Harbor Days: Much more than four days in August
By Barb Mosher, Contributing Writer
Elk Rapids Harbor Days is an annual four-day festival held at the beginning of August, right? Well, yes . . . and no. While the original event in 1955 was a one-day Rotary project to begin generating funds to build Edward C. Grace Memorial Harbor, today “Harbor Days” is a nearly year-round effort to commemorate the past, celebrate the present, and anticipate the future.
“We have a new approach of honoring history and growing for the future,” explained Elk Rapids Harbor Days Association board member Nancy Taylor. “Because Harbor Days has been such a long-time festival with so much history, our goal is to host and diversify events and raise awareness with a wider community outreach, so people are not only thinking of it in August but as something that generates excitement year-round with previews toward the August festival.”
Toward that end, in addition to planning for this year’s festival July 31 – August 3, Taylor and her fellow volunteer ERHDA board members are finalizing details for several upcoming events including an open-mic storytelling evening May 17, a car and truck show June 8, and a Harbor Days fundraiser/silent auction June 20.
Kabie Stein, founder and creative director of Here:Say Storytelling, will host the live storytelling event May 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall. Audience members will share first-hand experiences related to the theme “Comedy of Errors,” highlighting situations that “went awry with unexpected, and perhaps hilarious, consequences.”
“Some of the most memorable stories we love to tell are when something bad happened and it turned out hilarious,” Stein said. “Those stories are so much fun to listen to. There’s no requirement that a story be funny, but there’s usually a lot to unpack about a comedy of errors.”
At the $10 ticketed event (tickets available at the door and online at www.elkrapidsharbordays.org), adults wishing to share a story will throw their name into a hat. Storytellers will be selected randomly to speak for five to seven minutes. Those whose names aren’t drawn will have another chance, as the May show is a preview to a second ticketed show August 3 during Harbor Days.
Stein says while the idea of standing in front of others to share a personal story might sound intimidating, those who do so encounter a unique connection with a supportive and encouraging audience. “People love a good story, and these shows are always highly entertaining and audiences are really generous and supportive,” she said. “People know it’s not easy to get up there and tell a true story about your life. So, no matter how you do on stage, you’ll get loud applause.”
Storytelling, Stein added, generates goodwill and community bonding as people discover they have more in common than they thought. “There’s so much messaging out there about how different we are, how others are so unlike us, when the truth is, we’re very similar,” she explained. “Our experiences might be different, but the core takeaways are similar, so this is a space to make connections and find out what others have experienced and to relate to one another through those.”
A few weeks later, the first annual Spring Car and Truck Show, scheduled for June 8, will feature a lineup of classic vehicles along River Street between Dexter and Cedar Streets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with registration starting at 10:30 a.m. Entry fee is $20 and registration forms will be available onsite that day as well as in advance at www.elkrapidsharbordays.org.
Car and Truck Show awards will be given for Best in Show, Best Domestic, Best Import, and Queen’s Choice (chosen by Miss Elk Rapids and her court). Sponsors include Fischer Insurance; Auto Owners Insurance; Ken’s Body Shop; Elk Rapids Tire and Alignment; Ric’s Auto Service; Fitzpatrick Insurance; Uncle Rods, Inc. Auto Repair; and Thirlby Automotive. All proceeds will benefit Harbor Days festival events in August.
The public is invited to the “Taste of the Harbor” fund raising event and silent auction June 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the harbor’s Blesma Pavilion. Tickets are $50 and include heavy charcuterie, drinks, and the opportunity to bid on donated auction items. Funds raised will support Harbor Days festival activities including the spectacular fireworks display August 3. Tickets are available online at www.elkrapidsharbordays.org.
In addition to these three Harbor Days preview and fundraising events, the ERHDA has announced the following updates:
• Sales of Harbor Days buttons and (new this year) stickers, which raise money for various Harbor Days activities, will go on sale beginning with the May 17 storytelling event.
• Minimum $25 donations to the Boom-ER Club help fund the August 3 fireworks display and other event activities. Business sponsors receive a removable decal and individual donors receive a removable sticker, both unique to each year’s event.
• “Community Ties,” a newsletter devoted to all things Harbor Days, has been added to the Harbor Days website
• Harbor Days serves as a significant fundraising opportunity for area non-profit organizations that provide good works for the community all year long. This year’s organizations include American Legion, AMVETS, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary, Art and Connection, Chalfonte Foundation, Elk Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Elk Rapids High School and Middle School track and cross country programs, Elk Rapids Lions Club, First Presbyterian Church Community Choir, Friends of the Elk Rapids District Library, Paddle Antrim, and Rotary Club of Elk Rapids
• The “Give a Shift” program that was launched last year asking community members to volunteer for a two-hour shift during various Harbor Days events was a huge success and will be repeated this year. “The show of unity and support was critical for the festival’s success,” Taylor said. “We’re so grateful for the energy and commitment provided by everyone.”
