Shanty Days back for 31st year
A couple of new events join the long-popular favorites for this year’s 31st Annual Shanty Days festival, taking place from Aug. 11 to 13 in various spots along the Lake Michigan shore in downtown Algoma.
The family festival, also called a “Celebration of the Lake,” includes a large parade, a “street fair” and juried arts and crafts fair, car cruise and show, food, music and more. This year’s Shanty Days honorees are Aric and Brad Schmiling of von Stiehl Winery.
New this year is a BYOBand Teen Stage, opening at 3 p.m. Saturday at the marina and offering live music from five bands, bed races, a beanbag tournament and a mocktail bar.
Also new are pool tournaments, with 9-ball singles at 5 p.m. Friday and 8-ball doubles at 2 p.m. Saturday.
The main festival grounds at American Legion Park hosts live music all three days, food and beverage concessions, and a Kid’s Area with bounce houses, ice cream and other fun (separate $10 admission from grounds admission good for all days).
The arts and crafts and street fairs both take place Saturday and Sunday along Fremont Street, and a festival wristband is not needed for admission.
The Shanty Days Parade, claimed to be one of the largest in Northeast Wisconsin, starts at noon Saturday.
Also Saturday, the annual 5K run/walk begins at 8 a.m. that day, with the “Battle on the Beach” volleyball tourney starting at 10 a.m. on Crescent Beach at Wisconsin 54.
The car cruise rolls into downtown along the parade route Saturday morning and parks at the Algoma Youth Club for a show open to the public.
Weigh-ins for the fishing tournament take place all three days at the marina’s fish cleaning station.
The Algoma Public Library, 401 Third St., holds its annual book sale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. all three days, with CDs and DVDs among the other items available.
The festival ends with fireworks over the shore at dusk Sunday.
Shanty Days is sponsored by the Algoma Area Chamber of Commerce. A $10 wristband for ages 12 and older is required for admission to the main grounds, good for all days; admission is $5 for Sunday only. To register for events or for more information, call 920-487-2044 or go to www.algomachamber.org.
This article originally appeared on Wisconsin: Shanty Days back for 31st year