Festival Mission
We are committed to honoring men and women of the United States Coast Guard by hosting a nationally recognized festival that honors and respects these men and women who serve. Hosting a festival that provides family friendly activities. Focusing year round on the men and women of the United States Coast Guard serving in the West Michigan area. Building relationships with Coast Guard leadership that fosters the theme of Grand Haven – “Coast Guard City, USA.” Celebrating the history of the United States Coast Guard.
Festival History
The festival unofficially began in 1924 as a Coast Guard personnel only picnic when the local Coast Guard station held rowing competitions for those service members stationed in Grand Haven. Today the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival has become a premier event with attendance of over 350,000 people including the nation’s highest ranking Coast Guard dignitaries from Washington, D.C.
The focus of the annual Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival is the National Coast Guard Memorial Service honoring those who sacrificed their lives in the service of their country while fulfilling their motto “SEMPER PARATUS” (“Always Ready”). Each year since the first picnic in 1924 and the first festival in 1937, we have celebrated our heroes, the men and women of the United States Coast Guard with fun filled family events at the annual Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival. Grand Haven is honored by its designation as “Coast Guard City, USA” by an Act of Congress and signed by the President of the United States on November 13, 1998.
Successfully honoring the men and women of the United States Coast Guard at this annual event would not be possible without the cooperation of the United States Coast Guard, the local municipalities of Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and Ferrysburg, hundreds of dedicated volunteers, and our generous corporate sponsors.
Near the Coordinates you should find a Plaque. To claim this virtual, send an email telling me the following information;
1. Name on plaque
2. Reason for recognition
3. Date
Please do not post your answers on this cache page. Send an e-mail directly to me, through my profile, with the correct answer, then you may simply post that you found it!
Please also do not post pictures of the plaque as a spoiler or they and your log will be removed.
In addition to your log you may want to post a picture of yourself near any of the Coast Guard information in the area.
Please take time to enjoy the beautiful scenery, learn more about the Coast Guard and their service to the Great Lakes.
If possible you may want to visit and enjoy the Coast Guard Festival. The Festival is held each year the first week of August. This Cache can be completed even when the festival is going on and in the presence of tens of thousand of muggles. Enjoy!
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.