 mile south on Germania Rd.

Evergreen Park: 4731 Van Dyke (picnic, hiking, fishing, pavilion & camping)

989-872-6600

Decker

ville

Delaware Park: 6301 N. Lakeshore Road (19 rustic sites, nature trails, swimming beach, fishing and hiking) 810-622-8715

Harbor Beach

Bathing Beach Park: east end of Trescott Street

Davidson Park: off Cour t Street, east of M-25

Water works Park: adjacent to Harbor Beach Municipal Marina

White Rock Park: “Scenic Turnout,” with viewing platform & access to beach (facilities, walking trail)

Por t Austin

Bird Creek County Park: just east of Por t Austin Harbor. 989-269-6404

huroncount yparks.com

Gallup Park: M-25 in the village

Jenks Park: state highway rest area, about 4 miles southwest of Por t Austin on M-25

McGraw Park: along M-25 between Oak Beach & Por t Austin. 989-269-6404

huroncount yparks.com

Por t Crescent State Park: day use, 2 miles west on M-25 south of Por t Austin

Sebewaing

Sebewaing County Park: 759 Union Street 989-269-6404

huroncount yparks.com

Bay Shore Camp: just nor th of Sebewaing, nor theast side of Saginaw Bay. 989-883-2501

Parks Hur on C oun t y

Campgr ounds

on C oun t y

Bad

Axe

Camper ’s Haven: 2326 S. Van Dyke Road

989-269-7989

w w w.campershavenonline.com

Caseville

Caseville County Park: nor th edge of village 989-856-2080 huroncount yparks.com

Sleeper State Park: M-25 east of Caseville 989-856-4411

Lakeshore Pines RV Park:

3193 Por t Austin Road on M-25, bet ween Por t Austin & Caseville

Cass City

Evergreen Park:

9 miles nor th of M-46 along M-53 989-872-6600

Grindstone City

Whalen’s Grindstone Shores: 3373 Pointe aux Barques, 5 miles east of Por t Austin 989-738-7664 whalensgrindstoneshores.com

Harbor Beach

Nor th Park:

1 mile nor th of Harbor Beach on Huron Avenue. 989-479-9554H

O ff Shore Marina: 5 Lytle Street. 989-479-6064

Wagener County Park:

M-25, 5 miles south of Harbor Beach. 989-479-9131 huroncount yparks.com

Oak Beach

Oak Beach County Park: M-25 bet ween Por t Austin & Caseville. 989-856-2344 huroncount yparks.com

Por t Austin

D uggan’s Campground: 2941 Por t Austin Road, bet ween Por t Austin & Caseville. 989-738-5160

Por t Crescent State Park: M-25, approximately 5 miles southwest of Por t Austin. 800-447-2757

Por

t Hope

Lighthouse County Park: 9 miles east of Por t Austin 989-428-4749 huroncount yparks.com

Stafford County Park: Por t Hope 989-428-4213 huroncount yparks.com

Sand Point

Beadle Bay Marina & Campground: 4375 Lone Eagle Trail off Crescent Beach Road. 989-856-4911

Sebewaing

Sebe nor th village ebewaing County Park: limits est side of the .

to move back to Michigan after I completed my commission there. And so we chose to move to Huron County. We moved into my grandma’s house and I opened up my own law practice in 2005.

And then the summer of 2006, as just kind of a hobby and to give people, tourists, that came to Port Austin, something to do, my dad and I decided to open a kayak shop. And so we bought 12 kayaks and we were just planning on having them paddle around out in the harbor area and out in front of Veteran’s Waterfront Park and explore that area. And then we learned about Turnip Rock and once we learned about Turnip Rock we started recommending that people take trips down to Turnip Rock.

Can you expand on your service in the Air Force?

Well, I went to law school; I never really planned on being a lawyer, but I just kind of fell into it. And I enjoyed being a lawyer but didn’t love it. And so when I got married, my wife and I wanted to get out of Michigan, and it’s hard to do (that) with a law degree, so we looked into the Air Force. And I got commissioned as an officer in the Air Force, I got accepted, and so we moved out to North Carolina to an Air Force base called Seymour Johnson. This was in 2001, April of 2001. Everything changed in the military (after 9/11), so it was a really interesting time, but the reason I did it was my wife and I had recently been married and we were ready to explore and try different things and I thought being a military lawyer would be different and something I might like more.

And it was great, it was a great experience. I met wonderful people. And then I did my four

years and then I had two kids during that time and we were ready to get back to see family, be with family. So, I decided I didn’t want to work for a big law firm or for anybody else, I wanted to work for myself at that point. So, we chose Huron County. Being near the beach, being near the woods, because that’s what we loved, was the outdoors. And I opened my own law office in Bad Axe and my wife started teaching in Bad Axe. And we had two more kids and we’ve been raising our kids ever since.

Did you do any research before opening the kayak business?

No, we winged it. I had a bunch of high school kids running it because I had a family with two kids that was growing into four kids. And like I said, it was kind of just a hobby and something to do, so I had a bunch of high school kids and we didn’t really know what we were doing. We were just throwing kayaks in the water and telling people to go. Over the years, we’ve learned a lot about safety and how to better keep our customers safe.

We didn’t have a lot of people going out. I mean, the first seven years we were barely hanging on. So it was kind of just, “Hey, let’s get people out, let them have fun.” There weren’t a ton of people going out, so it wasn’t really too (many) safety concerns. And it’s really safe up here to kayak, because the water’s nice and warm, it’s shallow, and it’s easy to get to shore, so if somebody has a problem they can pull up on shore. So if a storm came in or something happened you could get out of the water fairly quick.

We developed maps, we took paddles out there ourselves and then we’d give people

Continued on Page 44

Kayakers set off from the Port Austin beach.

Port Austin is a shoreline gem

Port Austin has a rich history that can be traced back to 1837 and its first settler, Jonathon Bird. Located on the shores of Lake Huron at the tip of the Thumb, Port Austin and its surrounding area are well known throughout Michigan for their historic sites, bountiful recreation opportunities and scenic views that continue to draw thousands of visitors each year.

The greater Port Austin area is recognized for its superior dining establishments and its unique shops. Downtown Port Austin also boasts an extended boardwalk and pier, home to some of Lake Huron’s finest fishing.

On Saturdays, starting in May and running through most of October, the downtown is bursting with energy as the Port Austin

Farmer’s Market brings a variety of wares and entertainment to the village and its visitors. Port Austin also has a large Fourth of July festival, which made its return last year after a year off due to the pandemic.

Nearby Grindstone City, a popular destination for anglers, still draws visitors to where the grindstone industry used to flourish.

Off the shore of Port Austin is the historic Port Austin Reef Lighthouse.

