The traditional "Blessing of the Fleet" at the Elmwood Township Marina will be held Saturday morning.

This year's event is also a celebration of the township's West Grand Traverse Bay waterfront and is open to boaters and the public, said Don Gorski of United Boaters of Elmwood Township, which is sponsoring the ceremony.

“This has been an annual event which the United Boaters of Elmwood Township have resurrected over the past two years,” Gorski said. “We are trying to expand the event and include the public and neighboring organizations.”

The blessing will begin at 10:30 a.m. and be presided over by the Rev. Richard Skar of West Bay Covenant Church.

Local organizations that include the Maritime Heritage Alliance, Inland Seas Education Association, Great Lakes Children’s Museum and Grand Traverse Bay Keeper will have displays at the site from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In addition, the Elmwood Township Marina Committee and the Parks and Recreation Committee will have a display featuring the proposed marina and park expansion plans.

A fly-over by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and a simulated rescue exercise with the deployment of a rescue swimmer are also planned Saturday.

For more information, call Gorski at 947-0925.