ALPENA — The shores of the Thunder Bay River will be full of food, fun and maritime activities during during the Fourth of July holiday.

There are a few Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary events spread out over the course of two days on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. They include the Battle of the Paddles, the Maritime Festival and the Cardboard Boat Regatta.

All events will take place at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, 500 W. Fletcher St.

At 4 p.m. Tuesday registration for Battle of the Paddles begins. This is a stand-up paddle board, kayak and canoe race. The race itself starts at 5:30 p.m. During the evening there will be beer tasting from 4:30-8 p.m. on the pool deck, maritime archeologist Phil Hartmeyer said at the last Sanctuary Advisory Committee meeting. During the meeting he said that Austin Brothers Beer Company will make two specialty brews and the band Wild Sullys will play.

Early registration needs to be done by July 1 and costs $5 for students and $10 for adults. After July 1, the entry fee is $10.

The Maritime Festival begins at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday when the Chelsea House Orchestra plays

“They were here a couple of years ago and they are student musicians and they travel all over the state,” festival organizer Jean Prevo said. “There’s about 30 of them and they’re a big group. They will perform first. It’s Celtic music and someone recommended to me and we’re really looking forward to them.”

Wild Sullys will play at 1:30 p.m. and the cardboard regatta will begin at 2:15 p.m. Prevo said teams can register for the event up until 1 p.m. on July 4.

“They can only have tape on the seams of the boat only and use water-based paint. There’s still time to sign up they can sign up the day of the event. There are lots of fun awards like most dramatic sinking,” Prevo said.

Gene Picor will play throughout the day and he specializes in instrumenta storytelling.

Prevo said, new this the festival has partnered with Taste the Local Difference to become a certified local food event.

This means 20 percent of the food provided by vendors must be locally produced. There are eight food vendors.

There will be a pop-up farmers market during the festival where a few of the Alpena Farmers Market vendors will be in attendance.

The Maritime Festival activities are free, excluding food and helicopter rides, and include a kids water slide, concerts, demonstrations and more.

“It’s such a fun day for everyone who comes out,” Prevo said.

Jordan Spence can be reached via email at jspence@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.