Fred Bear Day to feature weekend of activities

This year’s Fred Bear Day celebration in Grayling will include three days of events (March 3-5), including a Meet and Greet, a Sportsman Tradeshow, a 21 Whistling Arrow Salute, and a luncheon.

“What we’re trying to do is make it a weekend event,” said John Wejrowski, one of the organizers for Fred Bear Day.

A Fred Bear Day 2023 Meet and Greet will be held at Tinker’s Junction (6811 W. M-72) on Friday, March 3, at 5:30 p.m. Wejrowski said Tinker’s will be offering venison pizza for the event.

On Saturday, March 4, Fred Bear Day will feature a Sportsman Tradeshow (buy, sell, and trade) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kirtland Community College (4800 W. Four Mile Road). The event – sponsored by the Grayling Promotional Association – is open to the public and there is no admission charge. The Sportsman Tradeshow will feature live music from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

A Fred Bear Day Pre-Glow Get Together will be held at Bear’s Den Pizzeria (243 E. Michigan Avenue) at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 4.

A 21 Whistling Arrow Salute in honor of Fred Bear will be held on Sunday, March 5, at the old Bear Archery facility (on M-72 near the railroad tracks). Registration is slated for 10:15 a.m. and the shoot is scheduled for 11 a.m.

After the 21 Whistling Arrow Salute, a luncheon will be held at Kirtland Community College at 12 p.m.

Luncheon tickets are $30 each; call Sharron at 734.945.7695 to order tickets (only 160 seats available). The luncheon will feature several guest speakers and an auction with “many great items to bid on,” organizers said.

Fred Bear was known as an avid hunter and his archery company was located in Grayling for many years. Bear was born on March 5 in 1902 and he passed away in 1988.