This port offers outstanding fishing for salmon, lake trout, walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, brown trout and steelhead. Often overlooked is the opportunity for deep-water jigging for whitefish. The state harbor in town offers dockage for middle- to large-size vessels and launches for smaller boats. Grindstone City is

Veterans are honored during last year’s Memorial Day ceremony in Port Austin. The town’s annual ceremony is one of the biggest in the county.

home to state-maintained ramps. Several other private marinas also serve boaters.

Regarding recreation opportunities, variety is the key here. Three public parks are located in the village: Gallup Park, Waterfront Park and four-acre Bird Creek Park.

Port Austin also is home to the Port Austin Community Players, which presents plays and musicals throughout the year at their playhouse.

Whether your love is golf, theater or the beach, the greater Port Austin area is sure to serve it up.

A group performs during last year’s Port Austin Porch Fest.

Port Hope lumbar yard museum project planning for Memorial Day weekend opening

By Dominic Sevilla Staff writer

https:// historicporthope.org/ default.html The Port Hope Historical Society has been working on restoring the old lumber yard as a museum for the last few years through the help of a handful of local volunteers and contributions from the community at large.

https://www. michigansthumb. com/news/article/ port-hope-historicalsociety-refurbishinglumber-17788730. php The museum has been in the works for the last few years, with previous reports https://

www.michigansthumb. com/news/article/ Port-Hope-HistoricalSociety-working-on-newmuseum-17022686.php saying that it has been ongoing since 2019, after the old Brinker Lumber Company building was sold to the Port Hope Historical Society in 2016 for $1 to preserve the history of the area.

“The roof needed repair, the support beams needed reenforcement and just general maintenance on a building that had been vacant for 20 years,” said Garth Kriewall, a member of the Port Hope Historical Society.”

The first part of the

renovation handled the office space, to allow for the historical society to have a place for meetings and activities as well as a space to get work done. It has all-new drywall, running water and a new bathroom.

As far as people who have made contributions to the building, Kriewall said around 75 to 100 different people have stepped up to help by donating and contributing to the museum project, with a group of around six to 12 dedicated people doing the hands-on work on the building renovations.

In addition to the volunteer work, Kriewall

said the community as a whole has found ways to contribute with small to moderate donations here and there. Some of the donations have been monetary, while others have been supplies like lumber. One major area where people have donated has been with antiques and artifacts that go along with the theme of what the Port Hope Historical Society is trying to curate at the museum.

“It’s primarily Port Hope artifacts and places that are here, but really we’re telling the story of the Thumb and in a

Continued on Page 49

Garth Kriewall of the Port Hope Historical Society is happy with the progress that the lumbar yard museum restoration is going.

instructions as to how to do it. And people were doing fine. And then around, I’d say 2013, Pure Michigan put Turnip Rock on the cover of (their) magazine and Tom Daldin with “https:// utrmichigan.com/ Under the Radar” came up and did a special “Under the Radar” on paddling and kayaking in Port Austin. And that was about the time we moved into our current location because we were operating out of the little gas station down the street. So, we had just moved down here, bought this old run-down marina and we were launching kayaks out of here. And that came out and from then on we started to explode. We went from maybe 30 kayaks to 100 kayaks fairly quickly. And we started having to take weather and safety a lot more seriously at that point, because more people started coming.

Would you say the Pure Michigan article and Under the Rader special were what kicked off more tourism in Port Austin?

You know, I think tourism has been growing. I think back when the farmer’s market started, I think that was a big instigator bringing people to downtown Port Austin on Saturdays. And that was around the same time I moved up here. So, it was a little quiet, but you could tell that people coming to Port Austin in the weekend for the farmer’s market started coming back during the week too, started rediscovering Port Austin outside of the timeframe of the farmer’s market. Port Austin also did initiatives to redevelop Waterfront Park and Veteran’s Waterfront Park there. And that was a big deal and the harbor was a big deal.

And there’s a lot of community groups that were

doing place-making and things like that. And then a lot of different art was coming in and then you had a huge boom in kayaking. And I think the kayaking had a big impact because it brought a new market to Port Austin. People with their own kayaks started coming and now when you go out on a Saturday, it used to be that it was all my rental kayaks out there, now on a Saturday there’s probably more people with their kayak here than people kayaking with me. So, I think kayaking brought a new market to Port Austin that hadn’t been coming up here.

Favorite part of kayak business?

I’m really into the outdoors, I’ve always been into the outdoors, so when I open businesses, I try to stick with what we know, which is the outdoors. So, my favorite part of it is we get 10 to 20 to 30,000 visitors a year through all the businesses. And I’m really a people pleaser, so my favorite part is seeing people with smiling faces and so many people come up (and say), “Love what you’re doing, love the Pak’s backyard, love the kayaking, love the store.” And so making people happy, that’s my favorite part. My next favorite part is the people I work with. I have the best staff in

the world. Nicest people. They come back every summer until they graduate from college or go off and grow up and do their own lives. (They’re) Kids from eighth grade all the way through college, teachers, and things like that. And they’re all kind of seasonal and they all come back and I just love working with them. Getting up and coming to work every day is one of my favorite things to do.

How has this season been?

This season (is the) worst season we’ve ever had. The weather’s been unbelievably bad. It seems like every weekend there’s rain or storms or wind. I’ve heard it from everybody that boats up here, it’s just been one of those bad, bad seasons. We got the people who want to go out, if we’d just had the weather it would’ve been just fine. But the weather really affected us this year.

Do your other businesses make up for when the kayak business isn’t doing well?

Well, all of my businesses are kind of interconnected, so you go kayaking and then you come eat at Pak’s Backyard, you listen to live music, and you shop. And so, you know, if the kayakers aren’t coming up it’s going to affect all the businesses. We did fine. We’ll have (a better season)

hopefully next year, you know. We have these waves where we get bad weather some years and the next year or two is really good. So, we’ll be fine.

What do you do in the offseason?

I have bought a lot of run-down buildings for my businesses and so I spend most of the winter working on trying to renovate buildings and businesses. I bought Kitty Corner from the kayak shop. Over there is Pak’s Garage and Pak’s Bike Shop. That was an old machine shop factory and we spent probably two or three winters going in there. One winter we did the front half, we replaced all the windows, every single window in there, we power washed it, we cleaned it, we scrubbed it, we got it ready for vendors. The next winter, we went in and we did the same thing to the back half and just replacing… I think there’s over a thousand windows over there and we had to replace every single one of them. The ceilings, we had to gut it and then we had to power wash every single ceiling beam and so that took me a whole winter. So, that was two winters.

I bought the old Buccaneer Den, which took major, major renovations. That took two winters to renovate. We were in there, one winter we did all the motel rooms, we tore up the outside and redid the façade, and then the next winter we redid the inside of the restaurant. And so, those have basically been my last four winters.

