On this episode of Behind the Mitten, Gonzo and Amy visit marvelous Muskegon, a historic city nestled on the shores of lady Lake Michigan that offers different types of adventures for everyone, including some with a decidedly Gaelic twist to them.We start the show off by highlighting the Michigan Irish Music Festival, which is happening this September 12 through the 15th at Heritage Landing in downtown Muskegon. Celebrating 25 years, this is the premier Irish music festival for the entire mid-west, drawing incredible international musical acts, artistic performers, arts and crafts, Irish dancing, and tastes of the "old country". We have on Kris Vanderstelt, Vice President, and volunteer coordinator for the fest to share what's new for 2024, what not to miss, and insider tips on how to make the most of your festival experience. Tickets are on sale now, and we highly recommend you plan ahead for this very popular event.Speaking of volunteers, it takes a lot of them to make the festival run smoothly, so if you are interested in helping out, please contact our next guest. Jim Rudicil, the Executive Director of the Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park is also in charge of parking volunteers for the Michigan Irish fest, which is truly a community endeavor. He'll also share all the amazing things you can do at the Luge park, which is located inside Muskegon State Park. This fall they'll be hosting "HIke the Lights" where you can walk Michigan's longest-lit hiking trail right along the shore, and get up close and personal with the dunes. Plus, did you know you can do a dual zip line here? True story.The Muskegon Museum of Art, founded in 1912, is known throughout the Midwest as having one fine collection, and we think its stellar reputation is about to get even better if that's possible. Kirk Hallman, Director, shares with us the exciting news about their $15 million expansion that is set to open in February 2025. The Muskegon community has been working on this since 2018, and the addition will feature a huge new gallery which will allow the museum to bring in bigger shows and exhibitions for all to enjoy. Lashelle Mikesell, Digital Media and Marketing Coordinator for Visit Muskegon then stops by to share other fall activities to enjoy in this neck of the woods. She recommends catching the end of a few art exhibits at the museum, including a quilt exhibit that is ending at the of September, and a jewelry exhibit that is showing through the end of 2024. For fall, Muskegon is awash in fun festivals, find a complete listing of events in the area here. Lashelle recommends the self-guided leaf peeping tour you can follow called "Depot to Depot". The route takes you from Muskegon South Pierhead Light to the White River Light Station in Whitehall. You'll be able to catch some incredible views, while also getting some nice little deals from local businesses. She'll tell us just where to go for this fun event that you can do on your own time.With three state parks, miles of multi-use trails, two major paddle sport rivers, and 26 miles of beaches, Muskegon County is the outdoor recreation hub of Michigan's sunset coast, every season of the year.Affiliates:*8 a.m. Saturdays on WBRN - 1460 AM and 107.7 FM in Big Rapids*8 a.m. Saturdays on Kalamazoo Talk Radio 1360 WKMI*8 a.m. Saturdays on WILS-1320 AM in Lansing9 a.m. Saturdays on 92.1 Grand Haven's Favorite, WGHN-FM*10 a.m. Saturdays 95.3 WBCK-FM in Battle Creek*10 a.m. Saturdays on News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM in Benton Harbor*4 p.m. Saturdays on WIOS "The Bay's Best!" - 1480 AM & 106.9 FM in Tawas / East Tawas*7 a.m. Sundays on the following Black Diamond Broadcasting stations:-WCFX - CFX Today's Hits (95.3) in Mt. Pleasant-WGFN - Classic Rock The Bear (98.1 & 95.3) in Traverse City-WMRX - Sunny 97.7 in Midland-WUPS - The Classic Hits Station (98.5) in Houghton Lake-WWMK - 1063 MAC FM in Cheboygan*Noon Saturdays and 8 am Sundays on News, Talk and Sports - 1380-AM WPHM Radio.*1 p.m. Sundays on WSGW-AM (790) and FM (100.5) in Saginaw*6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM (1300) and FM (106.9) in Grand RapidsFollow John and Amy:Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemittenTwitter at @BehindTheMittenInstagram at @BehindTheMitten
