Special Events

ALPENA CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE DAY
Happy 4th of July....
Some things to look forward to.....

4^th of July *Sandcastle Contest
Sponsored by the Downtown Area Business Association
This event will take place at Starlight Beach
(US 23 South, or State Ave., Alpena)
Registration: 9 a.m. at the sign up table.
Judging will begin at 3 p.m.
Get your Passport to the Arts stamped between
1 p.m. & 4 p.m. at Starlight Beach.
There will be three categories of entries 
Junior, Teen/Young Adult, and Group.
There will be cash prizes for the winners.
For more information, call Lynn at (989) 356-6422.

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4^th of July *Dork Brothers Fourth of July
5K Run / Walk – 1 Mile Fun Run

Registration and check in will begin
at 7 a.m. Starting Time: 8:15 a.m. – 1 Mile.
8:30 a.m. 5K-Archway Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail (Adjacent to Fletcher Street Brewery)
Early Registration $5. – No-shirt…Race Day $8. – No-shirt.
All proceeds go to support: Northeast Michigan Coalition for Prevention of Homeless & Hunger. Make checks payable to: Dork Brothers Racing Team/Stand Mischley, P.O. Box 301, Alpena, MI 49707
For more information, contact Stan at (989) 354-5634.
– E-mail: smischle@verizon.net

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4^th of July *Alpena’s Fourth of July Parade,
Sponsored by the Lafarge North America ~ Alpena Plant

Participants should be at the Alpena County Fairgrounds at 9:30 a.m. Parade begins at 11 a.m. at the Alpena County Fairgrounds Route: 11^th Avenue, Chisholm St., straight across the 2nd Ave. Bridge, turn left on Fletcher to the big parking area across from Alpena Marc’s brick building.

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4^th of July *Rubber Duckie Race
– Alpena Optimist Club

Tickets that correspond to numbers on the rubber ducks may be purchased in advance from any Optimist member, at the 4^th of July Parade,
or at the 9^th Street Bridge prior to the releasing of the duckies.
Ticket Prices: $2.50 for a chance to win $500
or $5.00 for a chance to win $1,000.
The rubber ducks will be released from the 9^th Street bridge following the parade, then float down the river to the Rotary Island Mill Park.
There is no fee to watch the Rubber Duckie Race. For more information, contact Dana Howard (989) 379-3604 or Ken at (989) 356-1589.
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4^th of July *Thunder Bay Maritime Festival
9^th Annual festival takes place 
Location:  500 W. Fletcher Street, Alpena.

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, Alpena. Presented by: The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve. FREE event takes place on the 4^th of July.
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Entertainment, boat tours, hands-on activities for children, food and more are featured.
Contact the Alpena Area C.V. B. at: 1-800-4-ALPENA
or (989) 354-4181, for a Complete schedule of Maritime Festival activities, also Alpena Fourth of July events.
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4^th of July *Alpena City Band Concert
Location: Beautiful Bay View Park – Fine Arts Band Shell
(State Street/US 23, Alpena) This event is FREE to the public, bring a friend, a Lawn chair or a Blanket and enjoy yourself.
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. For more information call (989) 354-3027.
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4^th of July * True North Radio Network
Summer Concerts featuring: “Midnight Special” 
The band will take you on a magical journey to the 70’s, featuring the music of Queen, Styx, Journey,
Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk, Bob Seger,
and an assortment of great One Hit Wonders.
Location: Beautiful Bay View Park – Fine Arts Band Shell
(State Street/US 23, Alpena) This event is FREE to the public,
bring your friends, a Lawn chair or a Blanket and enjoy yourself.
Time: 7:00 p.- 10:00 p.m. For more information call: (989) 354-4611.
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4^th of July *Alpena’s 4^th of July Fireworks
Join Alpena in what is sure to be a thrilling evening for all!
Alpena is known to have a fantastic fireworks display.
So invite your family and friends and come check it out for yourself.
Make this 4^th of July the best ever.
The firework display will begin at dusk at the Alpena waterfront
(Mich-E-Ke-Wis Park).
Watch around $18,000 worth of fireworks compliments of
The City of Alpena, and more than 80 other individuals and businesses make the coast toast!

For more information please call: 1-800-4-ALPENA or 354-4181. Check out our web-site for more information: www.alpenacvb.com (calendar of events)

COUNTY DANCE IN THE BARN

Location: Thunder Bay Resort
27800 M-32 West
Hillman, MI  49746

Time: Dance Lessons 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Dancing from 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Join us for Country Dancing in the 4000 square foot smoke-free Barn at Thunder Bay Resort.
Line dance lessons from 7-8, Dancing from 8-11.
Food, lodging, and RV accomodations available.

For more information or any questions you may have please contact:
Meredith Walker at:
(989) 742-4502

E-Mail: walker.meredith@gmail.com

Check out our web-site at: www.thunderbayresort.com

COLUMBUS REPLICA SHIPS
"PINTA" AND "NINA" TO LAND IN ALPENA

Alpena, MI...On Thursday, July 2nd, the "Pinta" and the "Nina", replicas of Columbus' ships will open in Alpena.  The ships will be docked at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, until their departure early Monday morning July 6th, 2009...

