Fremont Harvest Festival, October 1 - 4

Don’t miss the Fremont Harvest Festival, October 1 - 4, featuring the"Good Ole Days" Harvest Time parade and Antique Tractor Show. Scheduled events include:

Thursday, October 1:

• Harvest Time Parade, 6 pm with pumpkin bowling immediately following the parade
• Dogs on the Green, 5 – 7:30 pm, serving foot long hot dogs
• Pumpkin decorating contest
• Flea Market, 9 am - 5 pm
• Moonlight Madness Sales, 4 pm - 9 pm
• Sidewalk Star Party 7 pm - 9:30 pm
• Wagon Rides

Friday, October 2:

• Flea Market, 9 am - 5 pm
• Taste of Fremont, 4 pm - 7 pm
• Wagon Rides, 4 pm - 7 pm
• Pumpkin/Apple Recipe Contest, 6 pm

Saturday, October 3:

• Antique Tractor Show, 9 am - 3 pm
• Wagon Rides
• Farmers Market, 8 am - 12:30 pm
• Fall Harvest Hike & Bike, registration 8 am
• Seed Spitting Contest, 9 am - 12:30 pm
• Pumpkin Roll, 9 am - 12:30 pm
• Fremont Police Dept vs. Fremont Fire Dept Softball Game, 1pm
• Fall Photo Contest, 11 am
• Harvest Festival Beverage Tent at the Fremont Market Place, 5 pm - 11 pm
• Wessling Observatory Harvest Moon Star Party, 8 pm - 11 pm

Saugatuck to Play Host to First-Ever Blue Star Harvest Festival on Saturday, Sept. 26

West Michigan music and beer lovers will have a new way to celebrate the change of season this fall with the debut of the Blue Star Harvest Festival in Douglas, Mich. on Saturday, Sept. 26. The first-year festival, to be held at the Saugatuck Brewing Co., will feature seven live music acts, seasonal microbrews, food and other activities “There’s something magical about the harvest season along the lakefront,” says festival organizer Brad Raffenaud of Sprout Media Group. “As the tourist season winds down in Saugatuck, Holland and South Haven, we wanted to offer the locals a chance to celebrate with great live music, great beer, great food and a bit of eco-consciousness. We’ve put together a great bill of up-and-coming acts in the pub all day, along with some of the region’s best international touring acts in the Bier Hall in the evening along with a blues duo from France.”

The Blue Star Harvest festival opens at 3 pm with free music in the Saugatuck Brewing Co. pub, featuring Roosevelt Diggs, Spencer Mulder and Full Chord. At 7 pm, the music will move into the brewery’s Bier Hall with performances by Last Call Band, Mountain Men, The Ragbirds and headliner Revered Peyton’s Big Damn Band.

Festival headliner Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band is a country-blues trio and really is not that big at all, the band gets its big sound out of an acoustic guitar, washboard, snare drum and occasional harmonica blast, as well as the Reverend Peyton’s booming voice. The Ragbirds also on the bill are from Ann Arbor, Michigan and have been the #1 selling artists in Japan for the past few weeks with their new CD, Finally Almost Ready, out charting much larger well known artists like Black Eyed Peas and Madonna. One duo also on the mainstage are from the Rhone-Alpes in France, The Mountain Men. A traditional style blues duo shows how their American blues influences translates to them. The festival’s free music portion is from 3-7 pm and features a set by 19-year old Spencer Mulder, who will be releasing his sophomore CD, Rewind, in mid-September. Mulder’s new record is generating buzz among local music professionals for its blend of Ryan Adams-style alt.country and Matchbox 20/Counting Crows-type rock.

Think Red: Fall Color and Michigan Wine

In the most beautiful areas of the Great Lakes State, visitors can enjoy fall color and the bounty of vineyard harvests at more than 60 wineries. Whether the destination is Harbor Country, Irish Hills or the scenic peninsulas near Traverse City, visitors will find award-winning wines to sample in their autumn travels. Judges at the 2009 Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition were especially impressed with the quality of red wines from 2007, and many of these limited-edition reds are available only at the wineries.

The opportunity to "try before you buy" is another good reason to make a trip to winery tasting rooms. For those who can't get away to tour during the autumn color season, there are year-round tasting opportunities. When the crowds clear between November and April, winemakers and tasting room staff are less busy and visitors are treated to extra attention. Many tasting rooms have a limited off-season schedule, so you'll want to check winery web sites or call before you travel to confirm hours of operation.

There are many events this fall that provide opportunities to meet winemakers and sample a variety of Michigan wines, including the New Buffalo Wine & Harvest Festival, October 10 and Food, Wine and All That Jazz, October 30 at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Wineries also host wine dinners, vineyard tours and trail events to celebrate the harvest.

To request a complimentary Michigan Wine Country magazine, with maps to the wineries, visit www.michiganwines.com.

