Edited from a press release
CHIEF — Northern Natural Cider House and Winery will host the 5th Annual Chief Day in downtown Chief, Michigan, on Saturday, Oct. 12. This year, a Chief Day Pre-Party will be held on the winery’s grounds on Friday, Oct. 11.
Owner Dennis Mackey and his son, General Manager and Head Brewer Kyle Mackey, came up with the idea for Chief Day years ago.
“We’re always excited for Chief Day and everything that goes along with it”, Dennis Mackey said. “We hope everyone will stop out and take part, whether it be for the disc golf tournament, car show, parade or for the live music we’ll have Friday night and all day Saturday.
“Our little town of Chief has been great to us,” he added.
“Every year we like to have a day for the residents of Chief to celebrate the community that we love so much, and this year we were able to add a pre-party the night before … ” said longtime resident Mark Coe, the Chief Day Pre-Party organizer.
Sponsored by Authentic 231, the Friday, Oct. 11 event at Northern Natural will feature a 7 p.m. performance by The Thirsty Perch Blues Band. Cold beverages and food by The Roaming Harvest Food Truck and The Pizza Wagon will be offered for sale.
Those attending musical performances are encouraged to bring chairs.
“Thirsty Perch is an electrifying, muscular, rocking blues band from Grand Rapids who played Chief Day in 2023,” read a statement on the cider house’s event page. “We’re excited to welcome them back to Northern Natural!”
Saturday’s Chief Day events for families will be accompanied by fresh organic cider and fresh donuts plus the above-mentioned food vendors and cold beverages for sale beginning at noon.
The disc golf tournament begins at 9 a.m., and the entry fee is $10 per person. There is a payout for the top three teams. To pre-register, RSVP in the Chief Day Disc Golf Event on Northern Natural’s Facebook page.
Though no prizes will be awarded for the The Rat/Rod Car show, organizers encourage car enthusiasts to show off their rides from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Parade participants are to begin lining up at 11:40 a.m. at the corner of Chief and Johnson roads, and the parade will lead off at noon with the Great Lakes Brass Band. The route follows Chief Road, from Johnson Road to Balsam Road.
There will be a Kids’ Corner offering activities guided by Joe Reilly and Mama Luna.
Live music begins at 12 p.m. with singer-songwriter Seth Bernard, of Earthworks Music Collective, followed by the New Orleans-inspired Great Lakes Brass band at 2 p.m., the soulful jazz rock fusion of The Handstanders at 5 p.m., and concluding with the bluegrass sounds of Ted Bounty and the Bounty Hunters, beginning at 7 p.m., who also performed at Chief Day last year, according to the band’s Facebook page.
Those coming to the events this Friday and Saturday, and anyone planning to visit Northern Natural on Sunday, are encouraged to bring donations of new medical supplies (no prescription medications or needles, please) and feminine hygiene products for Hurricane Helene victims . A drop box for these items is found near the front door and donations will go to the VA Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina.
Northern Natural Cider House and Winery is located at 7220 Chief Road, between 9 Mile Road and Coates Highway, southwest of Kaleva.
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