Boat Week

Family Night is a Blue Water Fest/Boat Week tradition in the Blue Water Area. The gathering of community organizations on the banks of the Black River in Downtown Port Huron has one goal: give families a free night to remember with safe family-friendly fun during the Blue Water Fest, or Boat Week.

“Boat Week” is the celebration that leads up to the departure of sailboats in the Port Huron to Mackinac Race. This year is the 100th anniversary of the iconic race with the celebration kicking off with the Rotary International Parade at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17th. The parade starts at Glenwood Avenue and runs south down Huron Avenue/Military Street (the main street in Downtown Port Huron) and ends at Court Street.

Throughout the week, families can stroll the Black River waterfront and take a look at the variety of boats that are assembling in anticipation of the race. It is fun to watch the crews getting ready for the race and to see all the work that goes into the venture.

Thursday is Family Night

The boats leave on Saturday morning, and the Friday before the race is “Boat Night” and traditionally geared toward adults with a lot of partying. Thursday night is different, with most of the boats already in town for viewing and a focus on family fun. Family Night is coordinated by Operation Transformation. Dozens of tents and exhibits will be assembled in the area near the 10th Street Bridge in Port Huron. Local organizations will have activities for kids and some will have giveaways. BlueWaterParent.com will be there with a fun game and free magnets and coloring books.

Fun Zone

There will be a Fun Zone at the McMorran Plaza on both Thursday, July 18th and Friday, July 19th with a variety of children’s entertainment.

Live Music

There will be live music on multiple stages throughout Downtown. The schedule of who and where can be found here.

Drone Show

The fun continues into the night on Thursday, July 18th with a Drone Show that can be viewed from Desmond Landing on the St. Clair River. Over 200 drones will be lighting up the skies with interesting formations.

Get the full schedule of events for the Blue Water Fest here and the Port Huron to Mackinac Race (Bayview Mackinac Race) here.

Throughout the festival, there will be plenty of food vendors and a Street Fair on Thursday-Saturday with over 80 vendors.

There are no fireworks or carnival this year.

Parking is available in the SC4 lots and throughout downtown.

Story by Jennie McClelland for BlueWaterParent.com