Almost Nobody Outside Michigan Knows About This Massive Seafood Feast On The Lake Shore

In a village with fewer than three hundred residents, a two-day festival serves up thousands of fish sandwiches made from a species most people have never even considered eating.

The catch is freshwater mullet, landed by a local fish company that has been working these waters for generations, breaded, fried until the crust shatters between your teeth. The event started as a community celebration of the commercial fishing heritage that built this tiny port town.

It has since grown into something that pulls visitors from across the state. A parade, a car show, fireworks fill the hours between sandwich runs.

The best part is the price: admission is free, and the sandwiches cost less than what you would pay for a fast food combo.

Michigan knows how to throw a lakeside party, and this one might be the most unexpected of the entire summer season.

Start With The Original Mullet Sandwich

The festival’s original sandwich has a humble fish inside its crisp coat: freshwater mullet, also called sucker. Bay Port Fish Company catches the fish locally, connecting each serving to the commercial fishing traditions of the Saginaw Bay area.

Batter and hot oil turn it into a hearty meal with a crunchy outside and tender center.

Size is part of the fun, although it also calls for strategy. Grab several napkins, settle at a table, and use both hands rather than attempting a walking lunch.

In 2026, the original sandwich is listed at $7, making it the lowest-priced featured fish option.

Add tartar sauce carefully at first so the coating stays crisp. Lemon juice, ketchup, pickle relish, salt, and pepper are other familiar choices.

Try one bite nearly plain before dressing it up, because the fish deserves a proper introduction of its own.

M-25 Points The Way To Fish Sandwich Weekend

The Bay Port Fish Sandwich Festival takes over B.C. McLeish Memorial Park on Promenade Street in Bay Port, Michigan.

M-25 is the main highway through the community, making it the natural approach from Caseville, Port Austin, or the southern Thumb.

The 2026 festival ran July 31 and August 1, with the Saturday grand parade beginning at 10:30 a.m. Festival traffic and parade activity made the small downtown busier than usual, so drivers approaching on M-25 could follow temporary signs toward the park and Promenade Street.

Once you reach Promenade Street, follow the festival signs toward McLeish Memorial Park and park in the available areas around the grounds. From there, continue on foot into the park and toward the festival pavilion and food lines.

Compare Walleye And Whitefish Options

Not every appetite arrives wanting the original mullet, and the expanded menu makes room for another path. Walleye sandwiches and Lake Huron whitefish joined the festival offerings in 2013, then quickly became popular choices.

Both allow visitors to sample familiar Great Lakes flavors while still sharing the event’s central fish feast.

For 2026, the published prices are $10 for a walleye sandwich and $15 for Lake Huron whitefish with fries. Bring enough money for the option you want, plus sweets or festival merchandise afterward.

Posted prices and availability should always be checked again before ordering.

Groups can turn lunch into an easy tasting session by choosing different dishes and sharing sensible portions. Keep each fish separate for the first bites, since toppings can hide the differences.

The approach costs less than buying every selection alone and makes the table considerably more interesting for curious eaters.

Build Your Toppings With Restraint

A good fish sandwich can become a slippery engineering project when every condiment lands at once. Common festival additions include tartar sauce, lemon juice, ketchup, pickle relish, salt, and pepper.

Choose one or two initially, then adjust after tasting rather than burying the fried fish beneath a crowded sauce collection.

Lemon adds brightness without much weight, while tartar sauce brings creamy richness. Pickle relish supplies a sharper sweet-and-sour note, and ketchup offers a familiar choice for younger or cautious eaters.

Salt may not be needed until after the first bite because batter and condiments already carry seasoning.

Place sauces toward the middle of the sandwich to reduce drips around the edges. Napkins should remain within reach, not hidden under a tray or inside a bag.

There is no official topping contest here, so the winning combination is simply the one that lets the locally caught fish remain recognizable.

Learn The Story Behind Every Bite

Long before festival tents filled the park, Henry Engelhard sold fish sandwiches from his home to help pay for his daughter’s college education. That effort began in 1949, and the community festival eventually followed in 1978.

Knowing that history makes the giant sandwich feel less like a novelty and more like an edible piece of Bay Port life.

The Bay Port Fish Company reaches even further back, having been established in 1895. Its role reflects the area’s long commercial fishing tradition and explains why locally caught freshwater fish remains central to the celebration.

Visit the Bay Port Historical Society’s park booth or museum when available. Photographs, books, commemorative buttons, and local displays add names and faces to the story.

Give the stop more than a hurried glance between activities, especially if children are attending, because a short history lesson can make their festival meal far more memorable.

