By Christopher Johnson
Clare is preparing for a loaded day of cars, art and live music. With a throwback of Irish-themed energy as the Clare Music & Arts Festival joins forces with the community’s Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day celebration. This coincides with the Clare Church of the Nazarene’s annual car show. All happening on Saturday, September 19th.
CCN Car Show and Craft Fair
The festivities will begin with the CCN Car Show, running from 10 AM to 3 PM. This follows in the wake of the recent Old 27 Motor Tour that recently came to Clare last month and keeps with the classic car theme that’s still fresh around town.
Organizer and car enthusiast, Bruce Owens, welcomes the community back once again to the Texaco Last Chance Garage for another spirited event that spans 10 to 12 acres of property. This will include 5 food trucks, a large craft fair and silent auction, vintage campers, Kidz Matchbox drag racing, and the usual awarding of over 90 trophies to showcar participants.
Last year featured 250 show vehicles, with tons more parked throughout in solidarity. The church expects a similar turnout, if not more this year.
Also, Elvis tribute artist Jake Slater will be returning to perform yet again. Whose presence is always well met with warm reactions and has become a regular entertainment asset for the CCN community.
Meanwhile, the church itself will be housing the popular Craft Fair that will be happening nearby. Last year hosted 36 local vendors. With about the same number this year registered to appear. Wares include hand-made items, baked goods, antiques, vintage curiosities, fine art and much more.
The church offered a sort of shorthand version of the car show during a cruise-in earlier this past July. The cookout featured parked cars and musical performances by Ryan Ambs and Joey Kalico. A sort of appetizer for the main course that will soon be served.
Registration for the car show is $20 and opens between 8 AM and 10 AM.
The event is located on the grounds right next to the Clare Church of the Nazarene, at 10160 S Grant Ave, Clare, MI 48617.
Jay’s Sporting Good Anniversary Celebration
To celebrate 55 years of business, Jay’s is inviting the community to its archery range for a chance to flex bow skills. The outdoor superstore was founded in 1971 by Jay Poet–started in a small garage–and has grown into a vital community outlet for Clare County’s many outdoorsmen.
If anybody is looking to cock back an arrow and brush up for hunting season, this would be a great opportunity. Jay’s encourages archers to bring their own bow and join them on Saturday.
Clare Union Railroad Depot Open House
Alternatively, during the hours between 10 AM and 4 PM, The Clare Depot will be welcoming the community to an open house that will lead into the following festivities at City Park.
The Clare County Arts Council will be doing free caricature drawings until 1 PM, and are free of charge for anybody attending.
Anybody interested in learning more about Destination Clare Art Sculpture Walk and Art Alley are invited to stop in and explore what the Depot has to offer.
A great opportunity to see the new outdoor restroom structure that has now joined the Depot after years of fund raising and passionate planning.
Art and Musical Festival
Downtown Clare will then transition into an afternoon and evening of live music, local art, food, shopping and St. Patrick’s Day-themed energy in recognition of Clare’s Halfway to St. Paddy’s Day midpoint celebration. .
At 4 PM, live music will take over City Park under the water tower, giving visitors a chance to enjoy the performances while exploring downtown Clare’s public art sculptures and the colorful Clare Art Alley. In addition to the close proximity for the usual bar hopping and night life Clare is often known for during such events.
Tommy House, who is helping organize this year’s music and arts festival, said the event is taking a slightly different approach after last year’s experience.
Last year’s festival was held in the downtown alley, where extreme heat made it difficult to draw the foot traffic organizers had hoped for. One thing House reflected back on with disappointment was the lack of audience in regards to the street buskers who had to perform in the heat. With some being more prominent than others, depending on their location to both vehicle and passing foot traffic. .
“The conditions were brutal,” House said. “It was so hot to bring people in.”
However, the broad program of performers made for a memorable evening as the day cooled and prioritized the audience throughout the alleyway. This included performances by House, Caitlyn Rushing, Crazy Chestur, Sweetheart Troubadours, and Triple Beam.
This year, organizers are moving the music portion to City Park, where the gazebo offers a more comfortable setting as well as access to power.
House said the goal isn’t necessarily to create a massive festival capable of competing with larger events in surrounding communities. Instead, organizers want to provide Clare residents and visitors with something enjoyable and manageable.
“I didn’t want to get too overboard,” House said. “Just to have something for people to come and hang out and enjoy it.”
Music will remain at the heart of the festival, with House working to assemble a lineup that features quality performers with local connections.
Crazy Chestur, who performed at last year’s event, will return, while the Minard Shattuck Band is also scheduled to perform. House said he knows the musicians personally and wanted to keep the entertainment centered around talent from Clare County and the surrounding area.
House also reached out to the Sweetheart Troubadours about returning, but the group already had two other performances scheduled that day.
“I’m not going to just get anybody just to fill it,” House said. “You want somebody that’s going to put on a good show and be cohesive with everybody else.”
The music and arts festival is designed to complement the other events taking place downtown rather than compete with them.
Visitors can start their day checking out the CCN Car Show, stay downtown for live music and local art in the afternoon, and then continue into the evening as Clare’s Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day celebration gets underway.
For House, that’s ultimately what the event is about—giving people another reason to spend time in Clare.