And then I also have four kids, I coach sports, I drive them to sports, I do laundry, and I cook. Because in the summer I’m so busy (and) my wife’s a teacher, so in the winter I try to take on some more of those responsibilities, family responsibilities.

Port Austin Kayak gives their customers two routes: one to Turnip Rock and the other to Broken Rock.

Bay Por t

Bay Por t DNR Access S ite

D owntown B ay Por t B ay Por t, MI

989.856.4411

Bayshore Marina

2612 Wallace Cut B ay Por t, MI

989.656.7191

Brush Marina & Campground

137 N Unionville Rd B ay Por t, MI

Sumca Island Access DNR Site

W End of Pigeon Rd B ay Por t, MI

989.856.4411

w w w.michigan.gov/dnr

Pigeon

Beadle Bay Marina & Campground

4375 Lone Eagle Trail Pigeon, MI

989.856.4911

w w w.beadlebay.net

Caseville

Caseville Dock DNR Access Site D owntown Caseville Caseville, MI

989.856.4411

Caseville Marina & Resor t

6545 R iver view Lane Caseville, MI

989.856.2323

w w w.casevilleresor tmarina.com

Caseville Municipal Harbor

6632 Main St P.O B ox 1533 Caseville, MI

989.856.4590

Filion Road DNR Access

W End of Fillion Rd Caseville, MI

989.856.4411

Hoy ’s Saginaw Bay Marina, Inc.

6437 D uft y St P.O B ox 1157 Caseville, MI

Por

w w w.michigan.gov/dnr

989.856.4475

Mariner ’s Cove Marina

6635 R iver St Caseville, MI

989.856.8077

w w w.marinerscovemarina.net

Riverside Marina D owntown Caseville Caseville, MI (989) 551-3002

w w w.whoisjimmymoore.com/ casevillelocation/riversidemarina.html

Por t Austin Days on the Lake 3337 P te Aux B arques Rd Por t Austin, MI 989.738.7665

w w w.daysonthelake.com

Eagle Bay Acces DNR Site

2 Miles E of Por t Austin Por t Austin, MI

989.856.4411

w w w.michigan.gov/dnr

Grindstone City DNR Access Site

D ock Rd. Por t Austin, MI

989.856.4411

w w w.michigan.gov/dnr

M&D Marine

P.O B ox 313 Por t Austin, MI 48467

989.738.5001

w w w.andpiperchar ter.com

Por t Austin Marina

119 E Spring St Por t Austin, MI

989.550.6651

w w w.por taustinmarina.com

D owntown Por t Austin Por t Austin, MI

989.856.4411

w w w.michigan.gov/dnr

Whalen’s Grindstone Shores

3373 P te Aux B arques Rd Por t Austin, MI

989.738.7664

whalensgrindstoneshores.com

Harbor Beach

Harbor Beach Marina

1 R itchie D r. Harbor B each, MI

989.479.3343

w w w.harborbeach.com

Off Shore Marina

5 Lytle Ave Harbor B each, MI

989.479.6064

Wagener County Park

2671 S. Lakeshore Rd Harbor B each, MI

989.479.9131

w w w.huroncount yparks.com

Por t Hope

Lighthouse County Park

7320 Lighthouse Rd Por t Hope, MI

989.428.4749

w w w.huroncount yparks.com

Sebewaing

Sebewaing Harboe Marina

700 W S ebewaing St S ebewaing, MI

989.883.9024

w w w.sebewaingharbor.com

Sweet Sebewaing hosts Sugar Festival

Sebewaing has become well known throughout Michigan for its annual Sugar Festival. Last year’s event was smaller in scale after being canceled the year before due to the pandemic, but this year it expected to be back to normal. The event has been going strong for more than 50 years, and has featured events such as a road race, musical performances, a parade, carnival rides, softball games, a car show and a chicken barbecue.

Sebewaing is the Chippewa Indian name for “Little Crooked River.” The name was derived from the Sebewaing River which winds its way through the area. The village was founded in 1845 by the Rev. J.J.F. Auch, a Lutheran

Veterans are honored during last year’s Memorial Day ceremony in Sebewaing.

missionary, who came to the area to convert Indians to Christianity.

Historic sites in town include the Charles W. Liken House and Old Township Hall.

The Sebewaing County Park comprises 20 acres and offers 64 sites. Fishing, trailer and tent camping are available, or folks can take a

stroll along the hiking trails.

For boating enthusiasts, a public boat launch is located off Davis Street. It has two class-one ramps and fishing access, as well as restrooms, a picnic area, playground, dump station and overnight recreational vehicle parking.

The Sebewaing area also is home to other marinas.

Because of its location on the Bay and the river, Sebewaing is a popular fishing spot. Walleye, perch and bass are popular with anglers, and the weed beds in the Bay offer a wide variety of game fish. Many small islands north of Sebewaing, including Middle Ground Island, Manisou Island and Heisterman Island, feature secluded coves that also make for great fishing.

Food trucks were on display during last year’s Sugar Fest parade in Sebewaing.

7 questions with Crystal McIntosh, owner of Mast’s Coffee

By Shawn Robinson Staff writer

Crystal McIntosh, owner of Mast’s Coffee in Sebewaing is enjoying every moment of being a community staple with her coffee shop.

Back in 2018 when Crystal first bought the building, she had a vision of opening a small boutique or homegood store. But during renovation, her vision began to change. She noticed the beautiful, old brick walls and couldn’t stop picturing the spot becoming a coffee shop. From that moment on, she continued on the journey of bringing a shop to the Sebewaing community.

“I knew that the desire for a coffee shop was there from the community,” McIntosh said.

It took two years to renovate the place before it opened, but then the storm

of bad news came along. Crystal had announced earlier in 2020 that the store was set to open in the early months of the summer, but due to the pandemic, things took a bit longer and the shop didn’t officially open until October later that year.

“We actually announced to the town we were opening a coffee shop and then two weeks later we shut down for COVID,” McIntosh said. “At that point, we spent so much money and time, it was sink or swim. We couldn’t open the shop.”

The name of the shop comes from the original grocery store that was in town in the 30s. During the renovation, Crystal noticed all of the old flooring, features, and window etchings and decided to leave everything how it was, including keeping the

Continued on Page 53

59th Michigan Sugar Festival Festiv

June 14-16, 2024

June 14-16, 2024

SEBEWAING SCHEDULE OF EVENT S EBEWAING

June 6-8 Town-Wide Garage Sales 9AM-5PM

June 13-14 Town-Wide Garage Sales 9AM-5PM

June 14-16 59th Michigan Sugar Festival (Featuring Carnival, Grand Parade, Michigan Sugar Queen, Food, Vendors, Kid’s Games, Entertainment Tent and Fireworks)

July 20 Unionville Summer Fest & Car Show

August 24 C ountr y Market

August 23-25 L ions/Rotar y Ball Tournament

October 3 Sebewaing Moonlight Madness & RiverFire

November 23 Spirit of Christmas Festival p A great place to fish, hunt, stay and play! Home of the Michigan Sugar Festival held the 3rd weekend in June, and many other events throughout the year!

