For the 14th year, Harbor Springs boaters will gather for a prayer for a safe summer season during the Blessing of the Fleet boat parade.
Anything seaworthy is welcome to take to the water and receive a blessing during the parade, from paddleboards to kayaks to speedboats to sailboats.
“The boat parade is something that runs like a well-oiled machine now, and it’s always incredibly fun to see how it grows each year with more boats and people,” said Beth Wemigwase, curator and program coordinator for the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society. “I especially enjoy the boaters who come on their stand-up paddleboards and their kayaks. They’re just so dedicated.”
The three-day celebration got underway on Tuesday with a Harbor History Talk with local tribal community members called “Odawa Stories of the Water.”
Thursday, June 25 will see the Flagship Party aboard the 65-foot Harbor Princess from the Little Traverse Bay Ferry Company, which departs from the Harbor Springs City Pier at 4:45 p.m. Reservations are $75.
Wemigwase said the flagship is the best place to view the parade from, as vessels must pass by it to receive a blessing.
The Odawa Woodland Singers will perform a traditional Water Song Ceremony from the city pier at 5:30 p.m., and boats of all shapes and sizes will begin filling the bay at 6 p.m. for the parade.
“The Blessing of the Fleet is one of those rare events that feels uniquely Harbor Springs,” said Kristyn Balog, executive director of the historical society, in a statement. “You see generations gathered on the waterfront, boats filling the harbor and traditions that connect us to the people who came before us. It truly feels like the community’s welcome to summer.”
During the parade, the Harbor Springs Community Band will perform from the dock, where 2026 Honorary Commodore David Lyle will be emceeing. Lyle will also throw the memorial wreath at the end of the parade.
“I love seeing the Little Traverse Sailors. I love seeing the sailboats, the stand-up paddleboards, all of the different historic vessels that come past,” Wemigwase said. “The Pointer boat is in the parade again this year. And it’s always just fun to see everyone down on the dock.”
Registering for the parade is free and highly recommended, as Wemigwase said they will share important information like which radio channel to monitor during the parade.
Returning this year is the Summer’s Launch Party at The Pier.
“Prior to COVID, we had the Summer’s Launch celebration, formerly known as the Summer White Party, and we sort of put it on hiatus,” Wemigwase said. “And we had a lot of people who were asking, ‘What about the party?’ And so we brought it back.”
Doors open at 7 p.m. on Thursday for the party, and reservations are $100. Tickets include hors d’oeuvres with a cash bar.
“There is going to be appetizers, there’s going to be a raffle, and it’s a chance to get together with boaters and other community members in support of the historical society,” Wemigwase said.
To register or for more information, visit HarborSpringsHistory.org.
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Smooth sailing: Harbor Springs starts summer boating season with Blessing of the Fleet
Reporting by Jillian Fellows, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jillian Fellows, The Petoskey News-Review | USA TODAY Network
