52nd annual Algonac Art Fair to bring art, cars, entertainment, more

The 52nd annual Algonac Art Fair will celebrate art and artists in the community over Labor Day weekend at Riverfront Park.

The Algonac Art Fair, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 31 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 1, will include art, entertainment, a car show and more. It is a juried art fair with ribbons and awards given out, organizer Cathy Harris said. The judge will be a secret until the awards are given out.

Harris said this year’s art fair will have about 85 artists with a variety of different styles.

“All items must be handmade, hand painted or done exclusively by the individual,” she said. It sets this art fair apart from a craft show.”

This year’s featured artist is metalworker Dan Davenport.

“My art form is repoussé, which is a metalworking technique that creates raised designs on the front or back of an object by hammering and punching from the other side,” Davenport said in his bio. “I create a die by hand carving a reverse image in a block of steel. Recycled aluminum is then hammered on the reverse side over the die transferring a forward image to the aluminum.”

“I started with four designs and three shapes,” he continued. “Over the years it has grown to 77 designs and 14 shapes. My work is limited by the time it takes to create a design — anywhere from a few weeks to six months. This started as a hobby and turned into a rewarding career by allowing me to meet people and travel to places I could only have dreamed of otherwise.”

Both days of the fair will feature live music, as well as Rosco the Clown and face painting with Brenda Roberts.

On Aug. 31, Fly by Night will play from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and On the Border will play from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the north end of the park, and Jimmy Allen will play from noon to 4 p.m. on the south end. On Sept. 1, Jimmy DeHeno will play from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Fly by Night will play from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the north end and Blue Ridge will play from noon to 4 p.m. on the south end.

The annual Rumble on the River car show will take place at the north end of the park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 31. Registration will begin at 7:45 a.m.

The car show will include free dash plaques for the first 100 cars, door prizes, Hot Wheels car races and a kids choice award. At noon, organizers will ask all cars to rumble.

The cost is $15 per vehicle entry. For more information, call Lifecare Chiropractic at 810-794-5000.

In the fall of 2023, it was announced that the Algonac Lions Club would take over the Algonac Art Fair from the Algonac Art Fair Committee. This year, Harris and Christina Halkias-Robb, who are both members of the Algonac Lions Club, are heading up the organization of the fair.

Harris said the pair has been “very happy” to be in charge of the art fair.

“It is a joy to be chosen by the former members to run this event,” she said. “We are honored.”

She said they started getting things together in January, since there were so many things to be done by Labor Day weekend.

“We are expecting record crowds, since the weather is supposed to be sunny and warm — hopefully the weatherman is right,” she said. “We are most excited to see the fruit of our labors come to fruition.”

For more information about the Algonac Art Fair, visit algonacartfair.com or facebook.com/algonaclionsclub.

“We want everyone to stop by our tent and meet us in person,” Harris said. “Also, to perhaps look at what the art fair has to offer.”