MARQUETTE — Local businesses, organizations and residents are working together to bring a community staple, now named Harvey Daze, back to the Silver Creek Church Recreation Area in Chocolay Township.

It’s been a few years since the festival was held, but co-organizer Rita Savola said a group of business owners and community leaders were interested in bringing the event back.

“We are trying to get the community together, to get to know the people that live and work in the community,” Savola said.

The festival had to be postponed from its original date of July 21, due to weather concerns, according to the event’s Facebook page.

Festivities will include a classic car show, laser tag, a dunk tank, a disc golf tournament and a community award presentation, along with vendors, food games, music and demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Registration for a classic car show will begin at 9 a.m.

All proceeds from the car show will be donated to the Salvation Army, the Lions Club and the Chocolay Township Fire Department, event co-organizer Cody Brennen Monty said.

Monty, who works for the America’s Best Value Inn along M-28, said Chocolay Township officials asked that some of the traditional festival events be included this year.

“The Chocolay Township Board wanted some of the old games to come back,” Monty said. “So we will be having a three-legged race as well as an ‘egg on a spoon race,’ just to name a couple of them.”

Savola, who also works at America’s Best Value Inn, said Harvey Daze is an effort to bring residents and businesses together around a sense of community and recreation instead of only getting to know residents in a time of crisis.

She said the inspiration for the event came, in part, from a fall storm that caused a power outage in much of the township.

“A lot of people came to us for help when the power went out,” Savola said. “We support the community here and that is what we want to do as one of the businesses — that’s what we all want to do.”

Monty agreed.

“It’s very important for the community to come together,” Monty said. “It is something that you don’t see too often. We want the people who live and work here to come out and form a strong bond with our businesses and community as well.”

For more information and event times, visit the Harvey Daze 2018 Facebook page, or go to www.chocolay.org.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242.