Suggestion Box: Trails, Tunes, Planes, Pancakes, Dad Humor, and Righteous Ribs

By Ken DeLaat

Here’s hoping we snare a little respite from the rain because things are happening around and about.
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At the first Trail Town celebration held at the WC Campground in the Cloud I recall talking with a guy who had trekked the entire North Country Trail, hearing a couple of bands, watching the folks who did the run come in at the finish (because we don’t, and never have, engaged in running) and sharing a few brews at the beer tent with people we know and people we met at the event.
The first  Rockin’ the Park festival last summer brought some great music to the WC Campground with tunes taking front stage and sharing the fun with a wealth of other activities for all ages.
Now the two have come together like Batman & Robin or Macaroni & Cheese to form one big beginning of summer splashdown event, called Rockin’ the Trails.
With races by land and sea, kids activities, vintage campers on display, cornhole for cancer, kids dance party and the Standup to Cancer walk one would think ‘Wow. That’s a lot.”
But remember we’re combining two great events here so on top of all this and more there is music, sweet music.
It starts with sitting around the campfire crooning  on Thursday night, moves on to the Battle of the Bands on Friday and finally a Saturday filled with terrific tunesmanship featuring  country rock and blues on stage from noon to 6pm then a half hour later the Denise Anderson Connection takes over and rocks the celebration home.
Can’t get any better?
How about a beverage tent featuring some fine brews and the kind of food vendors that make you forego lunch and dinner. Tent opens 5-11pm Friday and 10am-11pm Saturday because ...well… because all that fun makes one thirsty
Friday and Saturday. White Cloud Campground. See the ad on our home page
https://www.nearnorthnow.com/

The Cloud has a lot of action this weekend. The White Cloud Tail Twisters the group with some of the finest radio controlled things that fly to be found anywhere will be taking over the WC Airport Saturday.
If you have not been to this please go. You will be amazed at what these planes jets and helicopters can do and kids absolutely love this event.
WC Airport. Get there mid morning and hope it doesn’t rain.

And Sunday you can return to the airport from 7-11am  for the Fathers Day Fly-In Pancake Breakfast.
Like I said lots going down in the county seat.

Father’s Daze at the Dogwood. Take your Dad, your Mom, your kids or anyone who enjoys great storytelling and comedy
https://www.nearnorthnow.com/features-and-fun/fathers-daze-at-the-dogwood-on-june-14

Who feels like cooking on Friday? Especially when the option is the nearly world famous
BBQ Smoked Rib Dinner To Go at Hit The Road Joe in Croton.
Ribs,slaw potato salad and baked beans (choose 2) and a mouth watering slab of some really fine cornbread.
5-7pm. First come first served and when they’re out, they’re out.
However….
You can call, and reserve a few dinners at 231.652.6020.
$14
Chef T’s take-outs are always a treat but the ribs? Man ,the ribs are just plain righteous.
 
Saturday means Acoustic Lunch at the Newaygo Brewery Co and this week they’re bringing in Bruce Johnson from noon to 4pm. Bruce has been knocking out some great sounds  during Newbrewco’s Open Mike nights so here’s a chance to see him toss out a few sets of his own.
 
There are also a pair of festivals in our metro neighbor to the south. Saturday starting at noon at Calder Plaza is the Grand Rapids Pride Festival and Friday and Saturday at Rosa Parks Circle is the Asian-Pacific Festival.
 
Lots of good times to be had this weekend and you know, summer really doesn’t even begin until right around noon next Friday when the Solstice arrives.
Might even dry out a bit by then.