Blog

Nov 20, 2023

Oakland County’s Art Fish Fest is Saturday in Pontiac

Fans of fishing – or those who are curious – can get into the sport at the

Fans of fishing – or those who are curious – can get into the sport at the county's annual Art Fish Fun Festival Saturday.

Alyssa Taube, Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash's assistant, helped develop the event with Pontiac-based The Art Experience and the City of Pontiac 10 years ago. With the exception of a cancellation during the COVID-19 pandemic peak, it's been held every year since.

This year, she has more than 50 organizations supporting the event.

"We try to combine arts and craft with environmental education," she said, adding that it's been fun to see an event that started with Nash flipping hotdogs on a tiny grill to an event that's attracting hundreds of people.

COVID eroded the crowd, she said.

"I felt like we had some momentum and a little bit of a reputation, then COVID hit," she said. "It feels like we’re starting over."

The STart Youth Theatre group is providing a "Be a Fish" performance and movement exercise for kids of all ages. The Pontiac Police Athletic League will have a table with baseballs that children can decorate. The county parks department will bring in a portable rock-climbing wall and children can stop at a face-painting station as well.

Pontiac-based Kids First Initiative CEO Richard Bell will return with a virtual reality experience with headsets so children can practice fishing. He’ll also have an underwater drone so people can see the fish. It's the first time back to the festival since before the pandemic, he said.

Nash called it an amazing event, noting that the date is chosen to dovetail with River Day, on Saturday this year, Michigan's free fishing weekend, Saturday and Sunday, and Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week, June 3-11.

The shared theme of all these dates is highlighting the importance of environmental preservation.

The Art Fish Fun Festival starts with a dedicated one-hour cleanup at 11 a.m. Saturday. The county is providing bags, gloves and trash pickers to volunteers. Make-and-take art projects will be provided for children.

In addition to the county's water resources office, the city and The Art Experience, this year's festival is also supported by Pure Oakland Water and the Clinton River Watershed Council.

The Art Fish Fun Festival is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Beaudette Park, 786 Orchard Lake Road in Pontiac. This event is family friendly and free. People at the park will get a free lunch featuring barbecue ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, beverages and ice cream.

To learn more about the Water Resource Commission, visit www.oakgov.com/water.

Sign up for email newsletters