By Gari Voss
Goose Festival Weekend has arrived. Fennville, Mi will open its streets from Thursday, October 10 through Sunday, October 13, 2024, to residents and visitors in celebration of the migration of geese through the fields around Fennville. This 2024 festival is the 40th and looks to be the granddaddy of them all.
As the story goes, “It was in 1984 that Fennvillians concocted a celebration they christened a Goose Festival, primarily, as town leaders tell it, to persuade Amtrak to stop in Fennville once again on the way to Grand Rapids, 40 miles to the northeast.”
It was a “gimmick” that was initiated for just one weekend. “The train-stop subterfuge was successful, although just for the weekend in question, a period in which the town of less than 1,000 decided not only to celebrate (in art, parades and buckshot) the hordes of Canadian birds that pass through on the way to winter homes but the technique of goosing another person.”
The special ticket from Chicago to Fennville or Benton Harbor/St. Joseph to Fennville or Bangor to Fennville became a definite draw to the festival but has since disappeared as had making goosing an acceptable practice. Today, the Pere Marquette that runs through Bangor to Grand Rapids just barrels through Pullman.
Over the years, there have been a variety of characters have attended the Goose Festival, but the most notable is probably Arnold Nelson who was the only passenger to step off the train in 1985.
As the 2024 celebration opens on Thursday, Oct. 10th, visitors will be able to wander Main Street, participate in a Chalk-Out from 4-9pm from South Street to the tracks and enjoy the carnival in the Main Street Green from 4-10pm. Wristbands for rides can be purchased at bit.ly/47T4nnZ.
The Chamber of Commerce has gone all out to fill this year’s celebration with activities for the entire family. Many highlight the youth and businesses of Fennville.
On Friday, the official opening of the festival will be under the big tent at 6pm followed by live music. The Student Art Show will hold an opening reception at Citty Hall from 5-7pm while young Buskers will be at the Festival Grounds for 5-8pm.
Saturday and Sunday find a variety of Runs for all ages, art will abound around town, the car show will be a popular draw along with the Goose Market, and the Wildlife Parade will step off on Sunday at 2:30pm, and travel down Main St.
Fennville invites all to visit and get engaged in a fun weekend to celebrate the autumn festivities in and around their fine city. For updates on activities, visit https://www.fennvillegoosefestival.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/GooseFestival/.
2024 Evolving Schedule
Thursday, October 10
Chalk-Out ~ 4pm-9pm ~ Main Street sidewalks ~ South Street to the tracks
Carnival ~ 4pm-10pm ~ Main Street Green
Friday, October 11
Chalk-Out ~ 11am-9pm ~ South sidewalks South Street to the tracks
Carnival ~ 2pm – 10pm ~ Main Street Green
Food & Beverage ~ 11am – 9pm ~ Goose Alley & Tent
Gel Ball & Laser Tag ~ 2pm – 10pm ~ Corner of Maple St & Fennville St
Student Art Show Opening Reception ~ 5pm – 7pm ~ City Hall
Youth Buskers ~ 5pm – 8pm ~ Festival Grounds
Goose Market ~ 6pm – 9pm ~ Main St Lot & El Imperio
Opening Ceremony ~ 6pm ~ Under the Big Tent
Live Music ~ Grupo Fierro ~ 7pm – 10pm ~ Under the Big Tent
Saturday, October 12
Chalk-Out ~ 9am -9pm ~ South sidewalks South Street to the tracks
Wild Goose Chase 5K ~ 8am ~ Maple & Main
Car Show on Main ~ 10am – 4pm ~ Main Street
Goose Market ~ 9am – 7pm ~ Main Street Lot & El Imperio
Friends of the Library Book Sale ~ 10am – 3pm ~ Fennville District Library
Steve French Art Exhibit ~ 10am – 3pm ~ Fennville District Library
History Exhibit ~ 10am – 3pm ~ Fennville District Library
Student Art Show ~ 11am – 4pm ~ City Hall
Cornhole Tournament ~ 11am ~ City Hall Park
Gel Ball & Laser Tag ~ 11am – 10pm ~ Corner of Maple St. & Fennville St
Gosling Market ~ 11am – 7pm ~ City Hall North Lawn
Youth Buskers ~ 11am – 7pm ~ Festival Grounds
Food & Beverages ~ 11am – 9pm ~ Goose Alley & Tent
Carnival ~ 11am – 10pm ~ Main Street Green
Karaoke ~ 2pm – 5pm ~ Loosey Goosey Stage City Hall Park
Live Music ~ Kanin Wren Taylor Swift Experience ~ 5pm – 7pm ~ Under the Big Tent
Glow Car Show & DJ ~ 5pm – 9pm ~ Main Street
Live Music ~ Kait Rose & Co. Presents: Fleetwood Mac Tribute~ 8pm – 10pm ~ Under the Big Tent
Sunday, October 13
Chalk-Out ~ 11am – 4pm ~ South sidewalks South Street to the tracks
History Exhibit ~ 11am – 3pm ~ Fennville District Libary
Friends of the Library Book Sale ~ 11am – 3pm ~ Fennville District Library
Steve French Art Exhibit ~ 11am – 3pm ~ Fennville District Library
Student Art Show ~ 11am – 4pm ~ City Hall
Gel Ball & Laser Tag ~ 11am – 5pm ~ Corner of Maple St. & Fennville St
Gosling Market ~ 11am – 3pm ~ City Hall North Lawn
Youth Buskers ~ 11am – 3pm ~ Festival Grounds
Goose Market ~ 11am – 4pm ~ Main Street Lot & El Imperio
Food & Beverages ~ 11am – 4pm ~ Goose Alley & Tent
Carnival ~ 11am – 5pm ~ Main Street Green
SCA WIP ~ 12pm – 3pm ~ Loosey Goosey Stage
Live Music ~ 12pm – 4pm~ DJ Ivan ~ Main Street
Gosling Run ~ 1pm ~ Maple & Main
Live Music ~ Great Lakes Brass Band ~ 2pm – 4pm ~ Festival Grounds & Parade
Wildlife Parade ~ 2:30pm ~ Main St
Live Music ~ Scottville Clown Band ~ Parade & After Party ~ Under the Big Tent
