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Tom Buchkoe
Marquette Blues Fest
Crowds enjoy the Blues Fest setting in Elwood Mattson Lower Harbor Park.
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Tom Buchkoe
Janiva Magness
Janiva Magness, who performed at the first Marquette Area Blues Fest in 2003, will return this year for the 10th anniversary.
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Jamie Tomczyk
Marquette Harbor Fest
Jumparooz Inflatables offer fun for kids during Harbor Fest.
Two of Marquette’s major summer festivals – Harbor Fest and Marquette Area Blues Fest – reach milestones in 2013 and plan back-to-back special weekends for supporters at Elwood Mattson Lower Harbor Park this August.
Harbor Fest, the biggest fundraiser for the Marquette West Rotary, marks its 30th year August 22-24. Known as Seafood Fest until this year, it has expanded well beyond what was once an annual barbecue.
“We’re raising the bar on entertainment,” says Rosemary E. Smith, president of the Marquette West Rotary. It’s an effort that started last year with a concert and light show by a Pink Floyd tribute band.
This year will be fun for Bob Dylan fans and those familiar with Bayfield, Wisconsin’s Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua. The outdoor concert Friday night is “Highway 61 Revisited – A Bob Dylan Retrospective,” an original production from Big Top Chautauqua and featuring the Blue Canvas Orchestra.
“This year will be more of a celebration of Lake Superior and family events, like a classic boat and car show, boat building seminars, live music and Lake Superior history,” Rosemary says. Saturday will offer the Jumparooz Inflatables play area for kids, music from local bands and food from Vango’s, Border Grill and the Thai House. All three will offer seafood options to appeal to the former Seafood Fest fans.
Blues Fest
For its 10th anniversary, the Marquette Area Blues Fest will present a free show on Friday night, August 30, as “a thank you to the community,” says Mark Hamari, festival director. “We hope to have some of the favorite acts from the first nine years,” based on a survey of festival attendees.
The festival typically draws 3,000 to 4,000 people over the weekend. This year, blues fans can expect blues and soul singer Janiva Magness, nominated for five 2013 Blues Music Awards, including B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. She performed at the first blues fest.
John Nemeth, who has impressed critics and audiences with his powerful vocals, harmonica playing and blending of retro and modern blues and soul, is in the lineup. And there’s Big James and the Chicago Playboys, known for a horn-heavy, Chicago-rooted sound. “They played here a few years ago and will be one of our headliners coming back,” Mark says.
With all these festival options, attenders can get two weekends of tasty food, a wonderful park setting and top-notch musicians.
Harbor Fest, Aug. 22-24. 989-370-2777. www.marquettewestrotary.org. Marquette Area Blues Fest, Aug. 30-Sept. 1. 800-544-4321. www.marquetteareabluessociety.com.