LIGHTING UP THE BAY - The Fourth of July pyrotechnics display, fired from the Tawas City Park pier, lit up the night sky, as well as Tawas Bay, on Friday, as viewed from the beach near the East Tawas State Dock. - Photo by John Morris

Summerfest 2008 kicks off on Friday
by John Morris

TAWAS - There’s a new name with new organizers and, on Friday, Tawas Bay Summerfest 2008 returns to the Tawases.

And, combined with some new events, many of the activities from the former Marinerfest festival will be brought back this year.
Tawas Bay Summerfest will be held Friday through Sunday in East Tawas and Tawas City.

Jerry Malone, who earlier this year was working on plans for the annual street dance and car show, began talking with staff at the Tawas Area Chamber of Commerce, who suggested he get together with a group in Tawas City, led by Gene Kirvan, which was also planning other activities, such as bringing back the Mayor’s Fish Boil.

“Together, we’ve come up with a fun-packed weekend for everyone,” Malone said.

The Mayor’s Fish Boil returns to Tawas City Park at 6 p.m. on Friday. Also planned at the park are performances by “Tawas Bay Players Singers” at 5:15 p.m., followed by the band “Downpour” at 5:45. The lighted boat parade will once again float by the Tawases at 9:30 p.m., starting at Gateway Park in Tawas City and ending at the East Tawas State Dock.

A performance of “Forever Plaid” by Tawas Bay Players will begin at 7 p.m. at the Tawas Bay Playhouse in East Tawas and a Battle of the Bars bikini contest will be held at four local taverns, starting at 10 p.m.

Activities on Saturday include the annual Dawn Patrol Fly-In and breakfast at the Iosco County Airport from 7 to 11 a.m. and the second annual Kiwanis 5-kilometer Run by the Bay at 9 a.m. in East Tawas. A new event, sand castle building contests, will be held at 10 a.m. at Tawas City Park, East Tawas Harbor Park and at Tawas Bay Beach Resort in East Tawas.

Tours of the historic Tawas Point Lighthouse at Tawas Point State Park will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., both Saturday and Sunday.

Other events on Saturday include Falker Veterinary kids bike and pet parade at 11 a.m. along Newman Street in East Tawas and “Paws in the Park” from noon to 3 p.m. at Harbor Park.

Also on Saturday will be co-ed volleyball tournaments, a new event, beginning at noon at Tawas City Park and Tawas Bay Beach Resort, and at Tawas City park will be music by “Harvest Moon” from noon to 4 p.m., sand castle contest awards with trophies for all age groups at 3 p.m., music by the “Atomic Guppies” at 4 p.m. and wine and gourmet food from 4 to 9 p.m.

A car cruise through the Tawases begins at 4 p.m. at Make Way Move All in Alabaster Township. From there, the car cruise will head north along US-23, taking a right turn at Townline Road and a left turn at Bay Drive, where it will proceed back to US-23 north. The cruise route will then take a left turn on Wadsworth Street in East Tawas, a left turn on Airport Road, a right turn on North Tawas Lake Road, a left turn on Warren Avenue, a left turn on Maple Avenue, a left turn on Tawas Lake Road, a right turn onto Newman Street and a right turn on US-23 south to Tawas City Park.

Tours of the historic Tawas Point Lighthouse at Tawas Point State Park will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., both Saturday and Sunday.

Other events on Saturday include Falker Veterinary kids bike and pet parade at 11 a.m. along Newman Street in East Tawas and “Paws in the Park” from noon to 3 p.m. at Harbor Park.

Also on Saturday will be co-ed volleyball tournaments, a new event, beginning at noon at Tawas City Park and Tawas Bay Beach Resort, and at Tawas City park will be music by “Harvest Moon” from noon to 4 p.m., sand castle contest awards with trophies for all age groups at 3 p.m., music by the “Atomic Guppies” at 4 p.m. and wine and gourmet food from 4 to 9 p.m.

A car cruise through the Tawases begins at 4 p.m. at Make Way Move All in Alabaster Township. From there, the car cruise will head north along US-23, taking a right turn at Townline Road and a left turn at Bay Drive, where it will proceed back to US-23 north. The cruise route will then take a left turn on Wadsworth Street in East Tawas, a left turn on Airport Road, a right turn on North Tawas Lake Road, a left turn on Warren Avenue, a left turn on Maple Avenue, a left turn on Tawas Lake Road, a right turn onto Newman Street and a right turn on US-23 south to Tawas City Park.

The annual street dance returns to Newman Street in downtown East Tawas from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, featuring the local bands “Wildhair” and “3rd & Soul.” At 7 p.m. is another performance of “Forever Plaid” at the Tawas Bay Playhouse and the bikini contest finals will be held at 8 p.m. along Newman Street during the street dance.

Summerfest will wrap up on Sunday with an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at the Tawas Moose Lodge in Tawas City at 9 a.m., the annual car show in downtown East Tawas also at 9 a.m., lighthouse tours at the state park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., volleyball finals at Tawas City Park at 11 a.m., car show awards at 3:30 p.m. in East Tawas and “Forever Plaid” at 7 p.m. at the Tawas Bay Playhouse.