****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE****
August 23, 2003
CONTACT:
Kate Thompson 989-356-8805, Ext. 10
THUNDER BAY MARITIME FESTIVAL
NEWS RELEASE
(Alpena, MI) Michigan author Christopher Knight (AKA Johnathan Rand) will premiere his latest
children’s book, Missouri Madhouse, during the 3rd Annual Thunder Bay Maritime Festival, a
free family event in downtown Alpena, August 23-24. Other festival highlights include tours of
the research vessel, Laurentian, and entertainment by the musical groups Song of the Lakes
and The Overtones and well-known Great Lakes story-tellers Larry Massie and Genot Picor.
Festivities include an Opening Ceremony Saturday at 12:15pm, attended by the Director of the
National Marine Sanctuary Program, Dan Basta, the Manager of Thunder Bay National Marine
Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve, Jeff Gray, and local dignitaries.
Christopher Knight, who goes under the pen name Johnathan Rand for his children’s books, will
attend both days of the festival to meet fans and sign copies of Missouri Madhouse, the 10th
book in his million-selling American Chillers series, aimed at children ages 7-13. Also on hand
will be authors Fran Reynolds and Bob Haltiner. Reynolds is perhaps best known for his book
about the sinking of the Pewabic, one of the most disastrous shipwrecks in the Great Lakes.
Haltiner has authored three books, including two on Alpena history.
Children and adults alike will enjoy the festival’s line-up of entertainment, games and displays,
and boat tours. Song of the Lakes, widely known as the ‘Musical Ambassadors of the Great
Lakes,’ is returning this year. Voted the best Folk Artists for several years in Northern
Michigan's music scene, Song of the Lakes combines the rich Celtic and Scandinavian
traditions with Michigan history in an engaging high energy show, woven with humor and
storytelling. Another musical highlight will be The Overtones, a six-man acappella group from
Traverse City, which has engaged crowds for years with sea songs and chanteys about the
maritime history of the Great Lakes.
Two popular story-tellers, Larry Massie and Genot Picor, will also delight crowds. Michigan
historian Larry Massie performs fast-paced stories of inspiring and magical characters, including
Chippewa chiefs, steel-sinewed voyageurs, black-robed Jesuit priests who carried the cross to
the wilderness, intrepid pioneer women, hard-working miners, rough-hewn lumberjacks, and
salty Great Lakes ship captains. Equally energetic is storyteller-musician Genot Picor who
blends the unique cultures and ethnic traditions of the French, English and Native Americans of
the Great Lakes region who accompanied the coming of the voyageurs 300 years ago. In his
role as a ‘Ghost from Michigan's Past - A Voyageur-Scout -- Picor shares stories and music that
relate the discoveries, the special friendships and new adventures of life in the wilderness.
The public will also get a rare look at a modern research vessel during tours of the 80-foot
research vessel, Laurentian, which supports the activities of the NOAA Great Lakes
Environmental Research Laboratory and the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and
Underwater Preserve. Other vessels will also be available for public tours. Inside the Federal
Building, Maritime artists and authors will be on hand and Thunder Bay Sanctuary staff will
share video from their research missions.
“This is a terrific opportunity for the public to see some of the Sanctuary’s ongoing projects and
discoveries and to enjoy the maritime history that led to the designation of Thunder Bay as a
federally-protected national treasure,” said Jeff Gray, Manager of the Thunder Bay National
Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve.
Additional festival highlights for children include story hours, face stamping, rope making, a U.S.
Coast Guard Obstacle Course, and maritime activities such as “Discover Diving” - an
opportunity to don dive equipment, “Dive in the Past” - a program that teaches children about
underwater archeology, and “Gutter Sailing” - miniature sail boat races.
The festival will run from 10 am to 8 pm on Saturday, August 23rd and from 11 am to 4 pm on
Sunday, August 24th. A detailed schedule is attached. The Third Annual Thunder Bay Maritime
Festival is a free event and made possible by the generous support of the following Sponsors:
Benefactors: Charter Communications/Charter Media, National City Bank, National Marine
Sanctuary Foundation, Phoenix Foundation, and the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
and Underwater Preserve
Patrons: Alpena Power, Banner Realty, Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan,
Holiday Inn, Timm Construction, and Wal-mart
Supporters: Alpena Area Credit Unions, Alpena Oil Company, Model Printing, and Neiman’s
Family Market
The Festival is co-hosted by the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater
Preserve, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the City of Alpena.
Thunder Bay is a 448-square mile sanctuary and underwater preserve that protects an
estimated 116 historically significant shipwrecks ranging from nineteenth century wooden sidewheelers to twentieth century steel-hulled steamers. The Sanctuary is helped in its mission by
the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, which supports the outreach and education efforts of
the National Marine Sanctuary System, part of the U.S. Commerce Department’s National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.