Coast Guard Parade of Ships in Grand Haven

GRAND HAVEN, MI - The Coast Guard Festival is ready to make a big return to Grand Haven.

The 10-day festival has honored men and women who have served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 98 years, beginning as a small picnic to a packed festival with family-friendly fun.

In honor of Grand Haven’s token name as “Coast Guard City, USA,” the festival kicks off at 10 a.m. Friday, July 29, and continues through Sunday, Aug. 7.

Since the start of the festival in 1998, marked by an act of U.S. Congress as the first Coast Guard City, USA, only two other cities have received the token name.

Read below for the full event lineup and festival information.

The festival will be packed with different activities. Here are some highlights:

Harbor Island will not be used for parking locations this year, as it was used in 2021. The new parking locations can be utilized in seven different spots: Ferry Elementary School, Griffin Elementary School, Trinity Reformed Church, First Christian Reformed Church, First Baptist Church in Spring Lake, All Shores Wesleyan Church in Spring Lake and Ferrysburg City Hall.

A downtown drop-off location will also be available at 3rd Street and Columbus Avenue.

Additionally, the park-and-ride will be available from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6.

See the full schedule of the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival below.

Quarter Below performs at Grand Haven Eagles 925 Club beer tent during Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven, Michigan on Friday, August 6, 2021. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Tri-Cities Family YMCA Grand Haven Coast Guard Run

The annual festival fun is scheduled for Saturday, July 30. The event offers an array of activities for the whole family, including the Tot Trot Obstacle Course to a 10K run.

Registration is available online at www.tcfymca.org. Each event ranges in price, while the Tot Trot Obstacle Course is free.

Children run for candy during the Coast Guard Festival's Grand Parade in Grand Haven on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. (Annie Barker | MLive.com) Annie Barker | abarker@mlive.com

Two classes of races and a limited 20 boats will be featured in the 200-yard race at the Waterfront Stadium at 1:30 p.m.

The Buoy Class is for youth, ages 10-15. The Cutter Class is open to anyone age 16 and older. Two-person and three to eight-person vessels are permitted.

Prize categories include fastest time, Fleet Award, Iceberg Award and People’s Choice. The Fleet Award goes to the best themed boat, while the Iceberg Award is for the best sinking.

The boats will be on display from about noon until race time for a public walk-through and People’s Choice vote.

A U.S. Coast Guard boat passes through Grand River during the Grand City Skiers water ski show as part of the Coast Guard Festival at Waterfront Stadium in downtown Grand Haven on July 30, 2013.Theophil Syslo | MLive.com file

Better Bags Corn Hole Tournament Fundraiser

Players meet at 5:15 p.m. at 129 Columbus Ave. The competition kicks off at 5:30 p.m. $50 for a team of two.

Event ends around 9:00 p.m. Register at playbetterbags.com before it closes at 8 p.m. on Aug. 2.

Walk of Coast Guard History

All are welcome to the dedication of the “newest“ point of Coast Guard History at the Grand Haven City Hall. Dedication begins at noon and is free to the public.

Join the Grand Haven area in one of the “most popular craft fairs in Michigan.” Several booths will be available for the whole family to enjoy from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6 through Saturday, Aug. 7.

U.S. Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard during the Coast Guard Festival's Grand Parade in Grand Haven, Michigan on Saturday, August 7, 2021. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com

The public is welcome to attend the annual Grand Parade in downtown Grand Haven.

All in attendance will be able to see more than 100 entries salute the men and women of the United States Coast Guard.

Start time is 11:45 p.m. See the parade route map here.

More information on this year’s festival can be found at www.coastguardfest.org.

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