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The Manistee 5K Run/Walk will start and finish at Manistee Middle/High School, located at 525 12th St.
The four-person Forest Festival Golf Outing scramble is sponsored by the Little River Casino Resort. It will begin at 8 p.m. at Manistee National Golf & Resort.
The Manistee 5K Run/Walk will start and finish at Manistee Middle/High School, located at 525 12th St.
The Manistee National Forest Festival’s annual 5K became known as the Firecracker Run/Walk in the early 2000s.
The four-person Forest Festival Golf Outing scramble is sponsored by the Little River Casino Resort.
MANISTEE — Two Manistee National Forest Festival events are designed especially for those who enjoy active outdoor activities.
The Forest Festival Golf Outing begins at 8 a.m. on July 1 at Manistee National Golf & Resort and the Manistee Firecracker 5K Run/Walk starts at 8 a.m. on July 2.
“We’re happy to host the golf outing again as this will be the second year the chamber has organized this event,” said Stacie Bytwork, president and CEO of the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a great way to kick off the weekend at Manistee National Golf & Resort.”
The four-person scramble is sponsored by the Little River Casino Resort. The registration fee of $80 per person or $370 per team includes golf, cart, lunch and prizes – including closest to pin contests on the par 3 holes.
There will be prizes for men’s, women’s, seniors and mixed teams.
Registration can be completed at manisteechamber.com.
The Manistee 5K Run/Walk will start and finish at Manistee Middle/High School, located at 525 12th St.
“Dr. Ron Gardin started it as the Forest Festival Run in 1979,” said Eric Thuemmel, who started coordinating the race when he became Manistee High School’s track and cross country coach in 2008.
“In the early days they had a 5K and a 10K and even a half marathon some years. It’s become a 5K over the last 25 years and the name was changed to Firecracker Run/Walk in the early 2000s,” he said.
When Thuemmel started as the track/cross country coach, Manistee High School was one of the few schools in the state to not have its own track. The Forest Festival event became a fundraiser for the new Manistee Community Track, which was completed in 2017 and is used by both Manistee and Manistee Catholic Central schools.
“It’s a gorgeous facility,” Thuemmel said. “It’s done phenomenal things for the school kids, and the adults in the community use it as well. Between Manistee Catholic and Manistee High School there’s been at least one conference champion over the last three years. In 2021 the Manistee boys and girls and the Manistee Catholic boys all won conference titles.
“It’s nice to have coaches pull up for the first time and say what a beautiful track and what a beautiful location it is. It’s just done wonders for participation and for getting kids involved and getting community involved,” he added.
Funds from the run – and also from a Forest Festival pancake breakfast to be held on July 3 at Manistee High School – continue to be used to benefit the track.
“This past year we used the proceeds to paint relay exchange zone lines and waterfall starting lines,” Thuemmel said.
Thuemmel said while early registration makes it easier for everyone, runners and walkers will be accepted right up to start times of the races – 8 a.m. for a 1K fun fun/walk and 8:15 a.m. for the 5K run/walk.
“I would like to point out that our prices have remained the same for the past 15 years ($25 pre-registration, $30 race day),” he said. “The support of our sponsors has made that possible.”
Thuemmel said he also appreciates the volunteers who help with the race – mostly members of the track team and local running enthusiasts.
“We’re excited to being able to do it again, this year with all restrictions lifted,” he said. “We’re also looking forward to great weather, which helps, too.”
While the reconstruction of 12th Street makes it challenging to drive to the high school, it will not impact the race since it heads west from the school to Tamarack Street, then north to make a loop around Douglas Park First Street Beach and then back to the school.
“I might have to stick up a few signs that say ‘high school this way,’” Thuemmel said. “Drivers will have to take Eighth Street to Tamarack to get to the school.”
Further information is available and registration can be completed at runmanistee.blogspot.com.