• Bird Creek Park is a day-use area, 7-acre park located just east of the Por t Austin Harbor It features a large sandy beach, boardwalk, pavilion, fishing, rest rooms and showers.

• Caseville Public Beach is a large, ac tive public beach located at the nor th end of Caseville It has a bathhouse, breakwall, shelters, running water and picnicking facilities.

• Eagle Bay Public Access is t wo miles east of Por t Austin on Pointe aux Barques Road and has picnicking facilities.

• Harbor Beach Public Bathing

Beach is an ac tive public beach in downtown Harbor Beach. It is staffed with lifeguards from mid-June through Labor Day. It features a picnic and playground area. Picnic tables and grills are located in the shaded por tion of the park. There are t wo sand volleyball cour ts and a restroom building.

• Jenks Park is a moderately ac tive public beach located four miles southwest of Por t Austin on M-25. Pit toilets, running water, hand pump and picnicking facilities are available. Day use only, no camping.

• Lighthouse County Park is located nine miles east of Por t Austin on M-25. There isn’t a bathing beach, but there is secluded sunbathing in the park. Featured are a lighthouse, museum, shelters, running water and picnicking facilities.

• McGraw Park is a moderately ac tive, public beach located seven miles southwest of Por t Austin on M-25. It has a day-use area, offers swimming, hiking trails, fishing, playground, flush toilets, running water and picnicking.

• ROADSIDE PARK

• STATE PARK

• COUNTY PARK

• Oak Beach County Park is a moderately ac tive public beach located eight miles southwest of Por t Austin on M-25. Restroom facilities and pavilions for picnics are available. Swimming, fishing and camping are offered

• Philp Park is a small, secluded beach and roadside park located five miles nor theast of Caseville on M-25. It has picnicking facilities and swimming.

• Por t Crescent State Park is located five miles southwest of Por t Austin on M-25 and is a large, ac tive public beach. The beach at the campgrounds is for campers only The dayuse beach is located seven miles southwest of Por t Austin. A vehicle permit is required to get into the beach which has a boardwalk, bathhouse, running water, shelter and picnicking facilities.

• Sleeper State Park is located five miles nor theast of Caseville on M-25. The shoreline features a half mile of Lake Huron beach, including an inland area with nature trails A campground is located across M-25 from the beach area and features a pedestrian overpass. Entrance to the park requires a motor vehicle permit. The day-use area is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Beach area has bathhouse, picnic shelter, running water and picnicking facilities.

• Thompson Scenic Outlook is a small secluded beach and roadside park located five miles nor theast of Caseville on M-25. It has picnicking facilities.

• Wagener County Park is located five miles south of Harbor Beach on M-25. A small, secluded beach is at the east end of the park. It has shower and rest room facilities. The park has launch facilities, a picnic area, playground and a wooded hiking trail Pets are allowed

Huron County features 93 miles of shoreline and some of the finest beaches in the state.

way of the United States in rural America,” said Kriewall. “It’s a bigger story we’re trying to tell, it’s not just Port Hope.”

At the end of 2023, the Port Hope Historical Society received a boost in its efforts with a grant from the Huron County Community Foundation. The grant money is currently being used to create a small venue space within the museum that is covered and connected to a patio area.

“It’s good to be recognized,” said Kriewall. “We’re an organization that will use this money well and the end result will be exactly what everyone is hoping for. It will be a benefit not to just this immediate community but also to the larger community. This is the story of Huron County and the Thumb. We expect this to be an asset for the entire county certainly and beyond.”

Kriewall said he sees the museum as not just a place for the history of Port Hope, but also a place for the history of the Thumb and rural America. In addition to the history, he also sees it as a way of bringing the community together for possible events and activities after they are done renovating the space.

The building itself operated as a lumbar yard until 2001. It was owned by the Hunter family and was managed by RB Hunter back in

1938, who took over as owner in 1947. The Hunter family also owned the Hunter Lumbar Yard in Harbor Beach, which is still in operation but under new owners.

“You walk in and you get that sense of space, history and the building itself is worth preserving,” said Kriewall. “It’s very unlikely that would’ve happened if the Hunters had not essentially donated the building to the historical society and if the volunteers on the society hadn’t tackled it.”

The inside of the lumbar yard is still under construction, with many of the spaces that are being prepped for exhibits currently being used to store excess artifacts and materials for the renovation.

The plan is to open the lumbar yard up on Memorial Day Weekend, then open on major holidays as well as a few weekends a month. They will also be open during Huron County Museum Weekend on Sep. 28 and 29.

The Port Hope Historical Society can be found on Facebook, or you visit its website athttps:// historicporthope. org/default. html historicporthope. org. The museum itself is open by appointment only and on and off seasonally, but as the project continues Kriewall said that the historical society will expand the building’s operational hours.

Garth Kriewall of the Port Hope Historical Society is happy with the progress that the lumbar yard museum restoration is going.

Little Port Hope boasts a big welcome

Once a bustling logging, milling and shipping port, Port Hope still has many of its landmarks and memories.

Port Hope was founded in 1855 and legally incorporated as a village in 1887. It began as a lumbering community, but after a few years, salt production grew in importance. Later, Port Hope became known as a shipping port.

After two fires in the late 1800s, the land was cleared and today agriculture and tourism are the primary industries.

The town features a number of historic sites. The sawmill chimney, constructed in 1858, in Stafford Park is listed in the National Historic Register. And a number of downtown business buildings, the gristmill and the home of village founder William

Stafford also are listed in the register.

Once a year, visitors to downtown Port Hope can step back into the past during ABC Day (antiques, beans and collectables). In addition to entertainment downtown, there are several yard sales scattered throughout town. Come early to ensure you get your bean soup and donuts — they sell out fast!

The town’s biggest event is its Fourth of July Festival, featuring fireworks, a flea market, delicious barbecue chicken, and fun for all ages.

Boat ramps are located at the small ports of Grindstone City, Lighthouse Park and Port Hope. The fishing through this area has been phenomenal. Salmon, lake trout, brown trout, steelhead, walleye, yellow perch and smallmouth bass

abound here and offer a variety of opportunities. For the avid bass angler, Eagle Bay is the hot spot for smallmouths. Grindstone Shores also is excellent for fishing.

Stafford Park is a must stop for visitors to Port Hope. The park offers camping and lighted tennis courts, softball diamonds and horseshoe pits. In prior years, the softball diamonds have been the site of several tournaments. Waterfront access for swimming, boating and jet skiing is available, including a free boat launch.

