Events Calendar

Grand Haven Salmon Festival - September 17 - 19, 2010

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Salmon Festival Overview

21+ID Required for Wine/Beer Tasting Events

The Downtown Grand Haven waterfront will be bubbling with family friendly activities this September as D&W Fresh Market presents and Grand Haven Area Convention and Visitors Bureau hosts the Grand Haven Salmon Festival —a multi-faceted festival that pays tribute to the area’s bountiful waterways as a natural resource, while coinciding with the region’s annual Salmon migration.

The 7th Annual Grand Haven Salmon Festival, a three-day festival slated for September 17-19, 2010 in downtown Grand Haven. The event was designed to mark the passing of summer, promote the area as a unique fall tourist destination and celebrate the fall harvest season and salmon migration. The festival theme is arts, education and entertainment and assures the residents and visitors alike a unique opportunity to learn about the region’s natural assets, while experiencing the cultural appeal of the area through music, art, entertainment, history and education.

The outdoor-waterfront festival features live jazz music; Michigan wine tasting pavilion (ID required for wine/beer tasting) featuring Michigan’s top wineries and grape stomping; gourmet salmon cook-off contest; fall harvest beer & entertainment pavilion; downtown merchant market; fine art fair on the waterfront; Big King Salmon fishing contest with weigh-in/awards ceremony; mouth-watering food and beverage treats at the Fresh Catch Fish Boil; Grand Haven historic displays through the Tri-Cities Museum; hands-on children’s nature-themed arts & crafts activities; and educational, environment-focused exhibits, displays, workshops—and more!

The Salmon Festival was designed to promote the importance of Michigan’s coastal waterways while paying tribute to a unique aspect of West Michigan—the annual salmon migration. Festival attendees will experience hands-on learning, education and exhibits and enjoy a culturally rich weekend experience that includes arts, crafts, live music, wine, food and family fun.

Wine Tasting & Salmon Cook-off

Sponsored by: D&W Fresh Market, Superior Seafood & Black Pearl Salmon

21+ID Required for Wine/Beer Tasting

The Michigan Wine/Beer Tasting & Gourmet Salmon Cook-Off Contest will take place Saturday, Sept. 18th. Over 50 Michigan Wines and 10 Michigan Micro Brews will be onsite to talk about their wines, food pairing and answer questions. Also a major highlight for the day is local and regional eateries will face-off in friendly competition as they vie for a number of coveted award categories including, but not limited to “most creative use of salmon,” “best presentation,” “best in show” and “best cultural influence.” A special judging panel will make the determination, with a special “people’s choice award” voted in by patrons of the wine pavilion.

Kids Zone-Sponsored by Holiday Inn

Fishy Fun is in store for children of all ages at the Kids Zone presented by the Holiday Inn of Grand Haven on Saturday, September 18, from 10am-4pm in the grassy area north of the marina parking lot. The hands-on experience of the activities will get the kids involved in activities that encourage them to think about the importance of our environment. Groups like Outdoor Discovery Center and Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum plan to be on site offering educational information, live exhibits and hands-on activities. The festival activities will include, live Michigan wildlife, fish/animal face painting, live fish pond, fishy fun art, educational fun games like: calling all turkey's, teasing gravity, polymer surprise and more!

Big King Fishing Contest

The Grand Haven Steelheaders and the Grand Haven Area Convention & Visitors Bureau offer the best fishing contest on Lake Michigan! Event is set for Saturday September 18, 2010 and the rain date is Sunday September 19, 2010. Details will be coming on the Fishing Contest. If you would like to inquire at this time please call Call Mary Jane Belter, Secretary, Grand Haven Steelheaders 616.842.0877 or email mjbelter@altelco.net.

Fish Application -Click here to Download

Grand Haven Salmon Festival - Natured Theme Art Fair

We offer a unique natured themed art fair on Saturday, September 18th, located right on the banks of the Grand River in downtown Grand Haven! Come explore the unique art work and enjoy the other facets of the Grand Haven Salmon Festival like the wine tasting and salmon cook-off. All of the Grand Haven Salmon Festival events make for a rounded out special fall day in Grand Haven. For information about the Art Festival call Kim Talaga at 616-842-4499 or email at ktalaga@visitgrandhaven.com.

Art Fair Application - Click here to Download

Purple Romp Grape Stomp Competition!

Slip off those shoes and socks, stretch those legs out, and let your bare feet turn purple at the Salmon Festival’s Purple Romp Grape Stomp Competition!

Held every year, the Grape Stomp is a fun-loving event, where you can channel your inner "I Love Lucy!"

Throughout the event, two competitors, 18 and older, will go foot-to-foot during a two minute grape stomping period. The feet that stomped the most juice, will move on to the next round - all in search of the 2010 Purple Romp Grape Stomp Champion!

Congratulations to Hans Mills, 2009 Purple Romp Grape Stomp Champion!

Salmon Festival 2009 Fun Facts

Estimated at over 8,000 in total attendance for 2009!
The breakdown:

965 - Served at Fresh Catch Fish Boil
- Total estimated 1,100 in attendance
63 - Boats in the Big King Fishing Contest
- 378 participants plus their family/friends at weigh-in
- Total estimated Fishing Contest attendance 775
32 - Art Vendors
- Total estimated attendance for Art Fair 550
650 - Children plus their families at the Kids Zone
- Total estimated 1,500 attended Kids Zone activities
1,750 - Wine/Salmon Packages sold on Saturday
- Total estimated at this event 2,000
2,100 - Attendees to the Fall Harvest Beer Tent
175 Volunteers
525 bottles of Michigan Wine
4,250 glasses of Beer
1,750 pounds of Salmon

Thank you for your support!