Tiki-themed golf carts, live music, food trucks, vendor tents and pink flamingo decorations everywhere are keeping cheeseburger and Jimmy Buffett vibes high in Caseville as the 28th annual Cheeseburger Festival heads into its last weekend.
The small-town festival in Michigan's Thumb started in 1999 as a three-day trial and has since expanded into a 10-day festival with about 350,000 people expected in Caseville between Aug. 14 and 23, said Michelle Louwers, the office manager at the Caseville Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event.
"We go through a lot of cheeseburgers in this town," Louwers said.
The festival includes a parade of cheeseburger- and beach-themed floats, cheeseburger hats, vendor tents, live music, crafts, a foam party and the annual
best cheeseburger contest.
Jamie, 63, and Paul Schultz, 67, of Essexville said they've been coming to the Cheeseburger Festival for years, even staying at the same bed and breakfast for the last 14. Friends and family from around the state usually join them for the festivities.
“For us, it’s just a breath of fresh air," Paul Schultz said, wearing a bright tropical-themed shirt with parrots and palm trees on it.
Jamie Schultz said she loves shopping at businesses like Lemon Tree and Key North. She said she also enjoys the food.
“If you walk away hungry, that’s your own fault,” she said.
Twenty-four local businesses entered unique burgers to the best cheeseburger contest this year, Louwers said. Walt’s Restaurant won with its "Old Glory" burger, made with a one-third pound certified Angus Steakburger with sharp white cheddar, homemade jam of mushrooms, crispy onion, bacon and barbeque. Other entries included Hot Rod's BBQ & Catering's "Banh Mi Burnout" buffalo burger, Key North Adventure Golf and Family Fun Center's "The Castaway" with pepper jack cheese, tropical mango slaw and sweet butter rum sauce, according to entries listed in a photo on the chamber of commerce website.
Christine Gillespie, 56, and her daughter Jessica Gordon, 36, said the family makes the drive to the festival from St. Clair Shores every few years for the beaches, the overall family-friendly fun vibe and, of course, the cheeseburgers. Gordon said they tend to return to Frank N Bones, Beachy’s and Walt’s Restaurant, though they love to try different burgers each year.
“I think it’s fun that we can drive two-and-a-half hours but feel like you’re in Key West, Florida vibes," Gordon said. "It’s an out-of-town experience, like you’re not in Michigan."
Gordon's daughters Ella, 15, and Paisley, 12, and their cousin Joanna Vasquez, 10, said they enjoyed trying new cheeseburgers and dressing in bright color wigs, cheeseburger hats and tropical wear for the parade.
"My favorite part of Cheeseburger is getting to re-experience everything we've done before and it still feels like brand new," Ella Gordon said. "It's always a safe place for you to be yourself and go all out."
The Caseville Cheeseburger Festival goes until Sunday, Aug. 23, with a classic car show and other events marking the final day. For more information about the event, visit casevillechamber.com/cheeseburger-fest.
Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Caseville Cheeseburger Fest keeps people coming back for tropical vibes