Old School Hot Rods Featured at Gilmore Car Museum

On Sunday, September 27, 2009 the Gilmore Car Museum will hold the “Relix Riot” Traditional Hot Rod and Motorcycle Show. This all-new event will feature only 1964 and earlier hot rods, customs and motorcycles built in a “traditional” style of the ‘40s, ‘50s and early ‘60s.

You may have heard of Street Rods, Hot Rods or even Rat Rods, but what exactly is a Traditional Hot Rod? Just think ‘old school’. In this case its pre-1965 cars and bikes that have been customized with nothing newer than 1964 parts.

The Traditional Hot Rod is a faithful representation of the hot rod cars built during the post WWII period through the mid-1960s. Historical accuracy and detail is everything. The Traditional Hot Rod, whether a 50-year-old barn find or a new creation, won’t have electronic fuel injection, neon lights, Billet wheels or a modern megawatt stereo installed. (Much of the same way you wouldn’t expect to see a Civil War re-enactor carrying an Ipod or cell phone!)

The show and swap meet, sponsored by the Relix Car and Motor Cycle Club, is open to the public on Sunday the 27th from 9am – 6pm and is sure to draw “old school” Hot Rods from throughout the Midwest. The one-day event includes afternoon performances by the renowned rockabilly band The Wild Woodies, a touch of bluegrass music with Brother Bill and surf-rock with Los Cobras. There will even be a vintage Bettie Page style Pin-up Girl contest.

With the Gilmore Car Museum’s 1930 Shell station, its authentic 1941 diner and historic buildings guests on this particular Sunday may feel as though they’ve just stepped out of a scene from the movie American Graffiti.

Special discounted spectator admission is $8.00 for the day, with those under 11 admitted free. Guests will be able to tour the world-class Gilmore Car Museum collection of nearly 200 extraordinary vehicles at no extra charge. Through the remainder of the 2009 season, which ends on October 31, the Museum is also featuring the all-new exhibit, "History - 1/4 Mile at a Time," featuring vehicles from some of the most iconic names in drag racing history – “Big Daddy” Don Garltis, Arnie “The Farmer” Beswick, Kalamazoo’s Jerry Arnold, and E. J. Potter – aka “The Michigan Madman,” just to name a few.

The Gilmore Car Museum is located just 20 minutes northeast of Kalamazoo on M-43 and Hickory Road.

Public Museum’s Voigt House German Fest Offers Authentic Autumn Celebration “Under the Tent”

The Grand Rapids Public Museum's Voigt House Victorian Museum will host their annual German Fest October 3-4 under the tent on the front lawn, one stop on the Heritage Hill Tour of Homes. Visitors will enjoy toe-tapping German music as well as a selection of authentic libations and food including wiener schnitzel, bratwurst and apfel strudel prepared by Austrian native and Museum Chef Hans Dokl.

The Oktoberfest celebration will take place noon - 8 pm Saturday and noon - 6 pm Sunday at the Museum located at 50 College St. SE. Admission to the tent is free. Heritage Hill Tour of Homes ticket holders and Museum members may tour the Voigt House free of charge and those without tour tickets may pay regular admission prices ($3 for adults, $2 for seniors and children) for a guided tour of the historic home. Built in 1895 by prominent businessman Carl Voigt and now a property of the Public Museum, the Voigt House offers a fascinating glimpse into everyday life at the turn of the century. The home has been preserved with its original furnishings, carpets and silk wall-coverings, and is filled with personal possessions of the Voigt family. The opulent three-story home, its gardens and carriage house remain one of the more outstanding landmarks in the Heritage Hill district. The Voigt House Victorian Museum is open to the public on select days and times, for special events such as this.

Harvest Time in West Michigan Video

George Balanchine’s iconic ballet, Prodigal Son, opens next week for its only Grand Rapids appearance!

The Grand Rapids Ballet Company brings George Balanchine’s powerful ballet Prodigal Son to the stage for its only Grand Rapids appearance. The performances will be held at the intimate Peter Martin Wege Theater. George Balanchine was one of the 20th century’s foremost choreographers; a pioneer of ballet in the United States and co-founder and Ballet Master of the New York City Ballet. Inspired by the parable in the Gospel of Luke, Prodigal Son debuted May 21, 1929 and the Theatre Sarah Bernhardt in Paris and featured a score by Sergei Prokofiev. This provocative re-telling is more dramatic and emphasizes the theme of sin and redemption ending with the Prodigal Son’s return. This legendary work has been performed by such ballet luminaries as Mikhail Baryshnikov and Damian Woetzel.

To earn the rights to perform this prestigious ballet the George Balanchine Trust must deem a ballet company technically and professionally qualified to present Balanchine’s work. A repetiteur designated by the trust then visits to personally help stage the production. “It’s quite an involved process and as Michigan’s only professional ballet company, we are proud to bring Michigan this masterpiece.” Gordon Peirce Schmidt, Artistic Director.

