February
1, 2008
Third
Annual Antrim County Petoskey Stone Festival Slated
for May 24th
The
Antrim County Planner's Office announced today that the
third annual statewide Petoskey Stone Festival,
sponsored by the Antrim County Parks & Recreation
Advisory Board, will be held on Saturday, May 24th,
2008.
The
event, which annually draws a crowd of
thousands, celebrates one of Michigan's finest
natural resources - the unique Petoskey stone,
Michigan's official state stone.
The
first fossil to be designated (1965) as an official
symbol of any state in the nation, true Petoskey stones,
actually fragments of an ancient Great Lakes Devonian
reef, are found only in northern Michigan.
"The
Petoskey Stone is an integral part of northern
Michigan's history, both geologically and culturally, as
well as one of our most valuable natural resources,"
said Joe Meyers, Antrim County Associate Planner.
"Antrim County is located in the heart of the finest
Petoskey Stone country, so it seems very fitting
that we celebrate this very unique and beautiful
stone."
To
be held on Saturday, May 24th at Antrim County's
beautiful Barnes Park along the shores of Grand Traverse
Bay in Eastport, the day's planned festivities,
which begin at 10 a.m., will include a Petoskey
Stone hunt, with categories and prizes for both children
and adults; early morning Children's Stone Skipping
Contest; demonstrations on Petoskey stone cutting,
polishing and jewelry-making; as well as creating
other works of art from the Petoskey Stone and
Michigan's other treasured rocks and minerals.
In
addition, children can fish for trout at the Bellaire
Conservation Club's outdoor trout pond; watch a live
demonstration of police dog work conducted, by Antrim
County Deputy Snyper and his handler, Deputy Travis
Chellis; and laugh at the antics of Tommy Tropic and
Aldo the Clown.
Visitors
to the festival, which is free to the public, will also
be able to browse through booths of
selected Petoskey Stone and Michigan
gemstone vendors from all over the state; have
their own stones cut and polished by stonecutting
professionals; meet and talk with some of northern
Michigan's best-known authors and natural resources
authorities; and enjoy northern Michigan foods,
music and entertainment.
"We
are actively encouraging the involvement of
anyone interested in this event, which
is becoming a "must-see" for everyone in the
state of Michigan," said Meyers.
More information on the festival is
available at: http://www.petoskeystonefestival.com
The Antrim County
Petoskey Stone Festival is sponsored by the Antrim
County Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, which is
committed to educating the public on one of Michigan's
finest natural resources - the waters, land, and public
recreational opportunities in Antrim County,
Michigan.