One may not think of western Michigan as a place for an annual migration of salmon. But it is, and the community of Grand Haven celebrates the migration each year by staging the Grand Haven Salmon Festival.
The festival marks its tenth year in 2013, and this year’s dates are September 13-15. You can find all the details on the event here.
What exactly does one do at a festival devoted to salmon? Well, the main attraction, of course, is the opportunity nosh on the tasty fish. And at this festival, one can do that while enjoying a nice glass of wine.
Pinot Noir makes a solid pairing partner, and the area’s wineries make a number of other bottlings—from both vinifera and hybrid grapes—that also work well. My best advice is to stroll through the festival’s wine pavilion and ask the folks who are doing the pouring for advice. Then take a bite of salmon, follow it with a sip of their suggested wine, and make your own assessments. Trial and error always is the best way to learn about wine, as well as food-and-wine pairings.
Other activities at the Grand Haven Salmon Festival include:
- Live jazz music
- Grape stomping
- A gourmet salmon cook-off contest
- Downtown merchant market
- Fine art fair on the waterfront
- Fishing contest
- Historic displays
- Children’s activities
It’s a family-friendly festival that provides a golden opportunity to sample the vinous wares of western Michigan’s top wineries.
Not to mention a great way to extend the summer.
