PENTWATER, MI – To some, the village of Pentwater, Michigan, looks as if it came straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. This tiny tourist town located along the sandy central shores of Lake Michigan may be best-described as a quintessential old-fashioned village, thanks in part to its picturesque “downtown” that offers rows of small businesses with an eclectic mix of stores and places to eat. Although the last census listed Pentwater’s population at just 890, scores of people from miles around come to Pentwater’s Village Green that is the centerpiece park for community events all year long. One of the most popular of those is the annual Oktoberfest that features a Classic Car and Hot Rod Show.
This year, the two-day extended weekend festival opened with Friday night Bingo at the Pentwater VFW Hall, followed by Comedy Night at the Village Café & Pub and finally “DJ Bingo” at the Antler Bar. The second Saturday in October not only showcased the area’s peak of fall colors but also the popular Classic Car and Hot Rod Show that opened for registration at 8 a.m. and ran until 2 p.m. The show drew crowds to check out all the classic vehicles and stroll through the town for specials at a variety of unique shops and restaurants. Others signed up for a “Stout Stumble” 5K Walk/Run and/or a Pentwater Home Tour to benefit a local charity. But as you might expect, our Ford Performance correspondent was there to see the good number of superb Blue Oval rides on display.
Adding to the festive atmosphere was the live music and the official Pentwater Oktoberfest Celebration on the Village Green, featuring yard games, a Chili Cook-Off, seasonal beverages, Big Ten games on the big screen and other family fun activities. Afterward, showgoers could head to the Village Pub & Café to have dinner and hear some Keith Scott Blues live music and finish-up the day with Karaoke and a nightcap at the Antler Bar. Of course, you would be forgiven if your only interest at the Pentwater Oktoberfest was seeing classic Fords on a glorious sunny day. Take a look at the photo gallery below to see just how magical these fine Fords looked during a storybook day in the little village of Pentwater.
