Grand Haven Salmon Festival
Grand Haven Salmon Festival
September 21-23, 2012
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The Downtown Grand Haven waterfront will be bubbling with family friendly activities 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 9th Annual Grand Haven Salmon Festival, a three-day festival slated for September 21-23, 2012 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 o
utdoor-waterfront festival features live jazz music; Michigan winetasting 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.
21+ID Required for Wine/Beer Tasting Events
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. 22nd. 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 “most Michigan influence.” A special judging panel will make the determination, with a special “people’s choice award” voted in by patrons of the wine pavilion.
Fresh Catch Fish Boil
A great family event! Enjoy a traditional Salmon Fish Boil dinner including salmon, potatoes, corn, onions, and rolls. Friday, September 21st from 4:30pm to 7:30pm. Sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion.
Adults are $10 and Children 12 & under are $5.
Beer, pop, & water available for purchase.
Live music from Just Joe from 5pm to 9pm
Holiday Inn KidZone
Fishy Fun is in store for children of all ages at the Holiday Inn KidZone on Saturday, September 22, from 10am-3pm 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 the Tri-Cities Historical Museum, Michigan SeaGrant, and the White River Steelheaders 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, and educational games.
For more information about how your Non-Profit organization can be involved in the KidZone, email Stefanie Herder or download the form below.
Salmon Festival KidZone Non-Profit Booth Form Click here to Download
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 22, 2012 and the rain date is Sunday September 23, 2012. 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 by email mjbelter@altelco.net.
Natured Theme Art Fair
We offer a unique natured themed art fair on Saturday, September 22, 2012 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 Fair call Stefanie Herder at 616-842-4499 or email at sherder@visitgrandhaven.com.
Rycenga's 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!
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 2012 Purple Romp Grape Stomp Champion!
Congratulations to the 2011 Purple Romp Grape Stomp Champion-Wendy Swindle of Hudsonville, MI.
Silent Auction
Back again for 2012, the Silent Auction is a great venue to bring home memories from your time at the Salmon Festival. Open during the Friday Fish Boil 4:30-7:30pm and continues into Saturday for the Wine Tasting/Cook-off, starting at 1:00 p.m., bidding will close at 4p.m.
Some of the 2011 Auction Items Included:
- Private Party 4 Course Dinner w/Wine Pairing for 4-Kirby House
- VIP Tasting Tour for 6 - Chateau Chantal
- Large Festival Capriccio Wine Bottle - Fenn Valley Vineyards
- 1 Night Stay Premuim Balcony Room - Harbor House
- $25 Gift Cards - D&W
- $100 Gift Card - Artisan Cooking School
- 30 Minute Massage - Southern Touch Therapeutic Massage
- 2 Perch Dinners - Fish X 2
- 2 Night Stay - Blue Water Inn
- 2 Rounds of Golf-Grand Haven Golf Club
- 1 Night Stay for 4 w/Waterpark Passes-JJ Resort
- Mug Membership-Odd Side Ales
- Rycenga's Goodie Gift Bags-4
- Salmon Festival Gift Basket
- Gift Certifcate, Wine Koozi, Wine Glass tags - Lemon Creek
If you are intersted in donating an item, please contact us at 800.303.4092 or by emailing intern@visitgrandhaven.com
Salmon Festival 2011 Fun Facts
Estimated at over 7,500 in total attendance for 2011!
The breakdown:
- 955 - Served at Fresh Catch Fish Boil
- Total estimated 1,200 in attendance
- 65 - Boats in the Big King Fishing Contest
- 390 participants plus their family/friends at weigh-in
- Total estimated Fishing Contest attendance 750
- 20 - Art Vendors
- Total estimated attendance for Art Fair 650
- 650 - Children plus their families at the Kids Zone
- Total estimated 1025 attended Kids Zone activities
- 1,750 - Wine/Salmon Packages sold on Saturday
- Total estimated at this event 2,225
- 1,750 - Attendees to the Fall Harvest Beer Tent
- 175 Volunteers
- 532 bottles of Michigan Wine
-
1,500 pounds of Salmon
Thank you for your support!