In 2012, a group, Friends of the Port Hope Depot, was formed to move the Pere Marquette Railroad Depot to a new site in Stafford County Park. It was officially dedicated on Sept. 15, 2015, as a historic landmark.

Garth Kriewall of the Port Hope Historical Society is happy with the progress that the lumbar yard museum restoration is going.

People pack the streets in Port Hope for last year’s Fourth of July festivities.

Ubly features numerous amenities

Ubly is named after an English town, called Ubley. But the American version of the town has become unique in its own right.

A village rich in history, Ubly originally was named Pagett Corners, in honor of village father Alfred Pagett, who operated the first store in the community.

Businessman Pagett, a native of Ubley, England, wanted to preserve the name of his hometown, so Pagett Corners eventually became Ubly, a slice of English history recreated right here in the Thumb. Most visitors will tell you, while the downtown businesses serve up everything from great food

Kids see who can reach the furthest on one of the inflatables at last year’s Ubly Homecoming.

to quaint shopping, it’s the people that make Ubly a destination they can’t wait to visit again. Residents enjoy the slower pace and

comfortable feel of the Thumb that makes it a great place to do business and raise a family.

The home of Thumb

Electric Cooperative, a rural electric cooperative serving the Thumb area, Ubly has a kindergarten through 12th grade school and a small, but solid downtown.

The village’s park system is impressive. A park located in downtown features a baseball diamond, bathroom facilities and a covered pavilion for gatherings. It’s a favorite spot for people celebrating family reunions.

Golf is a popular reason for visiting Ubly, as is the Ubly Dragway. The dragway draws drivers and racing enthusiasts from throughout Michigan. The dragway, located along M-19, is a popular attraction.

No one is afraid to get dirty during the annual mud volleyball game at Ubly’s Homecoming event.

Continued from Page 49

original name.

“There’s a few that live in the Bay City area, and they’ve all come in and brought me calendars, any family pictures,” McIntosh said. “So they all found out I kept the family name and they love it.”

Mast’s Coffee, located at 36 N. Center in downtown Sebeawing, features several breakfast items including specialty coffees and teas, breakfast sandwiches, special foods during different seasons, and much more.

Q: Have you always had a desire to own your own restaurant/coffee store?

McIntosh: A business of some sort has always been my dream, and now I find myself happily owning a coffee shop.

Q: What do you enjoy the most about having the coffee shop?

A: My customers are absolutely what makes owning the shop enjoyable. The daily interactions with them are irreplaceable. I never know whose smile I’ll see, what conversations we’ll have, or when I’ll be gifted a duck to cook up.

Q: What makes a good cup of coffee and what sets Mast’s Coffee apart from other coffees?

A: Some good filtered water, high-quality coffee beans, and attention to detail. I would say our ingredients — we use top products to ensure the best-tasting drink possible.

Q: As you opened in 2020,

what was that like from a business standpoint, opening in the midst of the pandemic when many small businesses were struggling until now?

A: The renovations were years in the making, so when COVID happened, we had just weeks prior announced our opening date for the summer of 2020. COVID did set back the opening date by a few months, but at that point, it was sink or swim. There was no option to not open the doors with the investment that had been made.

Q: You seem to have a lot of support from the community, what do you owe to that success?

A: My goal was to provide amazing-tasting products and a great environment to enjoy them in… the community has appreciated this and shown up to hang out and build meaningful relationships with other community members. The surrounding communities have also been huge supporters of Mast’s Coffee.

Q: Which items have been some of the most popular? And what is your favorite(s) on the menu?

A: Our Caramel Macchiato is our top-selling drink with our Chai Latte closely following. I personally am a cold brew lover with some sort of sugar-free flavored cold foam on top.

Q: Do you have any plans of expanding the business and if so, in what ways?

A: I’m definitely a big dreamer, so we will see what the future holds.

Bay Port: Where the fish caught the man

Located between Sebewaing and Caseville is the charming village of Bay Port. Best known as the village where the fish caught the man, it’s cited throughout the state for creating one of the most unique Michigan taste sensations since the pastie — its trademark fish sandwich.

The village opens its arms to the rest of the state for its annual Fish Sandwich Festival. Literally thousands of the unique creations are sold to people from around

the world.

Bay Port once was a world leader in the commercial freshwater fishing industry. The Bay Port Fish Co. still makes its home in Bay Port. The company runs a yearround fishing operation, and is a must-see for visitors to the area.

Some of the village’s attractions include the historical marker along Cedar Street, showing where the luxurious Bay Port Hotel used to stand. The site

was frequented by wealthy families looking for a lakeside respite from their hectic lives. They, too, enjoyed the quiet lifestyle and friendly community spirit that remain today.

Original Bay Port residents are descendants of the German religious village of Ora Labora.

The Wallace Stone Plant, known by locals as the Bay Port quarry, still is operating. The quarry, in its heyday, served as a company town and provided jobs and homes for hundreds of people.

A number of parks and access points are located in Bay Port for outdoor recreation. The village’s public access to the bay offers a great vantage point for fishing or just watching one of Michigan’s breathtaking sunsets.

Each August, thousands of visitors flock to Bay Port to have fun at its annual Fish Sandwich Festival. But surely one has to wonder — why fish sandwiches?

The tradition began one summer when the late Henry Engelhard and his wife decided they would try an innovative way to raise money to help put the couple’s three daughters through college.

Employed by the Bay Port Fish Co. and armed with a secret recipe from a restaurant owner and friend, Henry helped put Bay Port on the map with his taste sensation.

From a stand in their front yard near M-25, the couple sold fish sandwiches and wrote themselves into Thumb-area lore.

The sandwich sale became part of the village’s annual celebration several years ago. It now features games as well as other entertainment, but the sandwich is still the most popular thing on the menu.

Two things remain constant — the sandwiches still are so big you have to eat them with two hands, and Henry never did give up his friend’s secret recipe.

Some workers take a break to pose for a photo at last year’s Fish Sandwich Festival.

Golfing

Bad Axe

Verona Hills Golf Club 3175 Sand Beach Road M-142

5 miles east of Bad Axe

Pro Shop: 989-269-8132

Clubhouse: 989-269-6380

Semi-private course.

Por t Austin

Bird Creek Golf Course

7850 N. Van Dyke Road (M-53) 989-738-GOLF (4653) Public course.

Cass City

Mulligan’s Irish Links 4795 Hospital Drive

989-872-8002. Public course.

Rolling Hills Golf Course 6586 Milligan Road

989-872-3569. Public course.

Elkton

Centur y Oaks Golf Course 4570 Pigeon Road M-142 989-375-4419. Public course.

Ubly

Ubly Heights Golf & Countr y Club 2409 E Atwater Road 989-658-2374 Public course.

Caseville

Caseville Golf Course 5848 Griggs Road 989-856-2613 Public course.

