What began as a celebration of an anchor pulled from Lake Michigan nearly 50 years ago has grown into one of Empire’s most beloved smalltown traditions. Anchor Days returns Friday and Saturday July 17-18, with a weekend of history, food, music and community events honoring the village landmark.
“It is an event put on by Empire residents for the enjoyment of Empire residents as well as for visitors to our wonderful town,” March Dye, who helps organize the celebration through the Empire Area Community Center (EACC), said.
Anchor Day traces back to a chance discovery in the summer of 1977, when Doug Manning and Michelle Stryker were canoeing off the Empire shoreline and spotted an anchor resting in about 18 feet of water. Since any relic found in the Great Lakes technically belongs to the State of Michigan, local officials had to get creative to keep the anchor in town, but the effort paid off. Community members hauled the anchor to shore using a pontoon boat that, “miraculously didn’t sink,” and it now sits on permanent display at Empire Beach.
The following year, the Empire Heritage Museum launched the first Anchor day celebration to commemorate the recovery. What started as a simple gathering has run every year since and has grown into Empire’s biggest event of the year. In 2013, the EACC took over the hosting duties from the museum and has kept the tradition going ever since.
This year’s parade will come full circle as Doug Manning’s mother, Dorothy Manning, will serve as one of the grand marshals alongside Jim Dorsey. Similar to the Glen Arbor Fourth of July parade, the Anchor Days parade has no registration or specific theme.
“Anything goes,” Dye said, while noting that people usually have some sort of nautical theme. “This is a hometown event where the parade is made up of whoever shows up.”
The weekend begins Friday at 7 p.m. with a movie night at Empire Township Hall featuring “How Empire Got Its Name” and “Bringing Up the Anchor.”
Saturday’s festivities kick off with the annual Anchor Day Parade at noon along Front Street and then later in the day The Friends of the Glen Lake Community Library will host a pop-up book sale from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the library. Parade participants are asked to line up at Johnson Park at 11:30 a.m.
The traditional Empire Lions Club barbeque chicken dinner will run from 1-7 p.m. at Johnson Park, serving grilled chicken with baked beans, coleslaw, potatoes and strawberry shortcake. Grocer’s Daughter will once again host a community bonfire from 6-8 p.m. offering free hot dogs and s’mores to go along with chocolate and gelato from their shops which will stay open late until 8 p.m.
And to wrap it all up, Empire residents will be getting down at the street dance from 8:3011:30 p.m. in front of the library. Doc Probes will be the musical guest and attendees are encouraged to bring a chair, their own drinks and dancing shoes.
