AuSable River Festival

07/27/2025

❗🏆 As reported by FOX 2 Detroit: The Champions of the 2025 Consumers Energy AuSable River Canoe Marathon are Weston Willoughby, 34, of Traverse City, Michigan, and Travis Mecklenburg, 22, of Grayling, Michigan.

Following Saturday night's 9:00pm frenzied running start to the river in Grayling, the pair quickly established a narrow lead which they battled to maintain while fending off challenges from a handful of other top teams that included past AuSable Marathon champs.

This was the first AuSable River Canoe Marathon (ARCM) win for both Willoughby and Mecklenburg.

Livestream coverage from the Finish Line in Oscoda will continue until all canoes have arrived, or at the 4:00 pm EDT official finish of the race. Catch the Livestream coverage on the AuSable Marathon page and on the YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/AuSable River Canoe Marathon

Complete results will be available at the ARCM website: https://www.ausablecanoemarathon.org

07/26/2025

07/26/2025

🦆🎉 Today is the Duck Derby! 🎉🦆
Join us at Grayling City Park — the Duck Derby starts at 3 PM, and we’ll be dumping the ducks into the water for this fun-filled event!

Hundreds of sponsored ducks will race their way to the finish —
👏 Come cheer on your duck and support the awesome sponsors who make it all possible!

📍 Where: Grayling City Park
🕒 When: TODAY at 3 PM – Don’t miss the Duck Dump and all the excitement!

It’s a splashy, family-friendly tradition you won’t want to miss. See you at the Derby! 🦆🏁
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07/26/2025

🏁 Happy Race Day from the AuSable River Festival! 🚣‍♂️🎉

The excitement is building, and there’s so much to see and do in town today — come join the fun!

🎶 Main Stage – Live music and entertainment all day
🛍️ Michigan Ave Booths – Local vendors, shopping, and more
🍻 Brew Ave – Cold drinks + good vibes
🎨 Craft Show – Unique handmade goods and art
🌮 Street Eats – Come hungry, leave happy!

Whether you're here for the race or the party, there's something for everyone. Let's make this Race Day one to remember!
AuSable River Canoe Marathon

07/25/2025

98.5 UPS-Classic Hits introducing their paddle team before Nameless hits the stage for the night! Come downtown to have a drink and enjoy! 🍻🎤 Thank you to Matt LaFontaine Automotive for bringing this stage to fruition downtown!

07/25/2025

Come on down to Michigan Ave and the City Park for some fun!

07/25/2025

🎉🛍️ The Craft Show is HERE – Starting TODAY! 🛍️🎉

Come out to the Grayling City Park today and tomorrow for the Ausable River Festival Craft Show! Whether you're searching for unique handmade treasures, supporting talented local artisans, or just enjoying a day outdoors, this event has something for everyone.

✨ What You'll Find:

Tons of vendors offering handcrafted goods, art, jewelry, décor & more

Tasty concessions to enjoy while you shop

A fun, welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere in the heart of Grayling

📍 Where: Grayling City Park
📅 When: TODAY & TOMORROW – Don't miss it!

Bring your friends, shop local, and celebrate creativity in our community. See you at the park!

07/25/2025

RESULTS ARE IN!

This year’s Queens are 🥁 🥁 🥁

Miss AuSable River Festival: Ava Huber

Junior Miss AuSable River Festival: Lillian McAteer

Little Miss AuSable River Festival: Amelia Gross

Congratulations, ladies! And congratulations to ALL of our contestants for a wonderful night.

Miss First RU: Zoella Wethington
Miss 2nd RU: Lana Sheehan
Miss Congeniality: Ava Huber
Miss Ambassadorship Award: Adrianna Soria
Miss Community Service: Adrianna Soria
Miss Interview Award: Zoella Wethington

JR Miss First RU: Nadia Podjaske Pippo
JR Miss 2nd RU: Ariya Podjaske Pippo
JR Miss Ambassadorship: Nadia Podjaske Pippo
JR Miss Interview: Lillian McAteer

Little Miss First RU: Rory Jansen

Little Miss Court: Audrey Krabill, Kinsey Burmester, Toriann Dale

Princesses: Avery VanNuck, Lilith Herrick, Emerson Bracken, Margaret Bennett

07/24/2025

🎉 It’s finally here! 🎶🍻

Today marks the first day of the Main Stage & Brew Ave at the AuSable River Festival!
We’re kicking things off with live bands and cold brews — and the fun keeps flowing all weekend long! 🎸🍺

Don’t miss the good vibes, great music, and ice-cold beer — only at the AuSable River Festival. Let’s make some memories! 🙌
💙 Again a huge thank you to a couple of our entertainment sponsors — we couldn’t make this amazing weekend happen without your support! Our stage is brought to you by Matt LaFontaine Automotive, and Friday night’s music by 98.5 UPS-Classic Hits!

07/24/2025

🚚🍴 Street Eats Hit Downtown Today Starting at 11am! 🎉

Get ready to eat your way through the AuSable River Festival with Street Eats, running today through Saturday in downtown Grayling!

We’re bringing in a diverse selection of food trucks and vendors, offering something for everyone — from savory bites to sweet treats, with a mix of classic favorites and unique festival flavors. Whether you're stopping by for a snack or planning a full-on food tour, you won’t leave hungry!

Pair your food with live music from the Main Stage and a cold drink from Brew Ave for the perfect festival combo.

Come hungry, bring your friends, and enjoy the taste of summer in downtown Grayling!

07/23/2025

🚨💦 CALLING ALL BUSINESSES! 💦🚨
It’s time to rally your dream team of 4 and represent your squad in the most epic water showdown of the summer — the Business Relay Canoe Race 🛶💼

📅 Thursday, July 24th
📍 PENROD'S | ⏰ 4PM–6PM
🏁 5-8 minute head-to-head grudge matches!
👕 Costumes encouraged | 📣 Bring your entourage!

We’ve got Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed divisions, and plenty of friendly rivalries waiting to be made… or settled. 😏

👉 Think your crew has what it takes? Prove it.
We officially CHALLENGE your business to meet us in the river for a good old-fashioned paddle battle!

🔥 Tons of laughs, big bragging rights, and a whole lot of splash.
📞 Call Wendy at 989-348-9266 or
📧 Email: [email protected] to secure your spot!

07/23/2025

🚣‍♂️ The HUP Race is Tonight at 6 PM! 🚣‍♀️

Come down and cheer on the teams as they battle it out in this exciting AuSable River Festival tradition! 🏁 The race kicks off at 6:00 PM, and it's always a blast to watch.

This year, we’ve got 8 incredible teams competing — made up of local high school sports teams, businesses, and families! 💪👏 It’s a great showcase of community spirit, friendly competition, and river fun.

🍔 Concessions will be available, so come hungry and enjoy some great food while you watch all the action from the shoreline!

A huge thank-you to our generous sponsors — your support makes events like this possible and helps keep our festival strong year after year. 💙
Amazon Hub, Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Grayling Michigan HeadWaters Land Conservancy Grayling Promotional Association - GPA