Nautical festival numbers show mixed results for the events

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

The 2015 Nautical Festival overcame a lot to enjoy a pretty good week.

The festival had to deal with the loss of the big tent from a storm that pulled spikes from the harbor parking lot and destroyed the tent. There also was a loss of power in Rogers City Tuesday night, but thanks to Schmidt Amusements, a generator was used to keep the lights on and prevent the kickoff-night events from being canceled.

“I think, all in all, it was up,” said Mike Myers, Nautical Festival Committee member. “I think things went very well.”

Myers talked with some of the food vendors at the courthouse, “Who were very pleased. I had not heard numbers, but they were very pleased.”  He said business at the Kiwanis Club fish shack was nonstop.

Other areas of the festival reported a downturn, including the softball tournaments and run.

The Presque Isle County Sportsmen’s Club sold more than 700 chicken dinners, but that was down by 100 from a year ago, and 200 from two years ago.

The car show numbers also were down; however, the event was not publicized in the festival brochure. The pet show also was down.

The Polish festival dinner at St. Ignatius Catholic School was up; however, specific numbers will not be available for more than a week.

The Presque Isle County Historical Museum, who stepped up their participation in the festival about 10 years ago, had their best festival ever, according to Mark Thompson, museum curator/executive director. He said the bus tours to Carmeuse Lime & Stone were maxed out. They sent eight buses with 60 people on each one.

The museum sold out their buffalo burgers and Plath’s brats on the lawn of the Bradley House and had hundreds of people viewed the new exhibits. Thompson also said the gift shop and arts and crafts booth did well too.

The Rogers City Area Senior & Community Center was on par with the 157 spaghetti dinners it sold in 2014.

The Knights of Columbus scholarship breakfast at the St. Ignatius Catholic School gym had its “best crowd ever,” said organizer Jim Przybyla. They sold 246 meals, an increase from 220 a year ago.

Doug

Schmidt of Schmidt Amusements said his best day was Saturday, while Sunday was down 2 percent. It was the only bad day they had.

The monster truck rides experienced a hiccup as the driver hauling the truck from Tennessee got lost by Hillman and was an hour late.

“Some people were upset, but most understood,” said Myers. “Add it to the list of ‘what else could go wrong.’ ”

The fireworks were well received, said Myers. One comment he heard was that it was the “best show ever.”

“ I thought it was a great show, from the perspective of being right under it,” said Myers.

The parade was led by grand marshal Helen Berg, who thoroughly enjoyed her ride through town.