Pigeon/Mud Creek

Scenic Golf and Countr y Club 8364 W. Filion Road

Pro Shop: 989-453-3350

Clubhouse: 989-453-2233

Semi-private course.

Gagetown

Sher wood on the Hill 6625 3rd St 989-665-9971

Public course.

2024 Calendar of Events

Please note: Not all dates were set as of press time. Some events may have been finalized or added after press time. As always, be sure to call ahead to confirm dates and times prior to attending.

May 24 — Harbor Beach Farmers Market Grand opening, 12-5 p.m., Frank Murphy Museum grounds. For more information, email tupperbarb1@yahoo.com, call 989-553-3317

May 25 — Harbor Beach DJ at North Park, 7-10 p.m., North Park Grounds. For more information call 989-579-9554.

May 26 — Memorial Day Parade, 10 a.m. Line-up at Bad Axe Middle School at 8 a.m. For more information, call 989-269-6479.

May 27 — Memorial Day Services, Amvets post 115. 9 a.m, New River Cemetery. 9:30 a.m, Pointe Aux Barques. 10 a.m, Port Hope Cemetery. For more information, call Port Hope Mercantile 989-428-0024

May 27 — Memorial Day Parade and Service, 10 a.m., Downtown Harbor Beach. For more information visit Harbor Beach website.

May 27 — Veteran’s Memorial Service — Caseville Cemetery. For more information, contact American Legion Jean Post #543, 989-856-2119

May 31 — Harbor Beach Farmers Market, 12-5 p.m., Frank Murphy Museum grounds. For more information, email tupperbarb1@yahoo.com, call 989-553-3317

May 31-June 1 — 33rd Annual Cars and Crafts Show, Downtown Caro. For more information call 989673-5211

June 1 — Elkton Lions Kids Day, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ackerman Park. For more information, call 989375-2270.

June 1 41st Great Lakes Bowfishing Championship. For more info, call the chamber 989-856-3818

June 1 — Caseville Cruise night — For more information, contact Caseville Chamber 989-8563818

June 1 — Lightning Winged Sprints #2, 7 p.m., Silver Bullet Speedway. For more information contact 810-459-2807 or email Matt Hoonhout at Matt@Silverbulletspeedway.com.

June 5 — Jean Ferriby Memorial Golf Scramble, 9 a.m., Verona Hills Golf and County Club. For more information call 989-479-5023, or email jhoffman@hbch.org.

June 6 — Farmers Summerfest BBQ Fundraiser, 11:30 a.m., Bay Port State Bank, 1 S. Caseville Road, Pigeon. For more information email info@ pigeonchamber.com.

2024 Calendar of Events

June 6-8 — Town Wide Garage Sales, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

June 8 — Veterans Fishing Outing, 6.am., Harbor Beach Marina. For more information call 989550-9227.

June 8 — Truck Convoy, 11-6:30 p.m., Harbor Beach City Hall. For more information contact 989-550-2490.

June 8 — Food Truck Fest, 4-9 p.m., Downtown Harbor Beach. For more information contact 989-479-9572.

June 8 — 10th Annual Caseville Chamber Fireworks Golf Scramble. Caseville Golf Course. For more info, call the course 989-856-3818

June 8 — Autograph Night, 7 p.m., Silver Bullet Speedway. For more information contact 810459-2807 or email Matt Hoonhout at Matt@ Silverbulletspeedway.com.

June 8 — Harbor Beach Lighted Truck Parade, 9:45-10:45 p.m., Downtown Harbor Beach. For more information contact 989-550-2490.

June 10-15 — Thumb Fabric and Fiber Art Show, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Caro Area District Library.

June 11 — Bocce Ball Tournament. Gallup Park. June 11-12. Games start at 5:30 p.m. Rain day is June 13. For more information, (989) 738-7600.

June 12 — Ladies Garden Luncheon- Caseville Historical Society. For more info, call the society 989-856-9090

June 14 — Music in the Park and Food Truck Fridays, Veteran’s Park in downtown in Elkton, every other Friday starting June 14 through Aug. 23. Food vendors start at 5 p.m., music starts at 6 p.m. For more information, visit www. villageofelkton.com.

June 14-16 — 59th Michigan Sugar Festival. For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce at sebewaingchamber@gmail.com.

June 15 — Ken Schrader’s 4th Annual Trip to the Bullet and Dinosaur Races, 7 p.m., Silver Bullet Speedway. For more information contact 810459-2807 or email Matt Hoonhout at Matt@ Silverbulletspeedway.com.

June 16 — Amvets post 115 Father’s Day Breakfast, 8:30 a.m. — 1 p.m. For more information, call Port Hope Mercantile 989-428-0024

June 16, Fathers Day Breakfast — Caseville Eagles Club. For more info, call the club 989-856-4104

2024 Calendar of Events

June 21 — Music at the Beach, James H. Lincoln Memorial Park, Harbor Beach, 7-10 p.m.

June 21-23 — CRAM Caseville Regatta — Caseville Beach. For more information, contact the chamber 989-856-3818

June 22 — 14th Annual Walleye War Tournament, 6:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., 9850 Main St. For more information and for registration contact 989656-3351.

June 22 — Porch Fest IX, 1 p.m. Musical acts throughout town. For more information, visit www.portaustinmusic.com.

June 22 — Great Lakes Traditional Sprints #1, 7 p.m., Silver Bullet Speedway. For more information contact 810-459-2807 or email Matt Hoonhout at Matt@Silverbulletspeedway.com.

June 22-July 7, Caseville Walleye TournamentBeadle Bay Marina and Campground. For more info, 989-856-4911

June 29 — Fourth of July Farmer’s Market. Rain or shine. Vendors set up along West State Street, Line Street, the south gym parking lot and the gym grass. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, (989) 738-7600.

June 29 — Spectator Drags, 7 p.m., Silver Bullet Speedway. For more information contact 810459-2807 or email Matt Hoonhout at Matt@ Silverbulletspeedway.com.

June 30 — Grindstone Port Hope sportsmen’s club float decorating for 4th of July parade. For more information, call Port Hope Mercantile 989-428-0024

July 4 — Annual Fourth of July Parade at 1 p.m. Fireworks at 9 p.m.

July 4-7 — Freedom Festival, Downtown Cass City. For more information call 989-872-4618.

July 5 — Spectacular Fireworks Display and Entertainment at the Beach. Dusk. For more info, call 989-856-3818

July 5-7 — 4th of July. For more information, call Port Hope Mercantile 989-428-0024

July 6 — Fireworks Night, 7 p.m., Silver Bullet Speedway. For more information contact 810-459-2807 or email Matt Hoonhout at Matt@Silverbulletspeedway.com.

2024 Calendar of Events

July 10 — Great Grub Grab, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Starting location at Pete’s Bar, 269 E. Huron Ave. For more information, email badaxechamberofcommerce@gmail.com.

