Full schedule of events to light up the summer in Rogers City

Many of the favorite events are returning to the 2022 Nautical City Festival and a few new ones join the mix. Many events center around the big tent at Lakeside Park while other events are happening all over town. The festival is a time to plan reunions and get-togethers all with the Nautical City Festival there to supplement those events.

Madysen Gohl won the title of Miss Nautical Coast in the 2021 pageant. A new queen will be crowned July 29.

The schedule is set with a busy set of events for this year’s Nautical City Festival in Rogers City Aug. 2-7. According to festival chairwoman Kim Margherio, a hardworking committee has a good lineup of events for the annual summer gathering. 

One popular event is back on the schedule and that is the Texas Hold’em poker tournament set for Wednesday, Aug. 3 in the festival tent. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and the games start at 6:30 p.m. There is no pre-registration for the poker tournament. 

The Nautical City Festival Committee, Inc. was formed in the late 1970s with six-member organizations having two votes each on the committee. Members for 2022 are and their representatives include the Rogers City Area Chamber of Commerce (Karen Bailey, Lisa Schellie), the Kiwanis Club (Margherio, Jean Garratt), the Optimist Club (Missy Bannon, Tricia Taratuta), the Rogers City Servicemen’s Club (K.C. Roth, Timeen Adair), Rogers City Knights of Columbus (Paul Bennett and Bob Tosch) and the Lions Club. The Rogers City Area Zonta Club (Jan Pankner, Karen Spens) joined the organization after the Lions Club dissolved several years ago. 

Fireworks close the Nautical City Festival that runs Aug. 2-7 in Rogers City

“The committee has great members who are getting the job done. They are good workers and positive people who are in it for the community,” Margherio said. “It is a lot of work. It is the event that brings the most people into the community of any event that we do. Our visitors and our locals support our local businesses who need it. It is an all-around great community event.”

THE MISS Nautical Coast pageant is set for Friday with tickets available only from the contestants. Vying for the title are (front from left) Lylian Bickhardt, Morgan Bruning, Alayna Sorget (back from left) Elizabeth Romel, Josephine Bellmore and Jadyn Hanson. The contestants will be judged based on an essay, interview, art, meet-and-greet, evening gown and a final question. Missy Bannon and Nicole Bannasch direct the pageant and Mikaela Bannon, the reigning Miss Michigan Volunteer will be the host of the event. The pageant takes place with limited seating at the Hentkowski Funeral Home in Rogers City. (Photo by Richard Lamb)

Although the six organizations have members on the committee, the festival takes many-hands-on-deck volunteers to make it sail. Margherio praised the work of Kevin Wickersham, who guides the setup of the big tent and Carmeuse Americas for providing electricians to make the big tent hum. Many others lend a hand to make things work smoothly. 

“The people who work hard deserve some recognition,” Margherio said. 

Bands filling the big tent with music include The Borderline 3 Band festival Thursday from 7-10 p.m., High Speed Band playing festival Friday from 8-midnight, Tommy K and the Rock Show Band on festival Saturday from 8-midnight.

The Kielbasa Kings will fill the festival tent with polka music festival Sunday afternoon from 4-8 p.m. “I know they have been here in the past but they haven’t been here for a while,” Margherio said. 

In addition to the live bands, there are many of the popular activities like the juried arts and craft show, the kiddie parade, the amusement rides and games, the grand parade, softball tournaments, special meals at various places and the fireworks display to cap the entire event. Longtime former mayor and community volunteer Beach Hall will serve as grand marshal of the parade that begins at 12:30 p.m. festival Sunday, Aug. 7.

A person is needed to run the horseshoe tournament if that event is to continue. 

“I don’t want to cancel that event. I want to do something, even if it is not a tournament,” Margherio said. “I have faith that somebody will come along and we will make it work.”

lass="Apple-converted-space"> This year’s fireworks display, planned for festival Sunday at 10 p.m., will cost $11,000, up 30 percent from last year. Major contributions have come from Carmeuse Americas, DTE, Plath’s Meats, Jaz Handyman, Rogers City Masonic Lodge No. 493, Teryl and Hayley Rose along with significant contributions from community members. 

The festival committee is always looking for volunteer help in a variety of areas. People can call (989) 734-4656 to get involved or volunteer. 

More on the Nautical City Festival can be found in the July 28, 2022 issue of the Advance