Blessings of the Bizarre

[XLFD]

Is it just me, or has our local area been going out of its way to cover all avenues of attracting every type of tourist by making some very weird events? 

The Blessing of the Bikes in Baldwin celebrated its 42nd anniversary this year, but it has only recently spun off a whole lot of other events in neighboring Mason County attracting those who want to be blessed.  Back in 2001, Ludington began the first of its blessings with the Blessing of the Shovels.  A light-hearted affair started to usher in the winter season, and held about half a year from the other blessing, this was at least tolerable and novel. 

But lately, just about everything in the area is getting blessed, and most are being blessed this time of year to capitalize on the continued success of the Baldwin affair.  A Blessing of the Boats held at the Ludington Boat Club, a Blessing of the Bugs in Scottville, the Blessing of the Badges in Ludington (in July), the Blessing of the Duners in Mears, with several more on the planning board.  It's enough to make you think the area is made up of a bunch of Animists, who have the worldview that non-human entities (animals, plants, and inanimate objects or phenomena) possess a spiritual essence.  Stay tuned for the Blessing of the Pedicabs.

But those people who are hopefully blessed in the afterlife to 'rest in peace' are getting rousted from that slumber by doppelgangers from our local college.  An outlandish event called a cemetery walk (with reenactments) just took place over the last weekend with Bill Anderson directing a macabre play in two scenic graveyards of important people from the area's past. 

Summarizing what happens, the group of cultural tourists comes out to Lakeview Cemetery (and will travel to PM Cemetery if they aren't totally freaked out) and are led to graves of those people influential to the history of Ludington.  Famous area icons such as Edward Stanchfield, May Baker, Luther Foster, Sarah Culver, Horace Butters, Hannah Rock Gullenbrough, (I am totally unfamiliar with all of these people) all come alive for a few minutes and tell you about the rich story of the lumbering era of Ludington. 

For the local history buff, this may seem pretty neat, and a neglected topic in our schools, but seeing a lot of people in period costumes acting as if they were a person long dead, in the vicinity of that long-dead person's grave just seems a little too creepy.  

But as we dip into our grants for Cultural Economic Development and try to incorporate any other idea into expanding our area for the widest mix of tourists by creating new circuses, are there any events that strike you as bizarre or off-the-pale in the area held recently or coming up that I may have missed here?  Please share them and your thoughts.

(photos courtesy of the COLDNews and MCP)

[Willy]

I'm not surprised at any of this. I'm sure there are hundreds if not thousands of these types of events throughout the U.S. What ever floats your boat, I say. How about "The blessing of athiests" event. It could be promoted in Hell Michigan.

[AQUAMAN]

Blessing of the Vettes, held the same day as bikes, in Pentwater. Went to it several times, lots of nice cars to see. That's funny Willy! 

[XLFD]

Just a thought but how about the Blessing of the Bimbos, complete with the anointing of already tight T-shirts with Holy Water?  It would be the first, and it could always be marketed discretely to get past the local censors by having Bimbo Ho Ho's given out (this is an actual product) be the sponsor:

 

[Willy]

Adding wet t-shirts to "bless the athiests" event would also be a nice touch. Funny stuff X.

[AQUAMAN]

I for one just happen to endorse and like these blessing ceremonies. Anyone ever attended one? I have. The bikes, vettes, bugs, badges, and boats. All are nice, and also bring a group of enthusiasts back to our youth and present faith, if anyone had one to begin with anyhow. The best way to know what we really like and don't like in this life is to experience it personally imho. Lacking that, you're just lashing out to get a cheap jolly and/or missing the entire point. The point for me and most is in hobbies, and professions. I don't recommend it though for lifestyles in particular...lol.