NW MI Arts & Culture Network
MG: Boyne City Pirate Festival
The Boyne City Pirate Festival included a youth-centered minigrant project that took place on Saturday, August 13, 2022 featuring a kids area that encouraged children to engage in arts and learn new skills.. The project included over 300 free arts and crafts for the kids, free painting lessons, free juggling lessons, street performers, a talent show, and musicians. Thousands of people attended with hundreds of children participating in crafts and painting lessons. The talent show encouraged people to tap into their artistic abilities as it was not limited to only musicians.
The event started with a parade at 10 am leading kids to Old City Park which was full of free activities including arts and crafts, live kids music, juggling lessons, painting lessons, hoola hoop lessons, bouncy house, petting zoo, street theater, mermaids, river raft ride, and games. There was also a kids costume contest encouraging them to dress up and be “pirates”. Meanwhile, an adult talent show was taking place in Sunset Park under the entertainment tent allowing people to show off their artistic talents. Street theater shows occurred throughout the day including jugglers, sword swallowers, hula hoopers, and acrobats. There was also a theatrical show down between the pirates and the town (with a happy ending).
FY22 Minigrant funding funded street performers and jugglers who gave free lessons and passed out free juggling balls to the kids. This is a great alternative to electronics and a great ego booster. Juggling is also proven to be effective with ADHD and enhances improvement in sports. Funding also allowed engaging a professional artist to give painting lessons and provide canvasses and painting materials which was wildly popular. The kids were able to create some pretty amazing art under their direction which they were able to take home. We also were able to purchase and provide for free over 300 arts/crafts projects.
