The Beat of the (Steel) Drum

What happens when you offer high schoolers an opportunity for fun and travel? You get a stage full of talented, energetic Steel Drum performers! The Petoskey HS program that started out about 14 years ago with a mere eight musicians, has grown to one of the most popular music programs in the State. All equipment, instruments, and expenses are paid for from fund raisers and the sale of CD's and a new DVD. These sought-out kids have performed several times in New Orleans, in Hawaii, and other parts of the country. During the summer they often perform as many as three concerts a day, spanning several cities. Their repertoire is diverse, too, from the traditional Jimmy Buffet songs, to Lord of the Dance, to the Nutcracker, to Deliverance's famous dueling banjos (steel drum style). For us, they were the highlight of Alpenfest. They rock!

I Love a Parade

Gaylord's Alpenfest saves the best for last. Their parade is on Saturday, closing day for the festival. And what a parade! It went on for over an hour and included marching bands, floats, antique cars, local clubs and businesses, police, rescue, fire, and of course "dignitaries" such as Ronald MacDonald, Homer (Home Depot) and Jet (Jet's Pizza). A unique group was the local grocers' precision marching shopping carts! I'd estimate that over one third of the approximately fifty floats were queens and courts from other Michigan towns and festivals. This state loves it's festivals!

Alpenfest

The third week of July is when the little town of Gaylord hosts a huge swiss-themed festival. Several blocks downtown are closed off for carnival rides, food booths and vendors. There are free events and concerts all day, and with the purchase of a souvenir pin for $3 you get free food and admission to special events held every day. Many families make this their annual vacation destination. Dirndl's and lederhosen abound!

Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries

At least at the National Cherry Festival. We likened it to the Strawberry Festival in Plant City (FL), in that there were more ways to use cherries than you could imagine! Of course there's no pit spitting contest at the Strawberry Festival. (Can you believe there are people who can propel a cherry pit to over 50 feet?!) The week-long Cherry Festival is held along the beautiful shores of the bay in Traverse City, MI. Some of the festivities we enjoyed during our afternoon and evening there included the kids chalk art, the Air Dog competition, the wine sampling tent complete with a host sommelier (pictured in the green shirt by the barrel), and of course the live music venues.