Photos by Courtney Schwartz Fremont’s Harvest Festival has become one of the must-go events in our area for a number of reasons, however beyond the doings and the parade there is an ancillary activity that draws a bevy of folks to the county’s biggest city. Hay art. The creativity employed in transforming these bundles of dried grasses into images is impressive to say the least. We asked Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce Membership Director Courtney Schwartz if we could share the photos she shot of these eclectic designs with our readers and she kindly gave us permission. If they pique your interest, take a tour of the town to get an up close look.
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 "It's Showtime" CBD Store's Beetlejuice grabs an early seat for the parade 19th annual event features parade, coirnhole, Hocus Pocus, kids activities and a beer tent with a side of Braunschweiger Blues Band to boot It all kind of starts when you begin to see the hay bales appearing in front of local businesses with a few dropped off at Vet’s Park. As the days go by those bales begin to transform into innovative creations that give new meaning to the phrase ‘making hay’. These prolific productions are like the welcoming committee for that end of the season community soiree known as the Fremont Harvest Festival, 3 days of family friendly fun filling the downtown area. And as we have said many times before, nobody puts on a parade in these parts like Fremont and this is one of their best. The March down Main begins at 6pm so secure your spot before the action (and candy tossing) begins. The Empowerment Network will be doing face painting in the park from 5-7pm. Following the parade Veteran’s Park also hosts the Pedal Pull.a chance for the young wannabe farmers to haul with a tractor scaled to their size and running on leg power. Cornhole competitions have become a popular mainstay at such events and this one is no different. On Friday at 5pm cornhole contenders to the title will take up their beanbags and vie for honors. And it’s not just fun to compete but also to witness the thrill of victory and agony of defeat played out in a cornhole setting. And who out there doesn’t love the classic Halloween movie “Hocus Pocus”? Well at 7:30pm Friday there will be a Hocus Pocus Party In the Park! Popcorn, s'mores, and treats for the kiddos will be part of the fun and there may even be a special appearance from the Sanderson Sisters themselves! Kids are encouraged to dress up! Bring your blankets and make yourselves comfy for this amazing kick-off to the SPOOKY season! Saturday begins with the Harvest Hike and 5K run at 8am which is also when the Farmer’s Market opens. After maybe getting in a few steps toward your daily goal, meander through the market and score some of the local harvest. From there you can head to the park for the flea market running from 9am-4pm. Meanwhile the festival swings into action at 11am-1pm with the Apple/Pumpkin Bake Off in the pavilion and Kids games, Pony rides, and face painting from 11am-3pm. Food trucks (gotta love some of our local eateries on wheels) are part of the scene around the park each day beginning 4pm Friday and Saturday and 10am Saturday. The comes the pièce de résistance when Brew Works hosts the very nearly world renown Braunschweiger Blues Band for a 6-10pm fitting finish to a community celebration such as this. If you are not familiar with the BBB and wish to experience their unique manner of delivering musical favorites a piece of advice, Get there early. The 3B’s have a faithful following of folks from Fremont and beyond who find the time between the band's appearances to be far too long.
  Michigan's Myron Elkins performs at the Dogwood Center on Saturday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m. on the main stage. Elkins and his band will get your energy going with their blend of gritty rock, country and blues music. If you are a Yellowstone fan, you may already have heard Myron Elkins music. In December 2023, Yellowstone (Season 5, Episode 6) had one of the show’s strong soundtracks. One musician was a young up-and-comer’s voice that caught the ear of many. That new talent was Myron Elkins. Raised just north of Kalamazoo, the 22-year-old Elkins worked professionally as a welder following high school graduation with his sights set on a trade for his career until a relative signed him up for a local battle of the bands. He finished a runner-up, and his liife began to change. In the three years since, that experience has led to a massive transformation. He decided to pursue music full time and moved to Nashville, where he laid down his debut album, Factories, Farms & Amphetamines, with producer Dave Cobb. Two songs from the album — “Factories, Farms & Amphetamines” and “Wrong Side of the River” — made it into the Yellowstone episode. Both tunes were cut into the background of various scenes of Dutton cowboys at work wrangling and branding cattle. The young singer is now one of Americana music’s fastest rising stars. Elkins’ debut album is a brutally honest collection of songs featuring sharp observations informed by his working-class upbringing. With his storytelling prowess and gritty mix of classic rock, country, and the blues, Myron Elkins is poised to become a generational defining talent. Join us for a great night at the Dogwood! Tickets are $20.00 and are available through the Dogwood Center Box Office, NCCA-Artsplace in downtown Fremont, or on-line by clicking here! For information, phone 231.924.8885. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont.
Photos by Marianne Boerigter
Have some fun this fall and shoot away….with your camera or phone! Newaygo County is prime country for that perfect fall photo. Take your best shots and enter the NCCA-Artsplace Fall Photography Contest. The contest is an annual community event that anyone can enter and showcases the fall beauty of our area. Entry deadline is Tuesday, October 1, by 5:00 p.m. This free competition is for all ages and all levels of skill. All entries must have a fall or harvest theme. Participants may submit up to two entries. Each entry must be an 8”x10” unframed photograph. All entries will be on display October 4 through November 2 in the corridor gallery at NCCA-Artsplace. First, second and third place awards will be announced at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 4 and posted at www.ncca-artsplace.org and @NCCA-Artsplace on Facebook. Registration forms for the competition are available at NCCA-Artsplace, 13 East Main Street, downtown Fremont or call 231.924.4022. The guidelines and forms may also found by clicking here. Go ahead…take your best shot!
A Tripleheader from Fremont Area District Library at This month's Live @ the Library
One of the coolest ongoing programs around is the Live @ the Library series the folks at the FADL have been serving up to a grateful community. Authors, artists, historians, story tellers, musicians and more have delivered on helping to educate, entertain and enlighten attendees. This month the library tosses out a threesome of events and each seems destined to provide some lively post session dialogue. Political Lincoln: Honest Abe on Campaigns & Elections on Thursday, Sep. 5th at 7:00 p.m. For ages 12-adults. Mr. Lincoln describes his many interesting campaign and election experiences over a long and eventful career, during a time of political intrigue and tumult when the very destiny of our nation was at stake. Mr. Lincoln is portrayed by Kevin Wood, a professional Lincoln presenter who bears a remarkable resemblance to "the Great Emancipator" and who is extremely knowledgeable about his life and times. Pamela VandenBerg Presents: Becker vs. Carter on Tuesday, Sep. 17th at 7:00 p.m. How Isabelle Becker and Carrie Carter Redefined Education in Newaygo County. Learn about the story of two local women who competed for Newaygo County Commissioner of Schools in 1903, and again in 1915. These trailblazing women not only won this elected position but substantially improved education in local schools, all before the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment giving all women the right to vote! Pamela VandenBerg is a local historian who specializes in Women's History and began her career as both a volunteer and employee of the Public Museum of Grand Rapids. Charlie McLravy Presents: The Pink Pony on Monday, Sep. 23rd at 7:00 p.m. Charlie McLravy is the author of the highly acclaimed five (soon to be six) book Burr Lafayette legal thriller series. The Pink Pony, the first book in the series, recently won first prize in the Global Book Awards. It takes place on Mackinac Island and all of the books in the series are pure Michigan. Books will be available for purchase at this event. |
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