Paul Boos is the repetiteur who staged the ballet for the Grand Rapids Ballet Company. Mr. Boos danced with Balanchine’s New York City Ballet for 13 years and has also staged Balanchine’s ballets throughout the world, most notably staging Prodigal Son for the Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg and recently for the K-ballet in Japan. About the Grand Rapids Ballet Company Paul says, “Attila’s sensitive and pure acting skills were a daily revelation in rehearsals as the Son and Kateryna’s cool serpentine quality is perfectly suited to the Siren.”

Also on the program are two original creations, the joyous Holberg Suite and the passionate Vers La Flamme. These works, created for the Grand Rapids Ballet by Gordon Peirce Schmidt, celebrate the beauty of life and perfectly compliment the themes of the Prodigal Son. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to see this amazing program in the intimate Peter Martin Wege Theatre.

GRCM Coming To the Rescue!

Opening today, the Grand Rapids Children's Museum is coming To the Rescue Sept. 16-Nov. 15 with heroes, helpers and tons of exciting ways to play it safe! To the Rescue is a GRCM original safety exhibit with special programming to help kids discover what it’s like to be a rescue worker. Lil’ Red Fire Truck #5 and the Rescue Helicopter are back and ready to save the day with costumes, sirens, lights and more! Join in all of the fun while the little ones dress up as firefighters and other heroes, slide down the escape slide and take a turn at the wheel. Children can pretend to fly at the helicopter control panel, and then use the life raft to rescue the dogs in the water below! Plus, visitors can play the Tic-Tac-Toe safety game, identifying fire hazards in the fire safety house. New this year, the To the Rescue Med Center is open for business! Children can dress up and role play as paramedics while they administer first aid to their puppet “patients.” Using play bandages, stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs and more, children can examine, diagnose and treat their puppet friends back to health.

Every Friday in September, children can participate in a bike safety course from 10 am - noon. Check out the “What’s Happening Calendar” available at www.grcm.org for more information on exciting To the Rescue programs that will help kids learn how to play it safe.

Tony Award Winner Opens at Civic Theatre this Friday, Sept. 18!

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre: September 18 - October 4

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre is proud to be the first community theatre in the country to bring the orthographic musical musings of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to the community stage. Our audience will witness six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser.

But more than bearing witness, our audience will be asked to participate! During each Spelling Bee performance, four audience members are needed on stage to participate in the bee with the rest of the cast! If you think you have good spelling skills and want to test your vocabulary prowess, sign up in the Civic lobby prior to each performance. Selected audience members will compete with characters Olive Ostrovsky, Leaf Coneybear, Chip Tolentino, Marcy Park, William Barfee, and Logainne Schwarzandgrubenierre as Vice Principal Panch gives you words to spell and Rona Lisa Peretti, Realtor and former bee champion, serves as commentator. "it adds an element of surprise to the show. Every night is different," added Director Penelope Notter.

Whether you play the role of audience member or choose to participate as a Spelling Bee contestant, you'll love this hilarious tale of overachievers' angst. The show's Tony Award winning creative team has created the unlikeliest of hit musicals about the unlikeliest of heroes: a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time.

Join us for this musical comedy that chronicles experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime.

Michigan Irish Music Festival, September 18 - 20

Michigan Irish Music Festival Celebrates 10th Year The Michigan Irish Music Festival, presented by Mercy Health Partners, returns to Heritage Landing in downtown Muskegon on September 18-20th. The festival features three days of non-stop traditional and contemporary Irish entertainment on three covered stages. The Michigan Irish Music Festival began with the goal of boosting the Muskegon economy while celebrating Irish culture. Over the past 10 years, that goal has been realized. The festival has experienced tremendous growth in size and popularity, and has had a major economic impact on the Muskegon area.

The Festival kicks off with a free Early-In offer on Friday, September 18th, sponsored by Family Financial Credit Union. All festival goers will get in free from 5-6pm. To get the party started, festival organizers are planning special events before the gates open. Family Financial Credit Union staff members will be on hand with free giveaways. Entertainment will be provided by Switchback, outside the main gate beginning at 4pm. A Festival favorite for many years, Switchback, was recently selected as the Duo of the Year by the Irish Music Association. Marty McCormack and Brian FitzGerald are known for their mix of traditional Irish music, but with a high-energy sound. McCormack described the appeal for Irish music stating, “whether you’re a Celt or not- Irish or not – you feel it. It’s a music and culture that appeals to everyone”.

A special presentation to celebrate the 10th annual Festival will take place on Saturday, September 19th at 6 pm. The presentation will include several special guests including, Mayor Steve Warmington, Ed Ward from the Milwaukee Irish Festival, Brian Doherty from Nova Scotia, and Jill Foreman from the Muskegon County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

General admission tickets for the festival are $8 on Friday (5-11 pm), $15 on Saturday (10 am – 11 pm) and $10 on Sunday (9 am – 6 pm). For additional information, tickets, and a complete entertainment schedule, call 231.739.2028