Tucked away on Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay, Caseville, Michigan, is the quintessential American small town. In 1840, the area was first settled by Reuben Dodge and his wife. Additional residents didn't arrive until 1852, when William Rattle, representing Leonard Case of Cleveland, built a sawmill. At this point the settlement had undergone multiple name changes including The Mouth, Pigeon River Settlement, Port Elizabeth, and finally it was named Caseville in 1856. Fast forward to current times and town with more than 750 residents that is considered one of the top vacation destinations in eastern Michigan.
A location right on the shore of Saginaw Bay and at the mouth of Pigeon River gives the area beautiful scenery and a multitude of fun outdoor activities to try. You’ll find many maritime-associated activities including fishing, boating, and sailing, all of which are great ways to get out on the water. During the cooler months, the area becomes a winter wonderland as snow cover enhances the already stunning landscape. In town you’ll find unique shops, great restaurants, friendly faces, and a classic American “small town” feel. While this may be a small town, they certainly know how to celebrate and that's evident at gatherings like Shanty Days.
Highly anticipated and growing in popularity, Shanty Days has been a top event in the region for over two decades. The number of people inhabiting this small town grows to over 5,000 during Shanty Days. You’ll find a wide spectrum of fun activities that are great for all ages. From Human Bowling to a vintage snowmobile show, you will find something to pique everyone’s interest. ResortsandLodges.com got the opportunity to interview Debbie Fulgham, Caseville Chamber Cooridnator, to talk abou this fun winter event.
RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.
DF: This is the 24th year of Shanty Days. We expect to draw over 5,000 people to the event. We typically see families, groups, couples and singles of all ages that attend. We encourage everyone to come out and have a great time.
RAL: What makes the event unique?
DF: The mass appeal of the activities that we feature, especially the variety of children’s activities. This is the perfect event to get outside and experience our great town, meet new people, and have a fun winter Adirondacks experience.
RAL: Take me through what people will find for activities.
DF: Here is a breakdown of some the main activities that people will find at Shanty Days. Please remember registration for all ice events takes place at 10:30 am, at Hoy’s Saginaw Bay Marina. For additional information about the events that take place during the event stop by our website.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH
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Photo Contest - Shanty Day themed pictures only. Deadline is at 4 pm on Fri., Feb 26th, with amateur & professional prizes of $50 in each category.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH
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Ice Fishing Contest - Takes place from 7 am to 5 pm with no pre-registration required. Two day contest for biggest walleye, lake trout, perch & pike. This is part of the State of Michigan Free Fishing which mean no license required. Top awards include $50, $30 for each category, up to $320 awarded on Sunday.
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Broomball Tournament - Tournament begins at 11 am, with trophies and cash prizes for 1st & 2nd place teams.
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Human Bowling - Held at Hoy’s Saginaw Bay Marina at 11 am, with plaques are awarded to the top performers.
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Potty Trotty - Begins following Human Bowling and is also held at Hoy’s Saginaw Bay Marina. Build an outhouse out of wood and/or cardboard, put in a toilet seat and roll of toilet paper, mount it on skis and push it 100 feet. Trophy & plaque awarded for top finishers.
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Chick On A Stick - Takes place following Potty Trotty and is held at Hoy’s Saginaw Bay Marina. It’s a three person race, where two guys carry their gal. Helmets are needed for the competition and its 18 & older - Plaques awarded to the winners.
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Winter Cardboard Sled Race - Held after Chick On A Stick wraps up and it’s held at Hoy’s Saginaw Bay Marina. It’s a two person race, where you build your sled out of cardboard and duct tape. Push your partner 1st half of course & switch places to finish the race. Plaques are awarded to the best teams.
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Polar Bear Dip - Rounds out this grouping of activities and takes place after the Cardboard Sled Race at Hoy’s Saginaw Bay Marina.
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4th Annual Antique & Vintage Snowmobile Show - The show begins at 1 pm in the Downtown Area. Come and check out the vintage snowmobiles & get warm by the bonfire.
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Chili Cook-Off Contest - The cook off starts at 1 pm and lasts till 3 pm. Sample and be a judge with a “Shanty Day Button”.
The activities continue throughout the day (visit website for complete breakdown) and wrap with a great fireworks show, Saturday at 9:00 pm.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH
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Ice Fishing Contest - Continues from 7 am to 5 pm and awards are handed out after all is said and done.
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Raffle Drawing - Winners drawn at the Caseville Area Chamber of Commerce office from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm.
RAL: What does the event mean to the community?
DF: We are a small community and Shanty Days is an event which promotes Caseville, its businesses, and the surrounding area. The event provides a substantial boost to the local economy. Winters are a slower time of year for some of the local businesses. The event draws thousands of people into our small town where they spend money at gas stations, lodging establishments, restaurants, and shops.
RAL: Why should people come?
DF: Throughout the year, Caseville has several different festivals and we have heard over and over that our events become family traditions. We have several generations that come together and are making memories of a lifetime. This is a great event for all ages and it’s a perfect way to meet new people and have a memorable winter experience.
For more information about Shanty Days, please visit their website.