Made in Michigan show has seen major growth
It’s not hard to see why the Made in Michigan Show in downtown Mount Clemens has more than doubled its size in recent years.
Now in its 11th year, the Made in Michigan Show is the city’s first outdoor event of the spring. The festival not only features dozens of vendors from around the Great Lakes State but also has free live entertainment, unique gifts just in time for Mother’s Day, and a Kids’ Business Fair.
The two-day festival, which runs Friday and Saturday, is one of the most popular events on the Downtown Mount Clemens schedule, according to Michelle Weiss of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA).
“This year’s show is the largest to date with over 120 vendors showcasing products that are made, grown, assembled, or manufactured in Michigan,” Weiss said.
The event has grown by leaps and bounds, especially after the end of the pandemic. There were 60 individuals or small companies signed up in 2019 compared to more than 120 ready for this weekend’s festival.
Show vendors set up along Macomb Place between North Main and Pine streets, and also on North Walnut Street between New Street and the Emerald Theatre.
This year’s products include: • Grand Traverse Sauce – hot sauce, hot honey, hot maple syrup
• Happy Homestead Farm – bath and body products
• Authentic Creations Jewelry – semi-precious stone jewelry
• Earth Berry Apothecary – soy candles, bath bombs, luxurious soaps
• Rustic Relics by Alex – birdhouses, planters and garden art
• Pro Woodcraft Plus – custom wood, metal and glass products
• Daily Karmas – beach glass art
• Debby La Pratt Art – pottery
• Hampton Road Gifts – home goods
• Braun Designs – wood American flags and wood décor signs
Returning to the festival is the Kids’ Business Fair sponsored by The Discovery Center of Macomb, Comerica Bank and the Mount Clemens DDA. It is a one-day marketplace from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday for kids ages 1017 to have the opportunity to explore what it is like to own their own business. Businesses range from baking, to bath and beauty, jewelers, stationary, clothing, fresh baked dog biscuits, artists, hair accessories, and more.
While the project is educational at the core, it is the DDA’s hope to ignite a spark in young people that will encourage them that business ownership is awesome.
“That’s our next generation of entrepreneurs,” Weiss said.
Free live entertainment is sponsored by Ardis Music and the Mount Clemens DDA.
On Friday, the lineup will see Kevin Tarnas at 11 a.m., Tom Bartelmay at 1:30 p.m., Johnny Rhodes at 4 p.m., Acoustic Ash at 6 p.m. Taking the stage Saturday will be Robby Chism at 10 a.m., Olivia Van Goor at 1 p.m., and Eli Bicheit & Trevor Lamb close out the schedule at 3 p.m.
DDA officials said the goal of the Made in Michigan Show is to inform, educate, and encourage Michiganders, organizations, and consumers alike, to support our local economy by purchasing products make in Michigan and from Michiganbased companies and vendors.
Festival hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.