Grand Haven, MI – 'Coast Guard City, USA.' Hosts a nationally recognized festival that honors and respects the men and women of the United States Coast Guard. ABOUT THE FESTIVAL. Join us for one of the most popular craft fairs in Michigan, held during one of the state's biggest festivals—The Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival. Quality exhibits, high attendance along with the Coast Guard parade and fireworks means you will have a successful event, and a great time while y.

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. It will be very crowded downtown during the Coast Guard Festival and many of the normal roads and parking lots will be closed or blocked for the festivities.The Grand Haven Department of Public Safety has issued the following traffic control orders - some lasting until the end of Coast Guard Festival: Road closuresWashington Avenue between Third and Fourth streets shall be posted as “No Parking, Tow Away' from 5 to 9 p.m. On Wednesday, July 31.Additionally, Washington Avenue between Third and Fourth streets will be closed to thru traffic from 5 to 9 p.m.

On Wednesday, July 31 to facilitate the USCG Water Ball Competition.Many of the downtown streets including Washington and Columbus avenues stretching from 7th Street to Harbor Drive will be closed throughout the week for the festivals, carnival and parades. This story will be updated as changes come down. RELATED: Municipal Marina parking lotThe east and west sides of the Municipal Marina Parking lot, north of the entrance, will be “Handicap Parking Only” starting 8 a.m.

On Tuesday, July 30 through 1 a.m. On Sunday, August 4.Six spaces located directly behind the marina office shall be posted “No Parking Tow Away, City of Grand Haven Staff Only.' South of the entrance, the east and west sides of the lot shall be posted “No Parking Tow Away” from Tuesday, July 30 through Sunday, August 4. This is to allow for the staging of vehicles and equipment for the entertainment at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium. Other parking lot closuresEighteen spaces in the SE portion of City Lot #4 will be posted “Coast Guard Festival Vendors Only, Tow Away.' The remaining spaces shall be designated for “Handicap Parking Only” from Tuesday, July 30 through Sunday, August 4.The angled parking adjacent to Bicentennial Park on Harbor Drive shall be closed to parking, except those vehicles authorized by the Coast Guard Festival Committee or the Public Safety Department, for the placement of vendors beginning 7 a.m.

On Tuesday, July 30 through 12 a.m. On Sunday, August 4.Mulligan’s Hollow East Hollow Lot (next to Imagination Station) will be closed to traffic and posted as “No Parking Tow Away' Tuesday, July 30 from 10 a.m.

For Kids Day.The four parking spaces north of the Waterfront Stadium service drive shall be posted “No Parking Tow Away' from Tuesday, July 30 through Sunday, August 4 to facilitate loading and unloading to the stadium.The Board of Light and Power Parking Lot on Harbor adjacent to the BLP Diesel Plant will be closed. It will be used exclusively by the Coast Guard, Reserves, and Auxiliary during the week of Coast Guard Festival and be posted and enforced as “Coast Guard Personnel Parking Only, Tow Away Zone” from Saturday, July 27 through Sunday, August 4. Avoid drivingShuttle Opportunities: If you park at Harbor Island, a shuttle will take you to downtown Grand Haven. It's $10 per carload. The shuttle starts running at 9 p.m. And wraps up after the fireworks.Park and Ride: You can park in a few different places in the Tri-City area, pay $1 and ride into the festival. Grand Haven.

Griffin Elementary School. Trinity Reformed Church.

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The Coast Guard Festival is one of the largest in the country, and with that comes huge crowds. As the week progresses the crowds tend to grow, culminating with Saturday's parade and a massive fireworks show that night.

By the next afternoon things are pretty much cleaned up and the crowds are gone.If you want a more leisurely visit here, I'd recommend coming after next week. If on the other hand you like the excitement of crowds and lots of activity, by all means come then, but bring your patience.

Rooms are sold out, boats slips will not be available, the river will be packed with watercraft, the boardwalk and restaurants and bars will be crowded. Get the picture?I enjoy the week here, but I don't go into town often because of the crowds. State of mind song. We choose carefully what we want to do that week. My recommendation is to visit any week but Coast Guard week! We attended Coast Guard Week a number of years ago, camping nearby (I think it was a Jellystone Park then).

It was so crowded we couldn't really deal with it well. Our kids were pretty independent but I remember the youngest 2 clinging to our hands, scared to let go. It was just packed to the hilt, wall to wall people. It took forever to walk the boardwalk, something we have done numerous times and we were definitely shocked at the crowds! Trying to find a spot to watch the musical fountain was impossible and we gave up. We spent some time away from GH, going and, just to get some relief from the crowds and the full campground.BUT, it was still exciting at times and overall we were glad we tried visiting. The few times we found a bench empty, we grabbed it and people watched.

What great entertainment.:) Edited: 7 years ago.