Elk Rapids Harbor Days is an annual four-day festival held at the beginning of August, right? Well, yes . . . and no. While the original event in 1955 was a one-day Rotary project to begin generating funds to build Edward C. Grace Memorial Harbor, today “Harbor Days” is a nearly year-round effort to commemorate the past, celebrate the present, and anticipate the future.
“We have a new approach of honoring history and growing for the future,” explained Elk Rapids Harbor Days Association board member Nancy Taylor. “Because Harbor Days has been such a long-time festival with so much history, our goal is to host and diversify events and raise awareness with a wider community outreach, so people are not only thinking of it in August but as something that generates excitement year-round with previews toward the August festival.”
Toward that end, in addition to planning for this year’s festival July 31 – August 3, Taylor and her fellow volunteer ERHDA board members are finalizing details for several upcoming events including an open-mic storytelling evening May 17, a car and truck show June 8, and a Harbor Days fundraiser/silent auction June 20.
Kabie Stein, founder and creative director of Here:Say Storytelling, will host the live storytelling event May 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall. Audience members will share first-hand experiences related to the theme “Comedy of Errors,” highlighting situations that “went awry with unexpected, and perhaps hilarious, consequences.”
“Some of the most memorable stories we love to tell are when something bad happened and it turned out hilarious,” Stein said. “Those stories are so much fun to listen to. There’s no requirement that a story be funny, but there’s usually a lot to unpack about a comedy of errors.”
At the $10 ticketed event (tickets available at the door and online at www.elkrapidsharbordays.org), adults wishing to share a story will throw their name into a hat. Storytellers will be selected randomly to speak for five to seven minutes. Those whose names aren’t drawn will have another chance, as the May show is a preview to a second ticketed show August 3 during Harbor Days.
Stein says while the idea of standing in front of others to share a personal story might sound intimidating, those who do so encounter a unique connection with a supportive and encouraging audience. “People love a good story, and these shows are always highly entertaining and audiences are really generous and supportive,” she said. “People know it’s not easy to get up there and tell a true story about your life. So, no matter how you do on stage, you’ll get loud applause.”
Storytelling, Stein added, generates goodwill and community bonding as people discover they have more in common than they thought. “There’s so much messaging out there about how different we are, how others are so unlike us, when the truth is, we’re very similar,” she explained. “Our experiences might be different, but the core takeaways are similar, so this is a space to make connections and find out what others have experienced and to relate to one another through those.”
A few weeks later, the first annual Spring Car and Truck Show, scheduled for June 8, will feature a lineup of classic vehicles along River Street between Dexter and Cedar Streets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with registration starting at 10:30 a.m. Entry fee is $20 and registration forms will be available onsite that day as well as in advance at www.elkrapidsharbordays.org.
Car and Truck Show awards will be given for Best in Show, Best Domestic, Best Import, and Queen’s Choice (chosen by Miss Elk Rapids and her court). Sponsors include Fischer Insurance; Auto Owners Insurance; Ken’s Body Shop; Elk Rapids Tire and Alignment; Ric’s Auto Service; Fitzpatrick Insurance; Uncle Rods, Inc. Auto Repair; and Thirlby Automotive. All proceeds will benefit Harbor Days festival events in August.
The public is invited to the “Taste of the Harbor” fund raising event and silent auction June 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the harbor’s Blesma Pavilion. Tickets are $50 and include heavy charcuterie, drinks, and the opportunity to bid on donated auction items. Funds raised will support Harbor Days festival activities including the spectacular fireworks display August 3. Tickets are available online at www.elkrapidsharbordays.org.
In addition to these three Harbor Days preview and fundraising events, the ERHDA has announced the following updates:
• Sales of Harbor Days buttons and (new this year) stickers, which raise money for various Harbor Days activities, will go on sale beginning with the May 17 storytelling event.
• Minimum $25 donations to the Boom-ER Club help fund the August 3 fireworks display and other event activities. Business sponsors receive a removable decal and individual donors receive a removable sticker, both unique to each year’s event.
• “Community Ties,” a newsletter devoted to all things Harbor Days, has been added to the Harbor Days website
• Harbor Days serves as a significant fundraising opportunity for area non-profit organizations that provide good works for the community all year long. This year’s organizations include American Legion, AMVETS, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary, Art and Connection, Chalfonte Foundation, Elk Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Elk Rapids High School and Middle School track and cross country programs, Elk Rapids Lions Club, First Presbyterian Church Community Choir, Friends of the Elk Rapids District Library, Paddle Antrim, and Rotary Club of Elk Rapids
• The “Give a Shift” program that was launched last year asking community members to volunteer for a two-hour shift during various Harbor Days events was a huge success and will be repeated this year. “The show of unity and support was critical for the festival’s success,” Taylor said. “We’re so grateful for the energy and commitment provided by everyone.”
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