Hello, neighbors! Country music takes over the waterfront this weekend, the scarecrows go up at the end of the month, and spooky season is officially loading. Here's what's happening around the bay.

🎟 Community Events & Festival Radar

Anchor Bay Country Fest. Two nights, eight bands, one waterfront park. Friday brings Northbound, Chris Meldrum, and Ryan Scott & The Creek Hounds, with The Family Tradition Band closing at 9:30. Saturday runs Rob Stone, Joey Vee, and Y'ALL Band before Uncle Kracker takes the stage at 10:00. Co-hosted by the New Baltimore Downtown Development Authority and the New Baltimore Business Alliance.
Date & Time: Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19. Gates open 4:00 PM Friday, 3:00 PM Saturday
Location: Walter & Mary Burke Park, 36300 Front Street, New Baltimore
Fee: Ticketed, and tickets are limited. abcountryfest.com

Sprint and Splash. Run it or paddle it. There's a 5K run or walk, and an individual duathlon that pairs the 5K with a two-mile kayak leg. Every participant gets a swag bag, a t-shirt, and a finisher medal, and there's breakfast after. Bring people to cheer, there's a good spectator area.
Date & Time: Sunday, September 20. Packet pickup and kayak drop-off 7:00 to 8:30 AM, race starts at 9:00 AM, awards at 10:45 AM
Location: Brandenburg Park, 50050 Jefferson Avenue
Fee: Registration at SprintandSplash.com

New Baltimore Farmers Market. Sunday the 20th is the Dahlia Challenge judging, so bring your best bloom or just come look at everyone else's.
Date & Time: Sundays, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Location: Downtown New Baltimore
Fee: Free to browse

Kids Night at Chick-fil-A. Kids eat free and there's always something going on.
Date & Time: Tuesdays, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Location: Chick-fil-A, Chesterfield Township
Fee: Free for kids with a meal purchase

Haunted History Walk. The New Baltimore Historical Society takes you out after dark for the stories the daytime tour leaves out. Starts at the Grand Pacific House Museum. Not recommended for children.
Date & Time: Thursday, September 24, 6:30 PM
Location: Grand Pacific House Museum, 51065 Washington Street, New Baltimore
Fee: $20 cash at the door

Macomb St. Clair Mega Cruise. Formerly the North Gratiot Cruise. The 5K and 1K kick things off in the morning, then the craft show and car show open at 10:00, the parade rolls at noon, and cruising runs until 6:00. Cash prizes for the top three male and female finishers, starting at $500 for first. Kids 17 and under run free, and so does the 1K.
Date & Time: Saturday, September 26. Check-in 8:00 AM, races start 9:00 AM, awards 9:50 AM, craft and car show 10:00 AM, parade and cruising from Noon, cruising closes 6:00 PM
Location: Gardner White, 50400 Gratiot Avenue at Cotton Road, New Baltimore
Fee: Adults $30, seniors 60 and up $10, students 17 and under free, 1K fun run free. Includes t-shirt, finisher medal, snacks, and water. Packet pickup Friday 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Gardner White

Scarecrows 2026. The 21st year of scarecrows downtown. Build one, drop it at City Hall on one of the two collection nights, and it gets strapped to a light post for the month. Voting happens in the shops downtown, so look for the "Vote Here" signs. Three categories, adults 16 and up, kids 12 and under, and businesses or organizations, with $100 for first and $50 for second in each.
Date & Time: Drop off Monday, September 28 or Tuesday, September 29, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. On display and open for voting October 1 through November 1
Location: New Baltimore City Hall, 36535 Green Street
Fee: Free to enter. Applications at cityofnewbaltimore.org or at collection night.

Witch Walk & Warlock Stroll. Seven hours of spooky season downtown. Tashmoo Distilling hosts the free activities, with DJ Big Truck at 1:00, the Cackle Contest at 2:00, the Witch Costume Contest at 3:00, and the Witch Spell Contest at 4:00. The Pink House does free witches and warlocks portraits from 3:00 to 5:00, then the Runway Witch Red Carpet Shuffle at 5:30. The Witches Enchanted Market, a fall and holiday vendor show, runs at Walter & Mary Burke Park
Date & Time: Saturday, October 3, Noon to 7:00 PM
Location: Downtown New Baltimore
Fee: Free to attend. The commemorative cauldron unlocks discounts at participating shops, $10 pre-sale and $15 the day of. NBWitchWalk.com or 586-725-0291

🚗 Worth the Drive

Dewayne T. Williams Memorial Ceremony. The American Legion honors St. Clair's Medal of Honor recipient. A quiet, worthwhile hour if you've got the morning free.
Date & Time: Friday, September 18, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Location: Memorial Park, 400 S. 3rd Street, St. Clair
Fee: Free

Fun & Fabulous Fundraiser. A veterans benefit in Casco with a tribute concert, Donny Rod performing as Rod Stewart and Dan Spencer as Toby Keith. Proceeds go to Veterans Honor Flight and Wreaths Across America.
Date & Time: Saturday, September 19. Call ahead for showtime and reservations
Location: Little Camilles by the Green, 4575 County Line Road, Casco
Fee: $35 per person. Mike Bembas 810-278-2243 or Jeanne Wonning 810-643-3279

String Quartet from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. A DSO quartet plays the Boardwalk Theatre in downtown St. Clair on a Sunday afternoon. Worth the drive up M-29 if you want something a little different.
Date & Time: Sunday, September 20, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Location: Boardwalk Theatre, 109 S. 3rd Street, St. Clair
Fee: See the Boardwalk Theatre for ticket details

Chicago the Musical. The Boardwalk Theatre opens its run at the end of the month and plays into October. A proper night out about forty minutes up the river.
Date & Time: Opens Saturday, September 26
Location: Boardwalk Theatre, 109 S. 3rd Street, St. Clair
Fee: See the Boardwalk Theatre for ticket details

📍 Local Civic & Roadwork Updates

If you're on Auto Pay with Chesterfield, check it. The township moved its online payment system over to BS&A, so the process looks different than it used to. If you're enrolled in Auto Pay, or were before the switch, call the Treasurer's Office at 586-949-0400, Option 6 and make sure you're properly registered on the new system.

The township is looking for volunteers. Chesterfield wants residents interested in serving on its Boards and Commissions. You don't have to wait for a seat to open, applications stay on file for future vacancies. You do need to be a township resident, and you can apply through the township's online portal.

🏪 Around Town

Sign up by the 26th for the Witch Walk crafts. The Painted Toad is running Spooky Bottles and Witchy Glass Trees at the Witch Walk, but registration closes at midnight on September 26 so supplies have time to ship. The glass tree comes in six colors: pink, green, red, purple, white, and dark blue. Details at paintedtoad.com.

Crafters wanted for the Holiday Craft Show. The show itself is Saturday, November 14, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Lighthouse Elementary, and admission is free for shoppers. If you make or bake, tables are first come first served at $30 for a six-foot table, non-refundable, handmade and home-baked only. Register at the Parks & Rec office, at NBrecreation.org, or call 586-725-0291.

Jingle Bell Run early bird ends October 11. The race is Sunday, December 6, with the 5K at 3:00 PM and the 1-mile walk at 3:10, starting downtown. Right now both are $15. After October 11 the 5K jumps to $25, and after November 22 it's $35. Registration is online only and there's no race-day signup, so this isn't one you can decide on later. Register at newbaltimorejinglebellrun.com.

That's a wrap for this week's Anchor Bay Current. See you around town!