July 10 — Harbor Beach Hospital 5K Walk/Run, American Legion Hall, race at 6 p.m.. For more information contact 989-479-5023 or email jhomman@hbch.org

July 10-14 — 22nd Annual Maritime Festival, Lincoln Park in Harbor Beach., For more information visit themaritimefestival.com

July 11 — Ubly Homecoming. Runs through Sunday, July 14. Numerous events throughout town, including grand parade, car and tractor show, village-wide garage sales, truck/tractor pull, beer tent, food tent, kids parade, Fun Run and 5K Walk/Run, adult cornhole tournament, Rotary Club chicken barbecue, mud volleyball, kids tractor pull, food vendors in the park, used book sale at the library, live music, baseball tournament and more.

July 13 — Kids Day at the Farmer’s Market. Rain or shine.Vendors set up along West State Street, Line Street, the south gym parking lot and the gym grass. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, (989) 738-7600.

July 13 — Maritime Fireworks, Lincoln Park, Harbor Beach.

July 13 — Kids Night and Bike Races, 7 p.m., Silver Bullet Speedway. For more information contact 810-459-2807 or email Matt Hoonhout at Matt@ Silverbulletspeedway.com.

July 15-20 — Life and Times of Frank Murphy, Murphy Museum Grounds. For more information contact 989-864-3817.

July 19-21 — Fireman’s Camping Weekend, North Park Campgrounds. For more information call 989-479-9554.

July 20 — Summer Fest and Car Show, Unionville

July 20 — Lewisville Smokin music festival at Lewisville Smoke. For more information, call Lewisville Smoke 989-428-3056

July 20 — MMMTPA Quarter Scale Tractor Pull, 3 p.m., Pigeon Village Park, 119 James St. Pigeon. For more information email info@ pigeonchamber.com.

July 20 — Great Lakes Traditional Sprints #2, 7 p.m., Silver Bullet Speedway. For more information contact 810-459-2807 or email Matt Hoonhout at Matt@Silverbulletspeedway.com.

2024 Calendar of Events

July 21 — MMMTPA Quarter Scale Tractor Pull, 1 p.m., Pigeon Village Park, 119 James St. Pigeon. For more information email info@ pigeonchamber.com.

July 22-26 — Light and Life Rec Week, Lincoln Park. For more information call 989-479-9146

July 27 — Youth Day at Grindstone Sportsmen’s club. For more information, call Port Hope Mercantile 989-428-0024

July 27 — Super Late Model Extravaganza, 7 p.m., Silver Bullet Speedway. For more information contact 810-459-2807 or email Matt Hoonhout at Matt@Silverbulletspeedway.com.

July 28 — Elkton Lions Bingo at the Huron Community Fair, under the big tent, July 28 through Aug. 3. For more information, call 989375-2270.

July 28-Aug. 3 — Huron Community Fair, Huron Community Fairgrounds, Bad Axe. For more information, visit huroncommunityfair.com.

July 29-Aug. 3 — Tuscola County Fair, Tuscola County Fairgorunds, Caro. For more information visit tuscolacountyfair.org.

Aug. 2 — Fish Sandwich Festival, noon - 8 p.m., Promenade Street. For more information contact the Bay Port Chamber of Commerce at 989-5519929 or by email at bayportchamber@gmail.com.

Aug. 3 — Biyakathon, 8 a.m.-12p.m., Lincoln Park in Harbor Beach. For more information call 989550-9645.

Aug. 3 — Fish Sandwich Festival, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Promenade Street. For more information contact the Bay Port Chamber of Commerce at 989-5519929 or by email at bayportchamber@gmail.com.

Aug. 3 — Summer Bar Olympics at Port Hope Hotel. For more information, call Port Hope Hotel 989428-4808

Aug. 3 — MARFC/Topless Night (Cars Only), 7 p.m., Silver Bullet Speedway. For more information contact 810-459-2807 or email Matt Hoonhout at Matt@Silverbulletspeedway.com.

Aug. 6 — Tween Tea, 1-2:30 p.m., Frank Murphy Museum. For more information 989-864-3817.

Aug. 8 — Boys Lunch, 1-2:30 p.m., Frank Murphy Museum. For more information 989-864-3817.

Aug. 9-11 — Bluewater Area Antique Yard Sale Trail,

2024 Calendar of Events

Harbor Beach City Hall. For more information visit yardsaletrail.blogspot.com

Aug. 9-18 — Cheeseburger in Caseville. For more information, contact the chamber 989-856-3818

Aug 10 — Salsa Tasting, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Harbor Beach Visitor Center.

Aug. 10 — Great Lakes Winged Super Sprints, 7 p.m., Silver Bullet Speedway. For more information contact 810-459-2807 or email Matt Hoonhout at Matt@Silverbulletspeedway.com.

Aug. 13 — Dolly and Me Tea, 1-2:30 p.m., Frank Murphy Museum. For more information call 989-864-3817.

Aug. 14 — Parade of Tropical Fools. 5 p.m. For more information, contact the chamber 989-856-3818

Aug. 17 — ABC Days, 10 a.m-4 p.m. For more information, call Port Hope Mercantile 989-4280024

Aug. 22 — Scheurer Aux. Golf Scramble. For more info, call Scenic Golf Course 989-453-5213

Aug. 24 — Country Market, Downtown Sebewaing.

For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce at sebewaingchamber@gmail.com.

Aug. 24 — Shopping Cart Races, 7 p.m., Silver Bullet Speedway. For more information contact 810459-2807 or email Matt Hoonhout at Matt@ Silverbulletspeedway.com.

Aug. 25 — Citywide Church Picnic, 5-8 p.m., North Park Campground Pavilion. For more information call 989-550-5680.

Aug. 30 — Elkton Autumnfest, events throughout town, Aug. 30 through Sept. 1. For more information, call 989-375-2270.

Aug. 31 — Championship Night and Great Lakes Traditional Sprints #3, 7 p.m., Silver Bullet Speedway. For more information contact 810459-2807 or email Matt Hoonhout at Matt@ Silverbulletspeedway.com.

Sept. 6 — Octagon Barn Fall Family Days Fish Fry Dinner, 4-7 p.m. Octagon Barn. For more information contact Rose Putnam at 989-4449574 or visit www.thumboctagonbarn.org.

Sept. 7 — Octagon Barn Fall Family Days, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Octagon Barn. For more information contact Rose Putnam at 989-444-9574 or visit www.thumboctagonbarn.org.

2024 Calendar of Events

Sept. 8 — Octagon Barn Fall Family Days, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Octagon Barn. For more information contact Rose Putnam at 989-444-9574 or visit www.thumboctagonbarn.org.

Sept. 13 — Girls Weekend. Sept. 13-15. Events throughout town. Starts Friday at noon and runs through Sunday at 10 p.m. For more information, (989) 738-7600.