Pack For A Two-Handed Lunch

One look at the sandwich explains why regulars describe it as a two-handed meal. The fried fish stretches beyond ordinary fast-food expectations, and its generous size can challenge paper plates, small hands, and spotless shirts.

Wear casual clothes and bring wipes for the sort of lunch that leaves evidence.

A shaded seat, when available, is better than balancing food while crossing the busy park. Families may find it helpful to split a sandwich for smaller children before adding sauces.

Cutting or sharing also prevents a large portion from becoming an expensive pile of dropped batter.

Carry only what you need through the serving line so both hands remain ready afterward. A compact bag is easier than loose belongings, especially around crowds and children’s attractions.

Most importantly, pause before lifting the sandwich. Arrange napkins, drinks, and condiments first, then enjoy the cheerful challenge without rushing through it.

Give Children Their Own Festival Plan

Young visitors have more waiting for them than a plate almost as wide as their elbows. Festival activities have included free inflatables, a petting zoo, a scavenger hunt, and a foam party.

Check the current schedule upon arrival because individual attractions may operate during limited periods or change from year to year.

Food first works for some families, while others need activity time before standing in line. Choose the order based on energy levels, weather, and the fish sales window.

A spare outfit can be wonderfully practical if the foam party appears on the day’s program.

Set an easy meeting point inside B.C. McLeish Memorial Park before exploring busier areas.

Adults should supervise children closely around crowds, animals, food lines, and inflatables. Sunscreen, water, and comfortable shoes also earn their space in the day bag.

Small preparations keep the outing playful instead of turning every transition into a negotiation.

Save Room For Something Sweet

Fried fish may command the weekend, but dessert quietly waits nearby with a different sort of persuasion. Homestead Bakery, known as Sweets by the Bay, offers homemade treats along with drinks such as coffee, hot chocolate, frozen lemonade, and frappes.

Availability can vary, so browse before promising anyone a particular reward.

Frozen lemonade makes a refreshing partner for a warm August afternoon, especially after a rich sandwich. Coffee or hot chocolate may suit cooler weather, since conditions near the bay do not always follow the ideal summer script.

Consider sharing dessert if lunch has already tested the limits of the table. Another useful method is buying sweets later, after walking through craft booths or watching entertainment.

Keep food purchases protected from direct sun and curious hands while exploring. The sweet stop should feel like an encore, not a race immediately following the final fish bite.

Match Meals With Music And Events

A sandwich tastes different when a live band is playing nearby and half the town seems to know the chorus. Music is a regular part of the two-day celebration, joined by community events that may include a parade, car show, cornhole tournament, and pirate-themed fun run or walk.

Times vary, making the official schedule essential.

Pick one must-see activity rather than trying to chase every event across the weekend. Build the fish line and eating time around that choice, allowing a cushion for crowds.

Parade routes or event preparations may also affect movement near the park.

Craft booths and vendors fill quieter spaces between scheduled attractions. Browse with a plan for carrying purchases, particularly if lunch is still ahead.

Festival T-shirts and sweatshirts can provide a practical souvenir, though sizes may become limited. A relaxed agenda leaves room for unexpected music, conversations, and one more stroll.

Stay Through Saturday Night Fireworks

Saturday ends with the weekend’s brightest punctuation: a fireworks show after a full day of fish and community events. Staying requires a little planning because an afternoon outfit, tired children, and evening temperatures do not always cooperate.

Bring a light layer and check the current program for the announced start time.

Choose a viewing spot that does not block paths or crowd activity areas. Families should decide where to regroup if anyone steps away, since darkness makes familiar park landmarks harder to recognize.

Hearing protection can help young children or anyone sensitive to loud sounds.

Food sales generally finish earlier than the fireworks, and supplies may disappear before their scheduled closing time. Eat first rather than expecting a late sandwich during the show.

Afterward, leave patiently and watch for people walking near vehicles. The finale is best enjoyed without turning the trip home into a hurried contest.

Notice The Volunteers Behind The Feast

Behind every crackling batch of fish stands a network of local volunteers, businesses, and residents keeping the festival moving. Their work covers planning, preparation, serving, cleanup, and the many small jobs visitors rarely notice.

A patient greeting at the counter recognizes that this enormous meal depends on community labor rather than invisible machinery.

Keep orders clear, have payment ready, and move away from the pickup area once everything is correct. Those simple habits shorten waits for the next family.

Use marked trash and recycling areas, and leave tables ready for others whenever possible.

Free admission makes the gathering especially welcoming, but it does not make the festival effortless to produce. Buying food, browsing local vendors, or purchasing official clothing supports the weekend’s activity.

Courtesy matters too. Bay Port’s feast has lasted because people keep showing up to work, eat, help, and treat the park like home.