Jammin' on the boat, the beach, and with the Moose...

Makes ya wanna grab a boat, no?

Well, Muskegon, it may feel like fall already, but the abundance of fests going on this weekend prove summer is still going Strong in the Port City...

Lake Effect Boat Time 2012, a celebration of maritime activities, starts today off with a "Community Paddle" event at 10 a.m. Bring your boat, unload at 9:30 a.m. and depart at 10 ... 

Throughout the day, LEBT will host several boat-themed activities, including a Historic Ship Tour Package. Later on, at 7-10 p.m., LEBT's signature activity, the "Sunset Boat Jam," will bring live, Jimmy Buffet-style music to the LST 393 for a rockin' time in the cove by the Mart Dock. The LST deck opens at 6 p.m. for the free celebration. Bring your own beverage, chairs, and food to the LST - or bring your own boat to the cove...

"We want to get a bunch of boaters down in that cove. It's not just a musical jam, but a way to show Muskegon residents and boaters that this is their community," organizer Roger Zuidema said.

Lake Effect  Boat Time will continue on Sunday with events such as a Boat Bash Meetup at 1 p.m.

If spending time on the beach is more what floats your boat, the Muskegon Multicultural Beach Festival will include music, dancing, a beach walk, and a sand-sculpting contest, among many other events ... The festival, which will include vendors and exhibitors, is free, with some events costing a small fee. If you participate in the MMBF, you'll be part of something much bigger than a day at the beach. Check this out: "MMBF is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that celebrates the land, lakes, rich diversity and culture that exist in Muskegon, while promoting the ideals of Healthy Lifestyles, Sustainability, Economic Development, Diversity, and Lifelong Learning. Our hope is to Educate, Empower and Entertain." Wow, now that's a mission statement...

Add some culture to this natural beauty: Perfection.

The Muskegon Multicultural Beach Festival also will extend into Sunday, with activities such as a "Gospel Explosion."

So, what else could possibly be going on, you ask? How about Moose Fest, an all-day country music bash at Heritage Landing? With artists like Rodney Atkins, Randy Houser, and Jessie James? It's happening, and you can hear it - with a slight catch: If you don't have tickets, you can't get into the concert venue, but you CAN bring a boat as part of LEBT's Raft-Up, or you can hear some tunes from the bike path that goes right by...

There's always the sky over Heritage Landing, too...

All of these events came out of the imagination, dedication, and hard work of community members. They're all unique to Muskegon, and they've all got distinctive characteristics ... Check 'em out. You never know where you'll find some inspiration...

See ya out jammin'.

--Imaginer