Sep. 14 — Harvest Pie and Dessert Contest, 1011 a.m., Visitor Center and Downtown Harbor Beach. For more information call 989-430-2817.

Sep. 14 — Murphy Museum Craft Expo, 10 a.m.4 p.m., Murphy Museum Lawn. For more information call 989-553-3317

Sep. 14 — Harvest Festival and Chili Cook-off, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Visitor Center and Downtown. For more information call 989-824-1554.

Sep. 14 — Harvest Fall Family Fun, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Murphy Museum Lawn. For more information call 810-641-5885

Sept. 14-15 — Kinde Polka Fest. For more information, visit kindepolkafest.org or contact The Pasta House (989)-874-4070

Sept. 15 - Amvets post 115 Breakfast, 8:30 a.m. — 1 p.m. For more information, call Port Hope Mercantile 989-428-0024

Sept. 21 — Fourth Annual Fall Frenzy, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., downtown Bad Axe. For more information, visit www.badaxechamber.com or email badaxechamberofcommerce@gmail.com.

Sept. 21 — Historical Society Classic Car and Tractor Show — 989-856-9090

Sept. 21 — Pumpkinfest Lighted Parade. For more information, contact the chamber 989-856-3818

Sept. 21 — Seasonal Blessing Craft Show, 9 a.m. — 4 p.m. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parrish, for more information, call 989-856-4933

Sept. 21 — Halloween Weekend, Caseville County Park. For more info, call 989-856-2080

Sept. 21 — 22nd Annual Pumpkinfest. For more information, contact the chamber 989-856-3818

Sept. 27-28, Huron County Historical Society Presents Museum Weekend. For more information, contact the chamber 989-856-3818

2024 Calendar of Events

Sept. 27-29, Oct. 4-6 — Harvest Fest Weekends — Sleeper State Park 989-856-4411

Sep. 28-29 — Huron County Museum Weekend

Oct. 3 — Moonlight Madness, Downtown Sebewaing. For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce at sebewaingchamber@ gmail.com.

Oct. 4 — Fall Harvest Celebration, 9 a.m., various Pigeon businesses. For more information email info@pigeonchamber.com.

Oct. 18 — Grindstone Sportsmen’s Club fish fry, 3:30 p.m. — 7 p.m. For more information, call Port Hope Mercantile 989-428-0024

Oct. 19 — Nightmare on Lake Street. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Haunted hayrides around town featuring spooky stories about the ghost of Port Austin. Wagons depart from the old gym parking lot. Must preregister. Suitable for all ages. Dress warmly. For more information, (989) 738-7600.

Oct. 20 - Amvets post 115 Breakfast, 8:30 a.m. — 1 p.m. For more information, call Port Hope Mercantile 989-428-0024

Park Campground. For more information call 989-479-9554.

5 p.m., Harbor Beach Golf Course. For more information call 989-553-1684.

Park Campground. For more information call 989-479-9554.

Center. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Early bird at 5:30 p.m. Regular play at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 989-375-2270.

Legion Hall in Harbor Beach.

Edge Church

more information, contact the chamber 989-8563818

Historical Society. For more info, call the society 989-856-9090

2024 Calendar of Events

Oct. 26 — Nightmare on Lake Street. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Haunted hayrides around town featuring spooky stories about the ghost of Port Austin. Wagons depart from the old gym parking lot. Must preregister. Suitable for all ages. Dress warmly. For more information, (989) 738-7600.

Oct. 26 — Elkton’s Halloween Celebration, townwide trick-or-treating, Trunk or Treat downtown, donuts, cider and more at the Huron Youth Center. For more information, call 989-375-2270.

Oct. 31 — Kids Halloween Costume Parade. 5-5:30 p.m. Kids line up at the Village Green and march north on Lake Street.

Oct. 31 — Trick or Treat, 5:30 p.m. — 7 p.m. For more information, call Port Hope Mercantile 989-428-0024

Oct. 31 — Trunk or Treat and Winsor Fire Dep. Hot Dog Roast, 6 p.m., downtown Pigeon. For more information email info@pigeonchamber.com.

Nov. 2 — 56th Annual Holly Berry Fair — Caseville School

Nov. 9 — Bingo in Elkton, downtown Huron Youth Center. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Early bird at 5:30 p.m. Regular play at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 989-375-2270.

Nov. 10 — Fall Feast & Auction — Caseville Historical Society. For more info, call the society 989-856-9090

Nov. 16 — Deer Widows Weekend Craft Fair, noon, Pigeon Event Center. For more information email info@pigeonchamber.com.

Nov. 17 - Amvets post 115 Breakfast, 8:30 a.m. — 1 p.m. For more information, call Port Hope Mercantile 989-428-0024

Nov. 22 - Grindstone Sportsmen’s Club fish fry, 3:30 p.m. — 7 p.m. For more information, call Port Hope Mercantile 989-428-0024

Nov. 23 — Zion Baazar, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Zion Lutheran School. For more information 989-550-1955.

Nov. 23 — Spirit of Christmas, Downtown Sebewaing. For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce at sebewaingchamber@gmail.com.

Nov. 29 — Town Lighting Celebration and Visit with Santa, 6 p.m., downtown Pigeon. For more information email info@pigeonchamber.com.

2024 Calendar of Events

Nov. 29 — Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. 6:307:30 p.m. Village Green. Meet Santa, enjoy hot cocoa and festive music and warm up by the fire.

Nov. 30 — Small Town Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Downtown Harbor Beach

Nov. 30 — Tidings & Tinsel Christmas Events and Parade, 6 to 7 p.m., downtown Bad Axe. For more information, visit www.badaxechamber.com or email badaxechamberofcommerce@gmail.com.

Dec. 3 — Christmas sing-along with Santa, 5 p.m. For more information, call Port Hope Mercantile

Dec. 7 — Soup Stroll. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Scorecards available at the Welcome Center.

Dec. 7 — Christmas Parade, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Downtown Harbor Beach, For more information call 989-670-8639.

Dec. 7 — Community Tree Lighting, 6:15-6:45 p.m., Murphy Museum Lawn.

Dec. 7 — Christmas in the Village, Downtown Cass City., For more information call 989-872-4618.

989-428-0024

Hall, 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, visit www.badaxechamber.com or email badaxechamberofcommerce@gmail.com.

Bingo in Elkton, downtown Huron Youth Center. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Early bird at 5:30 p.m. Regular play at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 989-375-2270.

throughout town. For more information, call 989-375-2270.

Eagles F.O.E. #3690. For more info, call the Chamber

Amvets post 115 Christmas party. For more information, call Port Hope Mercantile 989-428-0024

Holiday Craft Fair, noon, Pigeon event Center. For more information email info@ pigeonchamber.com.