A crowd-pleasing tradition, New Buffalo’s Ship & Shore Festival, Aug. 10-12, presents three days of activities, including fireworks, music and art vendors.

The main street of New Buffalo is closed to motorized traffic for the event, which includes opportunities to sample handcrafted wines from Round Barn Winery and Free Run Cellars. Kids’ activities include ice cream-eating  and watermelon-eating contests, face painting carnival games and Butterscotch the Clown with fun balloon animals.

Musical acts include Mr. Blotto, Dot Dot Dot and Cathy Richardson Band.

“These phenomenal bands are from all over the Midwest. We even have a Jimmy Buffet tribute band, South of Disorder, perfect for a beachfront town,” says Tom Neubauer, festival producer from Traffic PR & Marketing. “People have a great time dancing, and the music highlights everything while people stroll along the main street to shop at the boutiques and vendors, sample the local wines and enjoy the shoreline sights.”

Saturday night, when everyone picks a favorite vantage point to view the Lighted Boat Parade followed by a fireworks display over Lake Michigan. It’s a spectacle of floating yachts, pleasure boats and cruisers, each draped with twinkling lights, parading the waters of the harbor for an unforgettable scene.  Afterwards, the night skies light up again with a spectacular fireworks display presented by Casey’s Bar & Grill.

“It’s such an enjoyable weekend and one of the most scenic sights anywhere in the Midwest,” says Migs Murray, Ship & Shore Festival chairperson. “The backdrop of beautiful Lake Michigan makes it a fantastic event. There’s something magical about the location of the fest in this terrific beachfront town.”

New This Year

Shedd Aquarium’s Great Lakes Outreach team will be at the Ship & Shore Festival on Aug. 11-12. Visitors to Shedd’s booth will have a chance to learn why it’s important to “Keep the Lakes Great.” Also, some of Shedd’s Great Lakes animal ambassadors will be in attendance.

The Music

Aug. 10

5 p.m.: Half Pint Jones

7 p.m.: Top Secret Band

8:45 p.m.: Libido Funk Circus

10:30 p.m.: Dot Dot Dot

Aug. 11

Noon: Rebecca Anne Band

2 p.m.: Everyday People

4 p.m.: Alligator Blackbird

6 p.m.: Lovehammers featuring Marty Casey

8 p.m.: South of Disorder (Buffet Tribute)

9:30 p.m.: Lighted Boat Parade and fireworks display in Harbor.

10:15 p.m.: Cathy Richardson Band

Aug. 12

12:30 p.m.: Keith Scott Band

3 p.m.: Elwood Splinters

4:30 p.m.: Mr. Blotto Dead set

5:30 p.m.: Mr. Blotto Mix set

Fun Run

The annual Bison Boosters Stampede 5K Walk/Run starts and finishes at New Buffalo Beach with a scenic route through New Buffalo.  Snacks and awards are provided at the finish.  T-Shirts are guaranteed with early registration at nbas.org. Race day registration and packet pickup begins at 7:45 a.m. Aug. 10, and the race begins at 8:30 a.m.  Free parking at the beach until 10:30 a.m.

Festival hours are 5 p.m. to midnight Aug. 10, 11 a.m. to midnight, Aug. 11 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 12.