Memorial Day festivities kick off at 40 Mile Point in Rogers City

Rogers City, Mich — Memorial Day weekend festivities are underway, and celebrations kicked off at 40 Mile Point Lighthouse in Rogers City.

The arts and crafts show started off a weekend full of fun Saturday morning. The day featured good music from local artists. Vendors sold and displayed a variety of unique items, from hand–made antler carved pens, to fairies and delicious foods. Owners of Nuts Galore, Bernie and Janette Zayak say they look forward to bringing their sugar and cinnamon roasted almonds to the event for the fifth year.

“Well for one thing, the people are great here. They take care of us. We really enjoy coming here for this art and crafts show. As for making the almonds and stuff like that, we just put it in the machine with cinnamon, sugar and water and almonds and let the machine do the work.”

The Zayaks aren’t the only family to make a habit of visiting the lighthouse around this time of year. Michigan natives Barbra and James Stewart say although the west coast is their second home, there’s nothing that compares to coming back to their roots.

Barbra Zayak says, “It feels right. It just feels good to be here. We’re from California, and it’s so big and so busy, this feels good. Feels like home. ”

James, Zayak, a military veteran, says he appreciate the intimacy and personal connection he gets at the arts and crafts show every year.

“I went in the service in San Diego and kind of adapted there, but Michigan is still our home.”

When asked if they’d be back, the Stewarts had only one answer in mind.

“Oh yeah. Yes. I mean it feels good to be here.”