Fishing, games and live music on Saturday, Sept. 23
By Barb Pert Templeton
A trio of local groups have joined forces to host Sturgeon Festival 2023 at Clay Township Park this Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.
A flyer listing all the great family fun and activities for the 2023 Sturgeon Festival.
St Clair-Detroit River Sturgeon for Tomorrow, Pearl Beach Lions and Clay Township Recreation Scarecrow Fest organizers will offer family activities from 12:00 to 5 p.m. After that ‘The Gobies’ will perform in the festival tent, which opens at 5 p.m., from 8 p.m. to midnight. There’s a $5 cover charge to enter the beverage tent but the family fun in the afternoon is free.
The popular annual North Channel Sturgeon Classic fishing contest begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday Sept. 23 and ends at 8 a.m. on Sunday Sept. 24th. Only 35 anglers will be entered into the contest and spots were filling up quickly. To register visit stclairsturgeon.org.
The daytime activities will include games, hands-on activities plus various vendor booths. The event also serves as a fundraiser for Sturgeons of Tomorrow with the $5 beverage tent cover charge plus some sponsors fees going to the fund.
Only one student took part in the make your own Sturgeon contest at last year’s event and her hard work brought a $100 prize.
Clay Township Recreation Director Cindy Babisz said combining the events seemed to fit nicely on the schedule. The Scarecrow Festival was formerly hosted in late October but organizers often had to contend with poor weather conditions so when she suggested moving it to mid-September with the Sturgeon Festival the idea was welcomed.
“There were some folks that were skeptics about combining the events but last year it was a huge success,” Babisz said, noting that they likely welcomed over 300 people to the park that day. “People were in and out of the park all day long and it’s been a great partnership,” she added.
The trackless train rides are a big draw at the Sturgeon-Scarecrow Festival in Clay Township.
Fun for the kids will include rides on a trackless train and a coin-operated Chris-Craft boat that simply “adorable,” according to Babisz. Photos behind a wooden image of a scarecrow, petting Sturgeon in a portable tank, learning fun facts at fish and wildlife vendor booths, stopping by the petting farm or visiting a pair of escape themed tents will also be part of the fun.
A “Make a Sturgeon Contest” is already underway for students in second thru sixth-grade at the local schools. Babisz said information was distributed last week and students are encouraged to make their own Sturgeon out of any materials they would like to use. A giant paper Sturgeon with Petoskey stones for eyes was the sole entry in last year’s contest and the creative young lady who submitted her work took home a $100 prize.
Rosco the Clown and Clay Township Supervisor Artie Bryson strike a pose during the 2022 North Channel Sturgeon Classic.
Hoping to capitalize on the fishing contest the festival is hosting a special ‘Sturgeon Widows Night’ at the beverage tent. Ladies who bring a friend can gain free entry into the Sturgeon Widows Raffle to win great prizes, Babisz said.
“We decided to have some fun with this and host a Sturgeons Widows Night while the guys are out fishing all night,” Babisz said.
The event will be hosted rain or shine and all are welcome, you don’t have to be a Clay Township resident to stop by the park.
“It’s a nice big park so we have the room and really offer something for everyone,” Babisz said.
The 2022 North Channel Sturgeon Classic was a huge success and the top three spots get cash awards. This is last year’s 2nd place finisher, Finn’s Sport Fishing HIs 71 1/4″.
The full list of family activities including vendor booths: Live Sturgeon Tanks, Friends of the St Clair River, US Wildlife Jim Bose, Lamprey Eels, Sturgeon Memorabilia Display, Face Painting with Chantel, Rosco the Clown, Escape Rooms, Trackless Train, DJ Steve Lindsay and Interactive Entertainment, Safety Tykes, Make a Sturgeon Contest, Sturgeon/Fish Themed Dog Costume Contest, Petting Farm; Ride A Boat; Sturgeon Make ‘N Take Scarecrows, Corn Hole Tournament, Sturgeon Photo Ops, Hungry Howie Certificates for Kids while they last.
Clay Township Park is located at 4768 Pointe Tremble Road in Clay Township.
To learn more visit Clay Township Parks and Recreation and/or stclairsturgeon.org.
