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Bay Port, Michigan – As late summer rolls around, the days get a bit shorter, and the evenings around the campfire can have a bit of chill in the air. It’s also a festival season! If you’re in the Upper Thumb the first weekend in August, head to Bay Port. The Bay Port Fish Sandwich Festival is the granddaddy of them all. Since 1978, folks have lined up for a fish sandwich that “takes two hands to hold one.” At $5.00, it’s a deal. It’s a family-friendly event, but its proximity to the historic Bay Port Inn makes it seem like having a “short one” before hitting the craft booths is not uncommon.
This year, the festival format will be a bit different. The festival will take place on Friday/Saturday of August 2nd and 3rd at McLeish Memorial Park in Bay Port. Hours on Friday will be noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Michigan’s Upper Thumb Festival Season Starts in Bay Port
Friday August 2nd, Bay Port
Events start on Friday, at noon with sandwiches, food trucks and entertainment, the crowning of the festival’s king, queen, prince, and princess on the Bay Port Inn Stage.
Fish Sandwich Sales: From 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM, indulge in the festival’s iconic fish sandwiches. These delicious treats are a must-try!
Vendors/Crafters and Festival T-Shirt Sales: Browse a variety of local crafts and pick up a festival t-shirt as a souvenir.
Bay Port Area Historical Society Booth: Explore local history with photos, books, and more, available from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Grand Marshall Introduction: At 6:30 PM, join the honor guard at the flagpole to introduce the Grand Marshall and the crowning of the Festival King, Queen, Prince, and Princess on the basketball court.
Live Music by Cooper Johnson: The day ends with live music from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Bay Port Inn.
Evening Entertainment at The Bay Port Fish Sandwich Festival
Friday Night
Saturday Night
Saturday, August 3rd, Bay Port Fish Sandwich Festival
Saturday promises even more excitement, starting bright and early:
RUM Runner 5K Pirate Fun Run/Walk: Start your day with a fun run at 9:00 AM. Sign up starts at 8:30 AM.
Grand Parade: At 10:30 AM, enjoy the colorful and lively parade, a highlight of the festival.
More Fish Sandwich Sales and Vendors/Crafters: Continue savoring the festival’s famous fish sandwiches and explore local crafts and goodies from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Bay Port Area Historical Society Booth: Open from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM for another chance to delve into local history.
FREE Balloon Animals: From 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, kids can enjoy balloon animals in the park.
Corn Hole Tournament: Test your skills at this classic game starting at 12:00 PM. Registration begins at 11:30 AM.
Scavenger and Money Hunt in the Foam Pit: Sponsored activities from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM for ages 13 and under.
FREE Foam Party: All ages are welcome to join the foam party on the basketball court from 1:30 PM.
The Dynamic Duo Performance: Enjoy live music by Suzi Marsh & Al Livingston from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on the stage trailer at the basketball court, provided by Countryside Transportation.
FREE Face Painting: From 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, kids can get their faces painted.
FREE Jumbo Petting Zoo: Experience the joy of interacting with animals from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Live Music by Sinjon Smith: From 7:00 PM onwards, enjoy an evening of music.
Fireworks Show: The festival concludes with a spectacular fireworks display at dusk, sponsored by the Bay Port Chamber of Commerce & Supporters of Fish Sandwich Festival.
Map Of Bay Port Fish Sandwich Festival
A Bite of Bay Port Fish Sandwich History
The Engelhard family started the community’s Fish Sandwich Festival. In 1949, Henry and Edna Engelhard began selling the famous fish sandwich. By 1953, the Engelhard’s erected a stand on the front lawn of their home, with a sign that touted Bay Port’s Original Fresh Boneless Fried Fish Sandwich.
The first Fish Sandwich Festival was held in 1978, and just like Caseville’s 1st Rib stock held years later, they quickly sold out. Today the annual number of visitors averages over 10,000. Back in the late 1940’s folks told them they were crazy, but the Bay Port fishery certainly captivated them and, after all, the Bay Port slogan is “Fish caught the Man.”
The fish sandwich is the prime attraction. The original sandwich is a locally caught freshwater Mullet. It is dipped in a secret batter, fried crisp, and served on a long bun with ketchup and mustard. Although not traditional, tartar sauce is also available. According to Henry, the fish should overlap the bun. The sandwich should be so large that “it takes two hands to hold it”. All day, the lines in front of the sandwich stand are long. Selling 12,500 sandwiches to people from as far away as Florida and New England is not unusual.
Henry was the Bay Port Fish Sandwich Festival’s primary inspiration, energy, supporter, and promoter. He wrote many stories regaling the fish sandwiches’ power to please and to heal. The festival was featured on NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s 20/20, and in many national magazines and newspapers. Henry and Edna (she died in 1992) were honored as “Mr. and Mrs. Bay Port” in recognition of their contribution to the Bay Port Fish Sandwich Festival.
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Are the Bayport fish sandwiches still available after the festival has ended? I.e. all summer long?
The Bay Port Inn has some great fish sandwiches on the menu. The festival sandwiches are extra special.
My husband & I drove 50 miles to come to your festival, after standing in line a city block long, they told us they were out of fish, except for Mullett & a square block of dried out who knows what, I’m sure it was something from Gordon Foods, now we find out what you call Mullett is a bottom feeder (sucker), known to be heavy with mercury. We won’t be returning, we will stick our local,church fish fries, which is always delicious. What a disappointment your festival was.
Ouch…that stings. We will pass it along to the Bay Port folks. The festival is on of the Thumbs oldest and serves kicks off the late summer line up of events in the Upper Thumb. The lines were long and they ran out of perch and walleye early Saturday. The events and vendors did seem a bit smaller then years past. However one mullet sandwich a is something you can point too and say “I did it.
Are they still having venders and fire works on Friday? How long are venders there if so?
Sorry for the late reply. It’s my understanding there are no vendors this year.