We love covering the fun through Muskegon County. Ravenna has been an awesome spot for us over the last couple of years. We first began talking about their town festival Dag Daze and Cruise Night a few years ago, and steadily, we’ve heard from more and more people out that way that they have something going on too. From helping get the kids in Destination Imagination over to Istanbul and covering a story about a calf that raised $1000’s after a tragedy befell a family, it’s really important to remember that our rural communities mean a lot to the overall fiber of our community. Let’s catch up with Chris Fortier at the stunning Thatcher Park.
The Ravenna Lions are a very active and involved group in Muskegon County. If you’ve not been to Ravenna lately, taking a look around the community shows their hard work and dedication to maintaining the small town charm and beauty that’s reminiscent of the picturesque version of rural America we all hold dear. That’s not to say it’s “Bumtussle” in any way, it’s a community that quite fortunately has the time and resources to dedicate to parks, community projects and working together when there’s a need to get things done. When the municipal part can’t quite find a way to get something done due to budgets or red tape, you’ll generally find a group like the Ravenna Lions who can pick up the slack. It’s a great example for every community to follow.
Dog Daze and Cruise Night is the big one in Ravenna. They pull out all the stops as their biggest fundraiser of the year for the Lions Club in Ravenna. The projects and endeavors that are supported by the club do cost, and to throw a party and car cruise that gets everyone out and about along with drawing a crowd to town to see the local business and vendors that come, well it equals up to a win for everyone. That in and of itself harkens back to the good old days when things were a little simpler and we didn’t feel the “distance” we all do now in our communities across the country.
You’ll find everything you’d normally find at a festival. Food trucks and vendors. Artisan crafters and specialty home bakers bring their best of the best out for you to try. Think of all the pies, breads, jams and jellies!! Activities for the kids, including the Lions Vision Screening Truck which can see if your child might need a hand with some glasses for free. The Ravenna Fire Dept puts on a benefit meal that you can enjoy and as the evening moves along….one of the biggest car shows in West Michigan on Friday night along with live music in the “entertainment tent” and as long as it’s up, there’s a DJ in the tent saturday night too.
Our community is big, and wide but it’s one. Rural and urban makes up who we are, and I did a little experiment on my way back from taping. I don’t think it was even 20 minutes up Heights Ravenna Road on the way home from Ravenna that I felt like I was “back in town”. Load up the car and head on out for a nice time and say hi to the neighbors.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Ravenna Lions. Want to follow the Dog Daze festival on Facebook? CLICK HERE or on the image below.
