2018 Michigan Lighthouse Festival Kick Off Program

Marge Ellenberger, Michigan Lighthouse Festival Director, Welcomes Guest to the 3rd Michigan Lighthouse Festival Program

The Third Michigan Lighthouse Festival Kick-Off Program was held at the Bay Mills Casino in Brimley, Michigan, Friday evening, August 3.  The program appealed to lighthouse enthusiasts traveling from Virginia, New York, Missouri, Ohio, and of course, Michigan, home of 129 lighthouses.  Visitors were greeted by Keeper of the Great Lakes Lights, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Jahn of Smith Creek, Michigan, dressed in period costumes and encouraging attendees to visit the area lighthouses during the weekend:  Crisp Point Lighthouse, Point Iroquois Lighthouse, and the Whitefish Point Light Station.  Mr. Jahn, a U.S.L.H.E. Inspector period reenactor, encouraged guests to make donations at each lighthouse, either monetary or volunteering their time to the success of each program.

Keeper of the Great Lakes Lights, Mr. & Mrs. Carl Jahn Welcome Guests

 The Bay Mills Resort Casino in Brimley, Michigan, a major sponsor of the Michigan Lighthouse Festival was the host of the Friday Kick Off program.  A fine buffet of Beef Steak with Peppers, Chicken Alfredo, vegetables, garlic roasted potatoes and fine desserts prepared by the Bay Mills Resort Casino's culinary chefs was complimented with excellent and attentive service!

The Gordon Lightfoot Tribute with Mike Fornes of Mackinaw City and his band, Whispers of the North, capped off the evening with an intimate look into the Canadian born songwriter/singer's collection of nationally recognized and appreciated music.

The Gordon Lightfoot Tribute Performs for the Michigan Lighthouse Festival Kick-Off Program

Marge Ellenberger, Michigan Lighthouse Festival Director, expressed sincerest appreciation to the 3rd Michigan Lighthouse Festival sponsors, Bay Mills Resort Casino, Paradise Area Tourism Council, Sault Ste Marie Visitors Bureau, the Newberry Area Chamber of Commerce,  Mackinac Pasties, and Radio Eagle.  Coordinating the festival Mrs. Ellenberger worked with lighthouse directors:  Rick Brockway, Crisp Point Light Historical Society Director, Kari Vanderheuel, East Zone Recreation Program Manager of the US Forest Service, and Bruce Lynn, Great Lakes Historical Society Director.  During the weekend, each lighthouse is offering special programs for the benefit of these lighthouse enthusiasts and the general public.

Crisp Point Historical Society President, Rick Brockway (left), Marge Ellenberger, Michigan Lighthouse Festival Director, and Bruce Lynn, Great Lakes Historical Society Director

Saturday and Sunday in the festival program, attendees were encouraged to visit each light house location, and to stop at the Lighthouse MarketPlace at the Whitefish Township Community Center from 9 am to 5 pm.  The market place is a collection of lighthouse information booths and arts and crafts vendors.  The Paradise United Methodist Church offered a Pastie meal for $10 at the community center, a fund raiser for the church and a compliment to the festivities.  Saturday evening the Mighty Hiawatha Band performed at the Whitefish Township Community Center before starting at 7 PM.  Sunday the lighthouses continued to offer special programs and the marketplace was set up at the community center.  Festival details are available at www.MichiganLighthouseFestival.com.