Here’s something to contemplate: where can you find a hilarious, screaming-fast bed race…a city park filled with farm animals and the farmers market…a Great Pumpkin Race…a full-tilt wine tasting extravaganza and live music…all capped off with the live auction of some of the most colorful fish and sharks you’ve ever met on a street corner in Michigan all in the same place in one weekend? The answer is downtown St. Joseph.
Everyone’s favorite fall activities are coming together over the weekend of September 22nd and 23rd in downtown St. Joseph, in a weekend planned by St. Joseph Today that includes a Fall Fest, Wine Festival and the City of St. Joseph’s Public Art Auction of its giant fish and shark sculptures and a whole lot more. In fact, there is so much autumn fun planned in this great Lake Michigan resort community that visitors will want to spend the night so they won’t miss any of the sunrise-to-sunset entertainment.
Activities include:
Fall Festival: Sept. 22-23 Friday — The Fifth Annual Rotary and Slumberland Great Bed Race will get rolling at 4:30pm on Lake Boulevard. Onlookers can cheer teams as they race bed frames with riders aboard the special Slumberland mattresses to the finish line. This fundraiser benefits Benton Harbor Sunrise Rotary youth programs and the Slumberland Furniture 40 Winks Foundation that provides mattresses and beds to children who need them.
Saturday — The Critter Barn brings rural living to the city featuring goats, rabbits, ducks and more animals from 11am to 3pm in Lake Bluff Park. Families can gather up just-harvested fruits and vegetables, locally raised meats, cider and fall decorations at the downtown Farmers Market, from 9am to 2pm, along Lake Bluff Park. Additional activities include a face painter and balloon twisters from 11am to 3pm.
The Great Pumpkin Festival — Sponsored by the Benton Harbor Sunrise Rotary, the Great Pumpkin Festival runs from 10am to 1:45pm. This fun-filled event includes pumpkin carving and decorating contests and culminates with the Great Pumpkin Race at 1:45pm. Participants will cheer on a flotilla of mini numbered pumpkins dropped in a pool on site. The first five pumpkins to cross the finish line will win $1,000, $300, $200, $100 and $50. A $10 entry fee will benefit Benton Harbor youth programs. All tickets will be sold by 1:45pm and you do not need to be present to win.
St. Joseph Wine Festival: Sept. 23 — One of the finest backdrops to taste Michigan wines is Whirlpool Centennial Park overlooking Lake Michigan’s Silver Beach. This 4 to 9pm event presented by Lake Michigan College’s Wine and Viticulture Technology program features vintages from state wineries, local cuisine, live music and front row views of the sunset. Admission is free. Wine tasting starts at $10 and includes five drink tickets and a tasting cup. A small selection of craft beer and cider will also be available. Music will be provided by Boyne City based, Galactic Sherpas.
For an updated list of participating wineries and restaurants, visit the events page at Facebook.com/stjoetoday.
Sponsors for the Fall and Wine Festivals include:
- MedExpress Urgent Care
- Beaudoin Electrical Construction
- The City of St. Joseph
- Lake Michigan College’s Wine and Viticulture Technology program
- Vail Rubber Works.
City of St. Joseph Live Public Art Auction: Sept. 23 — Since mid-May, the City of St. Joseph has been reeling with its annual public art displays of sculptures painted by regional artists. This year’s theme features fish and sharks.
Returning this year for bidders who are unable to attend the live event to participate is a silent auction. To participate, bidders are asked to submit their contact information, the name of the art piece and the bid amount to ssolon@sjcity.com. The Silent Auction will end at 11:59pm September 22nd. To hook a fish instantly, be the first to email an offer of $2,000 for the art you want to ssolon@sjcity.com by 11:59pm September 22nd. Include the name of the sculpture which can be found online at stjosephpublicart.com.
A live auction will be held on September 23 at Whirlpool Centennial Park on the Wine Festival grounds at 6:00pm. Professional auctioneer Jerry Glassman will manage the auction for these original works. Registration for paddle numbers runs from 4 to 6pm on site. For more information, contact: Susan Solon, ssolon@sjcity.com or 269.983.5541.
St. Joseph Today is a 501(c)(3) membership-based organization dedicated to developing and promoting events and businesses in St. Joseph and its surrounding communities. For more information about Fall Fest or upcoming events, you can visit stjoetoday.com, facebook.com/stjoetoday, the Welcome Center or call 269-985-1111.
