Festival comes to Grant Saturday
BBQ Contest Sounds innocent enough but for one who has covered a few of these heated (pun intended) competitions this is some serious stuff. Want an education on the nuances of BBQing? All you have to do is take a stroll around and stop in for a visit with one of the more affable contestants. Believe me there are aspects of this culinary art form that totally evade the common griller. I once judged a contest after being dragged into the role kicking and screaming. I stumbled through it but it was pretty intense and even my years as a referee and umpire failed to prepare me for what is involved when one is in the judges seat at these doings. Mine was pretty small and unofficial but speaking to a friend who had gone through the training required to be an officially licensed BBQ judge I recognized just how far over my head the role of Magistrate of Meat truly is. But I digress This Saturday at the Harvest Moon Festival in Grant the Qers will be starting their engines...oops I mean grills... at 9am. The judging is at 5pm and if you’ve never watched a group of dedicated grillers awaiting word on the merit of their meat, I encourage you to be there. It’s truy on a scale of the old intro in Wide World of Sports depicting the thrill of victory and agony of defeat. And speaking of the Harvest Moon Festival in food terms do not forget that following the pie judging (more up my alley but we weren’t asked) from 11am-noon the pies will be available by the slice with proceeds supporting the fine work being done by our friends at Love INC. I'm thinking cherry all the way, though a chocolate cream variety would definitely sway me. We already mentioned the cornhole toss competition, the soap box derby and pumpkin derby https://www.nearnorthnow.com/features-and-fun/harvest-moon-festival-to-rise-in-grant but Harvest Moon has a lot more to offer including an auto show a kids pedal tractor pull at 1:30pm and live tunes at Old Iron starting at 4pm. Fine fall family fun on tap in the Gateway City so pack up the fam and head for Grant. For more information check out the Chamber website. https://www.rivercountrychamber.com/events/
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“Shine On, Shine on Harvest Moon
Up in the sky…” A familiar song to be sure. Laurel and Hardy performed it in the film Flying Deuces but the best rendition is the one by Leon Redbone on his album Double Time...but we digress. In Grant this weekend the Harvest Moon Festival celebrates the season with the time honored activities that have enjoyed popularity over the years as well as some new offerings. All activities will be held in the downtown area. Got an eye for cornhole? Do you dominate at family reunions? Are you a much desired partner at gatherings? Do you bring your own bags to the court? Here’s your shot at facing down some top level competition at the Boss of the Toss Charity Cornhole Tourney. You may not know a cowpie from a shucker but if you’re possessed with a good eye and a thick enough skin to deflect the occasional obnoxious victory celebrations (we think this might be part of the sport) sign up from 11am-12:30pm at Old Iron. Then start preparing (stretching, maybe a few calisthenics) for the 1 oclock competition. Here’s hoping for a Romanyk or two coming your way that day instead of the dreaded leprechaun. Remember Soap Box Derby? Well, it never went away. They have been racing these non motorized vehicles since 1934. If you have never seen one, a golden opportunity awaits in Grant as races will be held beginning at 10am and finishing up at noon. Check it out. And it might not be the elegant coach created out of a pumpkin for Cinderella but slap some wheels on your pumpkin (limit 2 axles) and give it the kind of look that will send it to victory in the Pumpkin Derby. Open to those 15 and under in 3 weight classes 10lbs and under, 11-19 lbs and 19lbs and up. Oh and those weight classes? Pumpkins, not kids. The cost for entry? 3 canned goods for Love Inc. Registration 1030a-Noon at the Fire Department. Derby begins at 12:30pm. We’ll be back later this week with more Harvest Moon goings on but seriously, start honing those tossing skills. Because there aren’t any participation trophies in Boss of the Toss. You gotta earn it. By Ken DeLaat Photos by Lil and Ken DeLaat Why Prince Edward Island? Well, why not? After all we had never been there. Of course we’ve never been to Tristan da Cunha nor even made a brief sojourn or two to places like Shreveport or Dubuque but to my knowledge Lucille Maud Montgomery never wrote about any of those places and Lifetime Spousal Companion Lil, an Anne of Green Gables fan, had always talked about seeing the land Ms. M. wrote so charmingly of. Thus we decided a trip to PEI would be a welcome respite from the rigors of the monarch ministry Lil has embraced, so once the care of the winged wonders was temporarily placed in the capable hands of our daughter we embarked on this latest adventure. I’ve never read the book nor any of her rather extensive anthology of novels but, being always up for travel, the notion of exploring a heretofore unvisited section of the continent was appealing. True to form I did very little research, preferring to arrive without preconceived notions. Well, other than arranging for a place to stay via one of the scads of sites specializing in such things and ensuring we would be near the locale of the various Anne attractions. The trip began with a rather rocky and twice delayed flight to Halifax that arrived far past midnight. Now, while I despise flying more because of the time sequestered in a floating tin can of germs and the seemingly amped up entitlement of so many fellow passengers the idea of air travel doesn’t bother me in the least. But you know, when you’re already tired, boarded late due to some mechanical issues, and have been called back from the runway hearing the following from the pilot does not inspire a great deal of peace of mind. “The plane has been making a strange noise but the mechanics have checked it out and they couldn’t find anything so we’re going to go ahead and give it a go.” Ok, I thought. Who are these mechanics? Are they as tired as I am right now or are they 3rd shifters who are always tired and often crabby? But fatigue can do wonders when it comes to allaying fears because all you really want to do is not be awake anymore. And, hey, we made it. After an overnight stay at the usual ubiquitous and unquestionably consistent chain hotel and the morning pickup of a rental car (that turned out to be a BMW of all things) we headed north for the island crossing the 9 mile (yes 9 miles) Continental Bridge and setting foot...well, tires I guess...in Prince Edward Island. Color me stunned. PEI is perhaps