Situated right off of Lake Michigan is one of the state's best kept secrets. Pentwater, Michigan is the host of the Annual Homecoming Celebration which is held every year the second weekend in August. This year they celebrated their 77th festival and as usual it was an awesome party! Guest of honor George Perles, former MSU head football coach was in attendance again this year at the Pre Tailgate Party held at The Village Pub located in downtown Pentwater on Saturday afternoon.

Whether you are a Spartan fan or not this weekend is a great time to visit this fantastic little community. Pentwater offers camping, vacation rentals, Lake Michigan, Silver Lake, three golf courses, a marina and a downtown shopping and eating area that is quaint and unique. For several that visit Pentwater each year it has become a tradition, one that started when they were young. This community is rich with history as it was founded in 1853 by E.R. Cobb and Andrew Rector and started out with just two buildings. Charles Mears came to Pentwater in 1855 to continue the building in Pentwater and eventually he owned most of the town and the park was named in his honor.

We visited Pentwater for our fourth year in a row earlier this month and I am never disappointed. We camp at one of the local campgrounds,Hill and Hollow Campground We travel with about 10 other families and spend the day at the beach at Charles Mears State Park which is right on Lake Michigan. They have a Homecoming Parade on Saturday afternoon and we all trek into town. Then we head over to the Village Pub for the Tailgating Party where I sit through the grueling sounds of the MSU fight song. At dusk they have the most splendid firework display on the beach and it is the perfect ending to the day.

So if you are ever on the West Side of Michigan, Pentwater is definitely a place to visit. For more information on what the community has to offer click here.

Learn more about this author, Marlo Pizzo.
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