Rockport State Recreation Area is celebrating the Michigan State Park Centennial will a full slate of activities on Friday and Saturday. Rockport is the 100th state park and organizers wanted to do it up right.

“In our opinion, we are one of the best and most diverse parks in Michigan,” a press release from Friends of Rockport/Besser Natural Area stated. “Rockport State Recreation State Area is fossils, exlore shipwrecks, go fishing paddle the beautiful Lake Huron shoreline and at the end of the day, watch the stars and planets appear in one of Michigan’s Dark Sky Preserves. Having this wonderful park in our area to enjoy truly merits celebration.”

The celebration begins Friday evening with Meteors ‘N’ Smores at 8:30 p.m. at the harbor picnic area. S’mores and a bonfire will be provided. Bring blankets, seating, bug spray, beverages and snacks to enjoy the night sky’s show. A recreation Passport is required.

On Saturday, the events begin at 10 a.m. with sinkhole tours. The tours will take place at 10 and 11 a.m., noon, and 1 and 2 p.m. The tours will give people a chance to see some of the 13-plus sinkhole in the recreation area and will be conducted by the Department of Natural Resources. You must register at the big tent to take part in the tours.

Also beginning at 10 a.m. is Rec 101 Fishing. Here you can learn basic fishing skills, and it it geared toward all ages. The program lasts until noon.

At 11 a.m., Thunder Bay Audubon Society will host a program featuring Jenny Schroeder, wildlife educator at Hawk Hill Raptors. Schroeder will be demonstrating some live birds of prey. She is a licensed falconer, with a degree in animal behavior from Michigan State University and is a member of the Michigan Hawking Club. This program is being sponsored in memory of Linda Klemens, long-time president of Thunder Bay Audubon Society.

The afternoon events begin at 1 p.m. with a fossil hunt with Paleo Joe. Participants will explore the Rockport Quarry to find fossils from the Devonian Period.

There will be two sessions — 1 and 2 p.m. — for Archery with Colleen Higgins. You can try your hand a shooting a compound bow with a certified instructor. Signup is required at the big tent.

At 3 p.m., the Friends of Rockport will hold a fundraising raffle drawing for a 2019 Bennington 20-foot pontoon, if enough tickets are sold. If there aren’t enough tickets sold then the raffle will be a 50/50 drawing. Tickets must be purchased by 2 p.m.

Following the raffle, the celebration will wrap up with music by Easy Tiger, a band out of Grand Rapids featuring Alpena High School alums Cliff Frantz and Scott Hickok. The band plays early 1970s guitar rock.

Throughout the day there will be displays feature things to do at Rockport in the big tent. There also will be displays about the history of Rockport and the Besser Natural Area.

A Michigan State Recreation Passport is required to enter the park. If you do not have one, you can purchase on at the gate or at the self-serve station at the harbor parking area.