one of the most enchanting and beguiling places my eyes have ever been privileged to take in. It hasn’t the majesty of Lake Louise, nor the breathtaking vistas we have witnessed in the west and there aren’t the tropical paradise scenes like one finds in Kauai or the intriguing atmosphere of the pre hyper-developed Florida Keys. But it is a drop dead gorgeous assemblage of geography that stole our hearts and made for a memorable week in this absolute jewel in the crown of our northern neighbor. After the obligatory visit to several AOGG places of interest the remainder of the time was spent exploring this idyllic corner of the Maritimes. The capital city of Charlottetown with its bustling harbor area is awash with art, music, history and theater to be sure but it is beyond the town where one captures the spirit of the island. Rolling hills reveal pastoral settings and a rugged coastline that allows for miles of walking without the looming presence of high rise condos. Our headquarters for the exploration was just outside the little burg of New Glasgow and the rather random selection of a B & B turned out to be a fortuitous one indeed. The Farmhouse Inn promised elegant country comfort and a more accurate description could not be conceived. We were welcomed to this exquisite temporary residence by Brent and Lisa the couple who own and operate the Inn as well as by the exceedingly sociable Arlo a fine canine specimen who accompanied us on our walks around the 50 acre homestead...walks that provided wonderful areas for quiet contemplation and relaxation. This most congenial couple advised on the best local eateries including a harbor hugging haven for great food known as The Blue Mussel. TBM takes no reservations and folks begin lining up by late afternoon to experience the wonderfulness of their epicurean offerings. Among these delights one finds a bread pudding that can only be described as culinary perfection. Lisa and Brent were the ideal hosts, provided many helpful hints as well as inside info about the island and were perhaps the most personable proprietors of any B&B we have visited over the years. Their breakfast meals were sublime, the rooms were sunlit and airy and (huge bonus) there were bite-sized chocolates (good ones) at nearly every turn in the house. We visited a gallery called The Dunes per their recommendation and found the never ending collection of intriguing artwork well worth the stopover to be sure. Particularly because through the back of the building we were treated to the most magnificent gardens I can ever recall having walked through and despite possessing a memory that might be a stretch to be even labeled as marginal, it is hard to imagine any place more impressive. Awash with innovative statuary and wooden sculptures of pure wonder The Dunes gardens held us captive for many hours with its serene tranquility and lush beauty. While the island was populated with a sprinkling of September tourists it quickly became obvious that the summer months are a time when tourists inundate the PEI paradise as evidenced by the sea of places near the Anne site that cater to travelers with kids. There are amusement centers and the usual tourist trappings throughout the area around Cavendish all closed with the arrival of fall. A word about the Anne of Green Gables phenomena. As I mentioned I had never read the book(s) but it quickly became obvious the hold Ms. Montgomery’s little heroine has on those who have. When we visited the house and grounds that inspired her stories the magic produced in her novels came alive in the faces of the travelers who had made the trek to PEI . The trail leading to the ‘haunted woods’ and ‘shimmering pond’ as well as our visit to Sugarbush and the china cabinet where her imaginary friend Katie Maurice resided produced a reaction of rapt wonderment in the legion of Anne lovers. And as a non reader I found myself fascinated by her life story and the arduous journey required by any female author of her day. We may never return to PEI since there are so many places we wish to visit in our retirement years (albeit perhaps not the aforementioned Tristan da Cunha), but this little piece of paradise and the captivating charm of the Farmhouse Inn and its owners will remain ensconced in our remembrance with the utmost fondness.
The Harvest Fest in Fremont Things got kicked off with their perennially pleasurable parade Thursday evening and sources have reported there was once again an absolute bumper crop of candy harvested. There are lots of activities for Saturday including a run, antique tractors and kids games in the park. Oh and it is homecoming at the high school so come on over to the football field Friday and back the Pack (or Grant if you are a Tiger fan) and check out the halftime goings on. Pulaski Days in GR If you’ve never listened to a polka band at Kosciuszko Hall while scarfing down some golumpki and kapusta you haven’t had the Pulaski Days experience. Back in the day when we lived in our metro neighbor to the south this weekend meant hitting up few halls for some great food and a celebration of all things Polish. Though it seems the old West Side is becoming a bit gentrified these days the halls that house such dedicated groups such as the Knights of Saint Casimir, the Polish Falcons and the St. Ladislaus Aid Society continue to provide the Pulaski Days spark as they have for decades and the beer and eats are a bargain. Hippie Fest returns to Val Du Lakes Saturday Ok, gotta tell you, it seems a bit strange to see something like this. We haven’t been to one and realize they are an opportunity to draw in the hippie wannabe crowd as well as providing a little nostalgia for those who may have, shall we say, dabbled a bit in the movement (“What? This is a movement?”). We fully intended to make it to one this year. They gathered in Ionia around mid summer but things were busy and this Saturday doesn’t work either but hey, if you go let us know what it was like for you. And if you come back and begin a campaign for one of the local community theater groups to put on “Hair, The Musical” ? We’ll figure the experience was a fruitful one. Red Flannel Days- Cedar Springs. This is one of the oldest festivals around and if you need one more carnival fix before shutting it down for the winter they got one. Also a craft fair, beverage tent and an ocean of red because wearing a little crimson is semi-required during the festivities. Remember, you’ve been duly warned on this. The Grand Parade is Saturday at 3pm and they are likely lining up already because this is a good one. Local Tunes Innuendo at the RStop Saloon in Newaygo Friday 8pm Zach of Bass Case at Newaygo Brewing Co Saturday 12-4pm |
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