Bay Days 2026 brought the community together in spectacular fashion from July 10th through 12th, marking a historic 70th birthday milestone for Silver Bay. With a weekend packed full of nostalgia, innovation, and classic family fun, not to mention, everything was free for the public to enjoy except for food, drinks, and merchandise.
The celebration kicked off on Friday with a wild visit from Lake Superior Zoo’s Zoomobile. Children and adults alike gathered around to get an up-close encounter with fascinating reptiles, learning about the creatures and interacting with them firsthand. The excitement continued with a fun filled BBQ at Carefree Living. It was packed with food, fun, and games. Meanwhile, inquisitive minds took the opportunity to explore the new Bay Area Historical Society’s Research Room which is located at the Mary Mac building. Other area alumni and friends hit the greens at the Silver Bay Golf Course for the annual Mariner Alumni Golf Scramble.
By Friday evening, anticipation hit a high point for the annual parade. It is the unofficial start to the festival weekend. Community members, kids, and returning alumni lined the streets to watch the procession. This year’s theme, Happy 70th Birthday Silver Bay, brought out incredibly creative birthday-themed floats. Standing out in the crowd was the Class of 1976, who took home the unofficial prize for the longest float. They beautifully decorated a truck hauling two trailers like a minitrain, complete with a massive trellis of festive balloons and packed with class members.
The party then shifted to the City Hall venue, which was bustling all weekend long. Friday’s family-friendly night featured the headliners The Dweebs, an intergenerational powerhouse band that immediately got the crowd dancing. Bay Days Co-Chair Faron Meeks reminisced about meeting the band a long time ago when he was much younger. As always they delivered a real crowd-pleasing set filled with kids singing, dancing, and having the time of their lives.
As the night wrapped up, a spectacular fireworks display lit up the night sky to honor Silver Bay’s 70th birthday. While many watched from the main grounds, others enjoyed the show from afar while playing a glowing round of miniature golf at Black Beach Mini Golf. What a perfect end to a wonderful first day.
Saturday kept the momentum going with endless activities for the kids, who bounced, jumped, and played in the inflatables all day long. A massive hit this year was the Sawdust Pile, generously provided by Jon Nelson. Kids unlocked their inner treasure hunters to dig through the pile for $1,400 in hidden coins and prizes. Some dedicated diggers stayed out there off and on throughout day. There were even a few stragglers still hunting at 9:00 PM during the evening concert. One proud young hunter boasted about finding $57 worth of coins. This is truly a memory they won’t soon forget! There was also a mechanical bull which I haven’t noticed in previous years. That was a fun addition.
Festival-goers also had their palates delighted by an incredible lineup of food trucks. Alongside local favorites, new additions included The Gumbeaux Guys LLC, a truck whose owners hail all the way from Louisiana. They had people raving over their authentic specialty dishes. Sunhee’s Little Table brought unique Korean flavors to the festival, while the Curbside Crepe truck satisfied cravings with both savory and sweet treats. Thanks to the extra hot summer weather, the Kona Ice truck was a massive hit, especially with its DIY syrup dispensers that allowed everyone to flavor their own ice.
The Silver Bay Fire Department hosted their popular annual pancake breakfast and bean bag tournament, which is a community favorite every year.
The Annual Bay to Bay Run made a triumphant return! Many residents were heartbroken when it was nearly canceled, but thanks to Full Sun Services stepping in to sponsor, the race was back on and highly attended with over 100 runners.
The Silver Bay Library held its traditional, treasure-filled Bay Days Book Sale.
North Shore Area Partners hosted a highly successful silent auction fundraiser.
The Silver Bay Robotics Team debuted a brand-new interactive exhibit. The incredibly talented students showed off their custom creations, including a robot built specifically with the Bay Days celebration in mind.
One of my personal highlights every year is the Ride Crew BMX performances. Their high-flying show brings incredible talent, precision, and entertainment to the festival. For the older generations, it’s a nostalgic nod to simpler times, sparking memories of trying to master bike tricks with their friends. For the younger crowd, it was pure awe. One of my favorite sights this year was a row of local kids sitting on their own bikes, completely mesmerized as they watched the performers fly into the air to attempt a triple flip. It was beautiful to witness the future generation of little tricksters finding their inspiration.
To close out Saturday night, attendees could choose between watching a beautiful lighted boat parade or dancing the night away at the City Hall venue. The 80s tribute band Atari kicked off the evening before “Some Shitty Band” (yes, that’s their actual name!) took the stage, packing the dance floor. The municipal lounge was filled with alumni visiting, laughing, and reminiscing throughout the weekend.
Sunday brought a meaningful close to the weekend with the traditional ecumenical service and the annual car show, which drew a fantastic crowd and featured several vehicles that had cruised in Friday’s parade.
As an addition this year, the Municipal Lounge had their new mobile bar offering Sunday Mimosas and Bloody Marys. Major props go out to the entire Municipal Lounge crew; whether working the main bar or the trailer, they kept everyone’s drinks full all weekend long. Not an easy feat for a crowd that size!
To wrap up the festivities, the highly anticipated big prize raffles were drawn. A massive congratulations to all of the weekend’s raffle, race, and tournament winners!
Each year, the Bay Days Crew works tirelessly to put on a great festival for everyone to enjoy. Their efforts are truly appreciated by all who attend. Along with all the sponsors which make it possible for the whole weekend to be completely cost free except for food drinks and merch.
This year also marks a major transition: it was announced that CoChairs Faron Meeks and Jen VanHouse will be stepping down from their roles and passing the torch. If you have ever wanted to get involved, make a difference, and help carry on this beloved community tradition, now is the time to take action! Keep an eye out for next week’s article with more information on how you can join the upcoming Bay Days planning team.
Thank you again to everyone who contributed to making the 70th Birthday Bash a weekend for the history books!