The "Nina" was built completely by hand and without the use of power tools, and was called by Archaeology magazine "the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built."  The craftsmanship of construction and the details in the rigging make it a truly fascinating visit back to the Age of Discovery.  The "Nina" was used in the production of the film "1492" starring Gerard Depardieu and directed by Ridley Scott..

The "Pinta" was recently build in Brazil to accompany the "Nina" on all of her travels.  She is a larger version of the archetypal caravel and offers larger deck space for walk-aboard tours and has a 900 sq. ft. main salon down below to view slide shows of the ships' construction.  The Pinta is available for private parties while in port.

Both ships will be touring together as a new and enhanced "Sailing Museum" for the purpose of educating the public and school children on the "Caravel", a Portuguese ship used by Columbus and many early explorers to discover the world.

While in port, the general public are invited to visit the ships for walk-aboard self-guided tours. 
The prices are $7.00 for adults, $6.00 for seniors and $5.00 for children.  Children 4 and under are FREE. 
The ship is open every day from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 
No reservations necessary. 
Teachers or groups wishing to schedule a 30 minute guided tour with a crew member should call the ship directly at (787) 672-2152. 
Minimum of 15 at $3.00 per person. 

Visit our website at:
www.thenina.com  for additional information.
The ships arrive on Wednesday July 1st, and there will be a private viewing for the media after docking.  The ships open to the public on July 2nd.

Columbus Foundation, Inc.  British Virgin Islands.

9^TH ANNUAL THUNDER BAY MARITIME FESTIVAL 
"FREE ADMISSION"....

Live Entertainment, Tall Ships & Boat Tours, Kids' Games and Activities, Food, Displays and Demonstrations.

Location: Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center
500 West Fletcher Street,
Alpena, MI  49707

DIRECTIONS:

From US 23 North
Follow 23 Until you reach a stop light.  Turn Left onto Johnson/Miller St..
Turn Right onto Cedar St.  Straight at Stop Sign.
GLMHC is the Large Blue NOAA Building next to the paper mill

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From US 23 South/State Avenue
Follow 23 Until you reach a stop light. Turn Right onto 2nd Avenue.
Cross over the bridge.  Turn Left onto Fletcher Street>
Straight on Fletcher into the old paper mill complex.  GLMHC is the Large Blue NOAA building at the end of the parking lot.
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From M-32
Follow M-32 / Washington Avenue
Strait at the light on 2nd & Chisholm Street
Cross over the 2nd Avenue Bridge
Turn Left onto Fletcher Street.
Straight on Fletcher into the old paper mill complex.  GLMHC is the Large Blue NOAA building at the end of the parking lot.

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Entertainment Schedule...
11:00 a.m. ...Tongue Family String Band
12:00 p.m. ...Neptune Quartet
1:00 p.m....Song of the Lakes
1:30 p.m....Sponsor Recognition
2:30 p.m....Tongue Family String Band
3:30 p.m....Neptune Quartet
4:30 p.m....Song of the Lakes
National Hand Jive Competition

"Project Lakewell"
A special program called Project Lakewell will be located on Island Mill, accesible by a bridge at the back of the Center.  A cast of seven trained historical educators, will introduce visitors to French Voyageurs, Metis, other European characters and Michigan's first inhabitants, the Anishinabe.

"The Nina"
The Nina is a replica of the ship on which Columbus sailed across the Atlantic on his three voyages of discovery to the new world beginning in 1492.  Columbus sailed the tiny ship over 25,000 miles.  That ship was last heard of in 1501, but the new Nina has a different mission.  She is a floating museum, and visits ports all over the Western Hemisphere.

"Song of the Lakes"
Song of the Lakes have been repeatedly voted "Northern Michigan's Best Folk Artist."  Their high energy performances combine Celtic and Scandinavian traditions with Michigan maritime history in a show that weaves humor and lore, and inspires hand-clapping audience participation.

"Pinta"
The Pinta, was recently built in Brazil to accompany the Nina on all of her travels.  She is a larger version of the archetypal caravel and offers larger deck space for walk-aboard tours and has a 40 foot air conditioned main cabin down below with seating.  Visitors can watch a video on the building of the ship in Brazil.  The Pinta is available for private parties while in port.

"Neptune Quartet"
Formed in 2001, Neptune Quartet features acoustic bass, cello, guitar and mandolin.  The Lansing State Journal praised, "Neptune is essentially an acoustic chamber ensemble, with decidedly imaginative, adventurous leanings and - not surprisingly - a well-schooled sense of how to play jazz."

"Tongue Family String Band"
Steve, Amy, Abby, Lara and Emma Tongue make up the Tongue Family String Band, a family Celtic string band that has been active in the Northern Michigan music scene for the past two years.  Their show includes Irish step dance and audiences always enjoy the novelty of seeing a family that performs and dances together.

"Madeline"
The schooner Madeline is a reconstruction of a mid-19th century Great Lakes schooner and one of the State of Michigan's official tall ships.  She was built between 1985 and 1990 in Traverse City, Michigan by volunteer members of the non-profit group the Maritime Heritage Alliance.  Her mission is to serve as a floating center for the interpretation of Great Lakes maritime history.  She is open to visitors in her home port of Traverse City and travels to other Great Lakes ports.

Check out our web-site: www.thunderbay.noaa.gov 

For more information or any questions you may have
please contact: (989) 356-8805 or toll frees 1-800-4-ALPENA.