One of northern Michigan’s longest running festivals is doubling the size of its board of directors in order to get fresh ideas – and sorely needed support – for the future.

Elk Rapids Harbor Days began in 1955 as a one day-event to raise money for the construction of Elk Rapids harbor. The event now spans four days and attracts thousands from across northern Michigan, with its parade and fireworks show being particularly popular.

The festival has for quite some time operated with a board of up to five people, a few of whom have been carrying the load for many years. It’s starting to overwhelm them, and they’re in major need of reinforcements.

“Harbor Days has grown so much over the past couple of years that we need to double our board,” Executive Director Mallory Szczepanski tells The Ticker. “It’s great that it’s growing and taking off, but we need some extra muscle behind the scenes to continue putting on the same free, family fun event.”

To put it bluntly, Harbor Days won’t last unless other leaders are willing to step up and take the reins, Szczepanski says.

“To be fully transparent, we need the bandwidth to keep this tradition going,” she says. “If you want to keep Harbor Days around for another 70 years, (we need people to get involved).”

The board is accepting applications from potential board members with a somewhat firm deadline of Nov. 14.

“We’ll probably keep it open, and hopefully we’ll have everybody selected by the end of the year,” Szczepanski says.

Board members are expected to dive in and their hands dirty, Szczepanski says.

“There are a lot of boards out there where you're just sitting around and maybe voting on things, but the difference is we are a working board,” she says. “While you might be attending one meeting a month, you are putting in the effort all year long…and getting involved in to help bring things to fruition.”

But applicants needn’t be intimidated, Szczepanski says. It’s a friendly board eager to train folks with no experience and/or draw from the expertise of those who have done this sort of thing before.

“We’re really looking for people of all different backgrounds,” she says. “(It doesn’t matter) if you’ve never sat on a board before, of if you’ve sat on 20.”

Ultimately, Szczepanski says, being part of the board “means being part of something bigger: preserving traditions, sparking new ideas and creating memories that last a lifetime.”

"Serving on the Elk Rapids Harbor Days board is one of the most rewarding ways to give back to the community,” she says. "You’ll be part of the magic that brings locals and visitors alike together every summer for one of northern Michigan’s most beloved traditions.”

If someone isn’t able to commit to serving on the board but still wants to help, they can sign up to volunteer. More than 200 are needed each year to help the festival run smoothly.

“We need 60 or 70 alone just for the fireworks,” Szczepanski says.

Szczepanski says the festival included several new attractions/events in 2025, including fitness line dancing, more food trucks than ever before, a Rotary-sponsored breakfast, trivia and more. Planners want to keep pushing the envelope so the festival stays fresh. The 2026 edition will be held Aug. 5-8.

“For 2026, we’re currently meeting with potential new partners, sponsors and event hosts to expand our lineup with more family-friendly activities,” she says. “While we’re still in the early planning stages and focused on growing the board, preparations will continue to ramp up in the coming months. We encourage anyone who may have an event or activity idea to reach out to us.”