HONOR — This small Benzie County village will celebrate the sport fish that's become a perpetual economic engine during the 44th annual National Coho Salmon Festival.
"It kind of put Honor on the map — the birthplace of coho salmon in the Great Lakes," said Todd Crossman, festival president.
Michigan fishery officials first stocked Pacific-native coho salmon in the Platte River in 1966, and the festival launched the following year. The 2010 festival begins Friday evening and runs through Sunday afternoon, mostly at Maley Park in Honor.
"It marks the end of summer for us and kicks off the salmon fishing season," said Chris Theobald, Honor Motel owner.
Coho salmon each year return from Lake Michigan and swim up the Platte River, where hordes of anglers await their arrival. In past decades festival organizers held the event in September to coincide with the salmon run, but now it's held in August before children return to school, Crossman said.
"People you haven't talked to for a long time you'll bump into," said Gale Burmeister, festival organizer.
And although it's a small-town festival, the annual event tends to draw in both locals and visitors, Crossman said.
"It's nice to have something in your own town," said Debbie Hurd, owner of Papa J's Pizzeria and Diner. "This time of the year, especially in August when people are getting ready to go back to school, it gives people one more reason to come out."
Business at the diner also tends to pick up during the festival, she said.
It's the same across town at JoMo's Ice Cream.
"We see more people come in. Ice cream is a big seller," said employee Lakaila Stachnik.
Theobald said her motel is sold out for the weekend, though some reservations are for anglers and not festivalgoers. The motel's lawn along Main Street is a prime spot to watch the parade on Saturday, she said.
"It's a great impact because all the people who come to the festival stay in town, eat in town and shop in town," Theobald said.
Crossman said volunteers are needed to help organize future festivals.
Call 325-2423 or 325-2894 for more information, or visit online and choose the events link.
Region
Related Photos
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Coho salmon fingerlings feed at the Platte River Fish Hatchery, just east of Honor, on Wednesday afternoon. The hatchery is the origin of Coho salmon in Lake Michigan, dating back to 1966 when the first plantings occurred. Jan-Michael Stump/Record-Eagle
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Twins Elizabeth and Danny Waide, 6, of Stevensville, watch the Coho salmon fingerlings. Jan-Michael Stump/Record-Eagle
Salmon fest celebrates fish
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