Lighthouse festival returns
Crystal NelsonArticle Photos
Alpena residents will have the opportunity to step back in time through myriad activities and events during the 13th annual Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival beginning in October. The festival, which begins on Oct. 9 and ends Oct. 12, is declared the largest lighthouse festival in the world by the American Lighthouse Foundation.
The Thunder Bay Recreation Center will host the majority of festival events including lighthouse organizations, guest speakers, vendors, authors and artists. A wealth of local participation also is expected from the area's business community.
The Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce will kick off the festival with a welcome party Oct. 9 at the Thunder Bay Recreation Center from 5-9 p.m. with the dinner beginning at 5:30 p.m.
"It was a fun, fun time last year. The people who went last year enjoyed themselves," Jeri Jo Standen administrative assistant and community information for the Alpena Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau said.
The meal will be made with locally grown produce. The party also will have a 50/50 drawing and a silent auction. Tickets for the event can be purchased before the event at the chamber or at the door for $10.
Folk singer and author Carl Behrend will perform at the dinner as well as at the lighthouse festival. Behrend also will perform at the lighthouse dinner Oct. 10 and at the keeper's dinner Oct. 11 at the Holiday Inn.
The lighthouse dinner and concert is scheduled to begin Friday at 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn. The events for Saturday's keeper's dinner will begin at 5 p.m. with the dinner beginning at 7 p.m.
A live nautical auction will take place in the rec center Sunday at 3 p.m. Festival Coordinator Melanie Kirn said over 130 items are to be auctioned off including lighthouse tour packages, island trips, artist collections and a chance to go up in the tower of the Mackinac Bridge.
The Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum in Rogers City will have an exhibit featuring information and photos to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Carl D. Bradley. There will be a photo of the bell that was retrieved from the freighter last year. The actual bell will not be shown until it is revealed at a special ceremony Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m., the exact date and time of the freighter's sinking.
Stoney Acres Winery will have 200 limited edition bottles of its Silver City white wine showcasing this year's lighthouse, the Crisp Point Lighthouse. The semi-dry wine won't be available until the festival begins.
Business Manager Amy Gagnon said the winery has been involved with the festival in the past but said this is the first time it will be making a limited edition wine. Some of the proceeds of the wine will go to the fund for the care of Michigan lighthouses.
In addition to events at the rec center, festival-goers will be able to attend several tours and heritage museums. There will be a free shuttle available at the rec center to transport individuals to shops in the downtown area, the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center and the Alpena light.
The opportunity to tour different area lighthouses also will be available as the lighthouses will be open. Those planning to visit the lighthouses are expected to provide their own transportation.
The Alpena Light, Tawas Point Lighthouse, Sturgeon Point Lighthouse in Harrisville and 40 Mile Point Lighthouse north of Rogers City will be open to the public during the festival. Kirn said all of the lighthouses in Michigan have been notified of the festival.
Festival-goers also have the opportunity to experience the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival's Museum, tour the Middle Island Lighthouse and Keeper's Lodge and go on helicopter tours.
Kirn said the festival has been affected by the economy and it used to get at least 10,000 visitors and that it's decreased to half that number these past few years.
"We'd like to hit that number again," she said. "Nobody ever goes away disappointed."
For more information on the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival visit www.lighthousefestival.org. For tickets to Thursday's dinner or a complete listing of festival events and information contact the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB at 356-4181. For more information or to make reservations for the Lighthouse Dinner and Keeper's Dinner call 586-566-1603. Portions of the proceeds from many of the dinners and tours will help to fund the restoration and preservation of Michigan's lighthouses.
Crystal Nelson can be reached via e-mail at cnelson@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693.
