This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Bayport Fish Sandwich Festival. Now you might think to yourself a fish sandwich festival? I have never heard of such a thing. Well then you have never been to Bayport Michigan, home of a festival for fish sandwiches.

Bayport has a long history as a fishing community, and the Fish Sandwich Festival keeps the fisherman spirit alive. Bayport is loacted on Wild Fowl Bay on the west side of the thumb at the mouth of Saginaw Bay. Bayport is still home to the world's largest fresh water fishery, and attracts plenty of boaters, hunters, and vacationers each year that enjoy the relaxing town on the bay. 

The 2007 Fish Sandwich Festival was a nice family event as it is every year, featuring plenty of local entertainment, craft vendors, a petting zoo, horse rides, helicopter rides, face painging, and of course fish sandwiches. I made it to the festival on Saturday and they had already sold out of the origianl fish sandwich, so I went with the whitefish sandwich. It was a good sandwich of locally caught fish deep fryed in peanut oil.

Ill have to go back next year and get there early so I can try the original fish sandwich that the festival is known for. There was a nice collection of chainsaw sculptures on display, showing off some of the local artisan skills. There was a nice mix of locals residents as well as vacationers looking for deals at the vendors booths.

During my time there I watched dancers from Sherry's  Dance Studio perform and they were fun to watch. Local country group 100 proof also performed, they were good and played a nice selection of country, blues, and classic rock that was a good soundtrack to enjoying the Bayport Fish Sandwich Festival.

There was plenty of parking and the locals are very nice. I even had a chance to meet the Huron County Sheriff, Kent Tibbits as he sat down at the same table I was at. We ate lunch together at the pavilion and chatted about how the thumb is a great place to live..

All in all, Bayport is a litle bit off the main path but its worth a trip out there to spend the day taking in the local flavor at the Fish Sandwich Festival. While not quiet as popular as some of the bigger festivals around the thumb, the Bayport Fish Sandwich Festival has unique character that is a fun experience.

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