Family fun, spectacular music, and endless entertainment for the kids await you at the 12th Annual Petoskey Festival on the Bay held August 14th through the 17th in downtown Petoskey. The Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce invites you to this unforgettable weekend where folks can entertain the kids with a variety of activities in the Children’s Area, taste delectable short ribs at the BBQ Competition, participate in the Chalk & Chocolate Festival, shop The BIG Art Show, enter the Festival 5k and Rubber Ducky Race, plus enjoy the opportunity to dance the night away with Northern Michigan Greats like Billy Strings & Don Julin, The Cookies, and so much more! Look for us in the Children’s Area, where Traverse Magazine and MyNorth.com will be having fun with the kiddos!

Here is a glimpse of the fun to come…

THURSDAY, AUGUST 14th

6PM-9PM | Family Night
$5 per family
Blissfest Music Organization hosts a Family Country Dance, games, and local fare from Etta’s Kitchen.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15th

1PM-7PM | Children’s Area Petoskey Festival
$2 per child, adults FREE
Boredom non-existent! Here is what the kids can participate in:

Petting Zoo
Face Painting
Balloon Twisting
Petoskey Stone hunt
Fun run
Yard Games
Bounce House
Good For the Planet Games
Tattoos & Bubble Fun

5:00PM-Midnight | Live Entertainment
Groove by the bay to the tunes of the Jelly Roll Blues Band and boot-stomp with Billy Strings & Don Julin. You won’t be able to stand still when Northern Michigan’s latest band, The Cookies takes to the stage to play dance favorites from Motown to pop.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16th

7:30AM Registration, Race @ 9AM  | Festival 5K Walk & Run
$25 Individual
$45 family of four

10AM-5PM | The Big Art Show
More than 50 artists and crafters from Michigan display creative wares, artisan goods, and fine art.

10AM | Chalk & Chocolate Festival
Beginners to experienced artists create chalk paintings across town. Register begins at 8AM near the fishing pond on Little Traverse Wheelway. Artist chalk is included in the fee. Awards will be given in the Open Division, Master’s Reproduction, and Junior Division. A chocolate lover’s paradise, Kilwin’s and other chocolatiers provide tastings from around the world for just $5 person.

10AM | Youth Fishing Derby

Trout Unlimited, the DNR and North Michigan Sport Fishing Club host the Youth Fishing Derby at the Quarry Pit Pond. Rods and reels will be available, but you must bring your own luck!

10AM-5PM | Children’s Area
Boredom non-existent! Here is what the kids can participate in:

Petting Zoo
Face Painting
Balloon Twisting
Magic Show
Snacks
Yard Games
Bounce House
Good For The PLanet Games
Book Giveaway
Lemonade Stand
Stuff the Bus
Color the Weather

Noon – 3PM | BBQ on The Bay Competition
$5 per person
Ten BBQ Masters wield their tongs at this throw down! Enjoy music from the Pistil Whips and special brews from Beard’s Brewery. Don’t miss the final judgement when celebrity judges will be given blind tastes to determine the spare rib champion!

4PM | Rubber Ducky Race
A rollicking race of Rubber Duckies down the Bear River. Sponsor your own duck for $10 to race to win $100-$300 in prizes.

Noon-Midnight | Live Entertainment
Ryan Whyte Maloney, Traverse City’s celebrity star on The Voice, takes the stage! Also enjoy the tunes of Yankee Station, Third Coast Kings, and Galactic Sherpas.

…Oh wait, there’s still more!

Other happenings Downtown include the Farmers Market, Electro Sunset Teen Dance, Friday Night Band Jams for Teens, Keeweenar Star Boat Cruises, kayak demos, free Jiimaan Canoe excursions, Concert in The Park, and Treasures in Petoskey Drawing.

Find everything you need to know about Petoskey Festival on The Bay 2014 here.