The Silver Bay Bay Days Committee doesn’t call themselves a committee. They prefer the Bay Days Crew. According to the Oxford English Dictionary the definition of “crew” is a group of people who work on and operate a ship, boat, train, spaceship, etc. The crew consists of, according to Silver Bay’s Mayor Wade LeBlanc, “good people that really take pride in the city.” They drive the train, steer the ship, keep the boat floating, and ensure the three-day festival is out of this world.
Faron Meeks, co-chair of the Bay Days Crew, is pretty proud of the volunteers, as well. “I couldn’t be more happy with the small group that we have and the hard work that goes into Bay Days,” he said. “I’m really proud of them,” echoed Mayor LeBlanc.
Sitting as co-chair for about ten years, along with Jennifer VanHouse, Faron knows the importance of Bay Days and the celebration of the community. “Bay Days has always been an opportunity for us to showcase our town,” he said.
Bay Days came to be through the evolution of an all-class reunion turned Silver Beaver Bay Days turned Silver Bay Days. It is hard to determine how many people are drawn to the event, as there isn’t a gate to get in (apart from a $5 cover to the Saturday night concert). Over the weekend there may be anywhere from 6,000 to 10,000 family members, visitors, and tourists. Great White played on the main stage last year. “It is the first time that we know of that Silver Bay appeared on a concert tour t-shirt,” Faron laughed.
Faron has been a great asset for the Bay Days crew. With years of experience in broadcasting and having previous board member experience, he has a good understanding of sponsorship. He assisted in building a sponsorship program to help alleviate pressure from asking local businesses to donate more than they could afford. The sponsorship program also allows eventgoers to partake in a myriad of activities for free.
One of these free activities is the kid favorite bouncy houses. In years past, there was a fee, but the wonderful sponsorship has allowed the Bay Day’s Crew to cover that cost for families. “A big thanks to our sponsors!” said Faron. The bouncy houses will be available all three days.
This year’s theme is Party in the USA and will feature red, white, and blue. Each Bay Day day is packed with fun to be had by all. Friday, a parade will kick off Family Night. “Great get together for everybody, the whole family, to come out and enjoy their time, it’s 100% free,” Faron stated. “We love to encourage people to come and see what Silver Bay has to offer.”
Saturday will begin with a Pancake Breakfast put on by the Silver Bay Fire Department, of which Faron is the Assistant Chief. The members of the fire department will be busy this weekend, also hosting a bean bag tournament (sign up at the Municipal Liquor Store by 2 PM). It’ll be good to eat and stretch (there’s Yoga in the park) going into the day. With the Scottish Highland Games, a strongman competition, one must be full of energy and limber. There is also the Bay-to-Bay run, Golf Scramble, and a new event Faron was particularly excited about. In addition to the many acts and activities at Bay Days, the BMX Stunt Bike Show will be sure to please everyone, from youngsters, teens, and adults. They will be putting on three shows Saturday afternoon.
The $5 cover, or raffle ticket stub, will get you into the main music concert on Saturday. This year Nathan Hansen, a country musician from Rochester Minnesota will begin the evening street dance, opening for Rhino. Rhino plays just about anything and promises nonstop entertainment and fun. There are more acts that will take the stage throughout the weekend, including Junk FM.
Wrapping up Sunday, the raffle winner will be drawn. First place prize is a choice between a 2023 Sea Doo Trixx or 2023 Polaris Sportsman 570. Remember, a raffle ticket stub can also get you into the big concert on Saturday. Last year’s winner was in the audience. That could be you!
Mayor LeBlanc is excited for another great Bay Days. When I spoke to him, he talked about all the amazing things about his city. “I love Silver Bay more than anything,” he said. It’s clear there are lots of reasons to love the area and Bay Days is like the cherry on top.
There are many more events than mentioned here for Bay Days. Please check out the schedule at www.bay-days.org, on the Bay Days Facebook page, or on page 4 of this week’s Northshore Journal. The Bay Days crew is always looking for more members. Consider volunteering or donating to continue this party year after year.
