Car show, bingo with room for 100 players plus pancake breakfast on schedule
By Barb Pert Templeton
Creating fun family activities seems to be a major goal of the Marie City Festival Inc.
After the recent success of Maritime Days 2026, moved from early August to mid-June, hosting another event in early August seemed a nice fit so plans for ‘One-Day Fun Day’ are in the works.
Tammi Graber, with Marine City Festival Inc., said the event will include music, a bake sale, free kids fishing contest and a foam party at Drake Park
“Little Bubble Man Family Foam is excited to be at the One-Day Fun Day event,” said Kayla, with Little Bubble Man. “Our Foam and Bubble Experiences provide good clean family fun and even more summer memories for our hometown!”
Graber said local businesses will also be participating with an old-fashioned “Sidewalk Sale.”
“During One Day Fun Day, our downtown businesses will be out on the sidewalks with special sales and unique merchandise,” Marine City Area Chamber of Commerce Director Laura Merchant said. “It’s a wonderful chance to discover something new, support local businesses, and enjoy a beautiful summer day along the river.”
A special vendor’s market, dubbed Nautical Mile Market, will also welcome eager shoppers to town.
A St. Clair River Fishing Contest will welcome all kids to register and enjoy a fishing experience and the chance to win prizes.
“Nautical Mile Market- We’ll be featuring your local farmers, bakers, and makers, with the beautiful St Clair River as our backdrop. We will have food and drink vendors on site also, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” said Beth Ouelette with Ouelette Events.
Graber also noted the Classic Auto Show, hosted by Boy Scout Troop 296, will be a highlight of the day.
To find out more about the first-ever ‘One-Day Fun Day’ Festival Blue Water Healthy Living sent some additional questions to Graber via email.
Here are her responses:
Blue Water Healthy Living: How long has the ‘One-Day Fun Day’ event been in the works for Marine City Festival Inc.? (Will it be an annual event?)
Tammi Graber with Marine City Festival Inc.: When we were able to secure a carnival for Maritime Days, we had to move the festival to Father’s Day weekend. Because of that change, some of the volunteers who traditionally chaired events were not available that weekend. We decided to create ‘One Day Fun Day’ as an additional opportunity to bring the community together and showcase Marine City. We are excited about how it has come together and will evaluate the possibility of making it an annual event.
BWHL: Is it meant to fill in for the usual early August event – Maritime Days?
Graber: No, it is not meant to replace Maritime Days. It actually turned into an awesome opportunity to highlight our town once again, bring families to town, and create another fun day for the community.
BWHL: Will it be Maritime Days volunteers running this event too?
Graber: Marine City Maritime Days is the coordinator of the event, and many of our volunteers will be helping throughout the day.
BWHL: Which activities require a fee for kids? Can tickets be purchased the day of the event?
A special market during the One-Day Fun Day will welcome shoppers to shop among unique vendors at a market organized by Quellette Events.
Graber: The St. Clair River Kids Fishing Contest is completely free and open to young anglers. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. in Lighthouse Park with fishing from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Participants will compete for prizes in several categories, including largest fish, smallest fish, and most fish caught. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, there will be gifts and prizes awarded to the winners.
· The kids craft table is also free.
· The foam party at Drake Park does come with a fee. Wristbands can be purchased in advance or on the day of the event. Little Bubble Man always brings the fun.
BWHL: What about food and beverages – who will handle that?
Graber: The Scouts will be hosting a pancake breakfast in the morning and will continue serving food throughout the day, including hot dogs, brats, and more. This fundraiser helps support the Scouts’ camping trips and activities throughout the year.
We will not have food trucks at this event. One of the reasons we wanted to host this downtown was to encourage visitors to explore and support our local restaurants and businesses.
BWHL: Is Bingo limited to adults or can kids play too?
Graber: Bingo will be held at RiverPlace Art Pavilion on S. Water Street. Cards are $20 for 10 games, and players must be 18 years or older. We have space for 100 players, and there will be cash prizes. Games begin at 2 p.m.
BWHL: Can you share a bit about the Nautical Mile Market?
Graber: The Nautical Mile Market is being hosted by Ouelette Events and will feature a wide variety of vendors offering different products and unique finds.
BWHL: What are the hours of One-Day Fun Day Fest?
Graber: The event will run throughout the day on Saturday, August 1. Activities include the Pancake Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m., St. Clair River Kids Fishing Contest from 9 a.m. to noon, Nautical Mile Market will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and other activities throughout the day.
BWHL: Will the road be closed for this event?
Graber: Yes. South Water Street will be closed for the Classic Auto Show between St. Clair Street and Jefferson.
