Saugatuck Venetian Festival on for July 29-30

Sentinel Staff
·2 min read
Saugatuck's Venetian Festival, initially canceled in a spring announcement, is now scheduled for July 30 and 31.
Saugatuck's Venetian Festival, initially canceled in a spring announcement, is now scheduled for July 30 and 31.

SAUGATUCK — The organizers of one of Saugatuck's annual traditions, the Saugatuck Venetian Festival, say the event, scheduled for July 29-30, will be back to "full strength" this year.

The Venetian Festival, organized and sponsored by the Cow Hill Yacht Club, raises money for local charities.

Last year, the festival was initially canceled but after community outcry and the lifting of some state public health orders in late spring the organizers put together a scaled-back "Venetian Lite" event without the boat parade or fireworks.

Starfarm, an 80s band, will perform in Coghlin Park July 30 during the first night of Saugatuck's Venetian Festival.
Starfarm, an 80s band, will perform in Coghlin Park July 30 during the first night of Saugatuck's Venetian Festival.

"There will be nothing 'Lite' about this year's events," a press release from the Cow Hill Yacht Club stated.

The festival's events kick off Friday with a 7:15 p.m. concert by 80s band Starfarm, the band's eighth year performing at the festival. Tickets are $10 to enter Coghlin Park at the corner of Culver and Griffith streets, where there will be food trucks and beverages available for purchase starting at 6 p.m.

More: Post-Tulip Time blues? Here are six things to look forward to in Holland this summer

More: Saugatuck's social district now year-round

More: Could high gas prices affect Holland's summer tourism?

The Dinghy Poker Run is at 11 a.m. on Saturday with registration at the Coghlin Park gazebo.

In this file photo, boaters have fun with water guns in the Kalamazoo Harbor during the Saugatuck Venetian Festival.
In this file photo, boaters have fun with water guns in the Kalamazoo Harbor during the Saugatuck Venetian Festival.

“This event is hilarious and allows your inner child to come out for an afternoon. The poker run starts at noon with boaters racing along the Kalamazoo River, stopping at various spots to pick up playing cards in to secure the best poker hand,” said Nancy McDonnall, the event captain.

“You don’t want to miss the launch at noon at the dinghy dock in the park. If you are not a boater, you can watch the boaters, many in costumes, playing like little kids spraying each other with squirt guns as they take off for the first card stop. We usually have around 100 dinghies."

Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage

Saturday night is the lighted boat parade on the Kalamazoo River and Kalamazoo Lake, with decorations following this year's theme, "Grecian Venetian," and boats competing for the first, second and third place trophies and cash prizes.

The weekend of celebration wraps up with a fireworks show at 10 p.m. over Kalamazoo Lake.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Saugatuck's Venetian Festival on for July 2022