The White Lake Maritime Festival is finally back, set to take place Aug. 6-8, with many of the events centered on Goodrich Park in Whitehall.
Last held in 2012, the Maritime Festival, which through that year was an annual event since 1981, was announced to return last fall by the White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors' Bureau. Ever since, preparations have been ongoing to maximize this year's events.
The Chamber has obtained help from various local nonprofits and businesses to ensure the success of this year's festival.
"One of the things we're most excited about is that this truly is a White Lake Area community festival," Stephanie Ware, the Chamber's Executive Director, said in a press release. "So many organizations have taken ownership of different pieces of the weekend, creating something far bigger than any one group could do alone. That's exactly what makes the White Lake Area so special."
The traditional kickoff to Maritime was always the White Lake Area Community Picnic, and it will be again this year. The picnic continued after Maritime was discontinued, and it will feature everything residents have come to expect from the annual celebration, including family-friendly activities, a slip and slide, a foam penny scramble, and more. It will take place Thursday, Aug. 6, from 5-8 p.m.
Starting Thursday and continuing throughout the weekend, the White River Light Station will offer free self-guided tours to anyone who would like to venture out to the station in Fruitland Township. Kids who come can receive a free activity book to learn even more about the lighthouse. The station will be open for the free tours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day of Maritime.
Friday, Aug. 7 will continue the community fun, with the Montague branch of the Muskegon Area District Library hosting free kids activities at Goodrich Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. That includes a dance bubble party at 12 p.m. and the library's bookmobile being on site from 11 to 1. There will be a Float Your Boat craft for kids as well.
The Arts Council of White Lake-Nuveen Center in Whitehall will host a Water Wonderland exhibit reception from 4-6 p.m., showing off water-themed works from local artists of all ages and in a variety of mediums. The party continues after that, from 5-11 p.m. back at Goodrich Park, including food vendors, a beer tent, and a performance by Saved by the Band at 7 p.m. Admission to the beer tent and music performance will be $5 per person.
Saturday really turns the festival into high gear, with a packed schedule of events. It begins with the Run White Lake 5K at 9 a.m., taking place along the bike trail near the Chamber building. A wooden boat show will follow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., hosted by the White Lake Association at the municipal marina. The White Lake Sailboat Regatta will gear up with a captains' meeting at 10 a.m. at the Goodrich Park Maritime tent. The race will begin at noon, pending wind conditions.
Over in Montague, the White Lake Community Library and Arts Council of White Lake-Nuveen Center will host more kids activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, including sea critter crafts and a rain gutter regatta, which will see kids design, build and race their own miniature boats.
The adults will be able to have their own fun from 1-3 p.m. with the annual Float-a-Palooza. Previously staged the weekend before Labor Day, the Float-a-Palooza is now part of Maritime, as the White Lake Snow Farmers host their annual fundraiser. Participants will bring their kayaks into White Lake as the Snow Farmers continue their quest to set a world record for the largest connected flotilla. The cost to participate is $12 per vessel, and registration information is available at whitelakesnowfarmers.org.
Saturday caps off with another night of the beer tent and live music, with Tommy Foster performing from 6-8 p.m. and The Edukators to follow from 8-11 p.m. Admission will again be $5 per person.
Festival activities conclude Sunday, Aug. 9 with a meeting of the White Lake Fit workout group at the Viking Athletic Center at 8 a.m. and the annual Bacon, Bloodys and Brews fundraiser for the Montague-Whitehall Rotary Club, set for 11 a.m. at North Grove Brewers. Admission to the Bacon, Bloodys and Brews is $26 in advance or $30 at the door and includes one drink ticket. Ticket information is available at Rotary's Instagram page, whitelakerotary.
