All Vendors Welcome
Join us for a day by the St Joseph River
Our public events are a great way to experience all that nature has to offer at The Boardwalk in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Below is the current lineup; be sure to follow our Instagram for announcements.
Saturday, April 5th
SPRING Open House
Vibes: goodbye winter, hello spring
Sunday, June 29th
SUMMER Wedding Faire
Vibes: vintage, jewelry, wedding
Sunday, November 2nd
AUTUMN Showcase
Vibes: thank you 2025
Vendor Application Form
Friday, July 4th. 5pm-10pm
As family and friends arrive from far and wide, we will be hosting a small preview get-together on Friday evening. Volunteers and helpers will be onsite all day Friday setting up and decorating, and our event will start at 5pm.
Open to all - the full venue will be open and on display. We’ll have lawn games, music, food and drinks. The Boardwalk’s onsite catering team - Chef Alex Gandia - will serve appetizers and light dinner stations. At sunset we will light the courtyard fire table for desserts and smores, and we’ll have a bonfire on the beach. A small fireworks show will be hosted onsite at dusk.
Come and enjoy a beautiful evening on the riverfront!
Saturday, July 5th. 10am-10pm
In an homage to the bygone 4th of July reunions at Sheboygan’s Evergreen Park (area 2), let’s enjoy an all-day get-together with food, music, games, and family.
An afternoon bratwurst-fry kicks off at 1pm, with appetizers and snacks available all afternoon. Our chef will prepare an evening dinner at 6pm, in addition to late night snacks.
We’ll have lawn games, kayaking and swimming in the river, face painting, and other organized (+disorganized) activities throughout the day.
Sunday, July 6th. 9am-3pm
On Sunday morning we will gather for a casual morning service outdoors on the riverfront. Len (Riemersma) and Joy (Engelsman) will lead a short service at 10am to praise and give thanks for our time together.
A light brunch will be available from 9am-3pm; please come and go as you like. This will be another opportunity to reconnect before we all head home, capping the end of a beautiful weekend.
Planning Details
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The Boardwalk Riverfront Venue is one minute off of I-94 in Benton Harbor, Mi. 90 minutes from Chicago and 90 minutes from Grand Rapids.
The Boardwalk is a 20+ acre indoor/outdoor venue located on the riverfront of the St. Joseph river in SW Michigan. The Boardwalk boasts exclusive luxury amenities for celebration and fine dining while surrounded by pristine natural beauty.
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There is a $100 booth fee and $0 application fee.
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The Boardwalk venue has a relationship with a group of hotels just a few minutes away. We will be negotiating a series of room blocks at a discounted rate.
If you are interested in staying overnight at a nearby hotel, please indicate this on your RSVP. More details with specific rates based on turn-out will be provided in the coming weeks.
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In the event of inclement weather, the show will go on! The venue offers several large indoor spaces to easily accommodate multiple vendors. The timing and location will stay the same, and we’ll move indoors whenever needed.
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Linked here is a copy of our Exhibitor Guide
How Can I Help?
Food, Drinks, Games, Decor… We have created a framework for the weekend, and would love everyone’s assistance to help fill it in and make it your own! If you can bring lawn games, kayaks, life jackets, firewood… There are a lot of moving parts, but many hands to help.
Food: The Boardwalk in-house catering team with Chef Alex Gandia will create menus and provide food throughout the weekend, but our reunion wouldn’t be the same without homemade pot-luck dishes.
If you are able to help bring the Miesfeld’s, provide a dessert (banket anyone?), or bring your favorite fruit salad, please leave a note in your RSVP. We’ll coordinate an official menu list as the date gets closer.
Decor: We are also looking for pictures, photo albums, and nostalgia to share. Please take a look through your basement and your attic. These will be used to decorate tables and lounge spaces with our family’s history, and would love for you to bring a part of that story that we can share together.
Entertainment: Throughout the weekend, the main stage will be open! Whether you’re bringing a full band or a solo act we’d love to hear it! Play a guitar and sing a few songs, bring out your puppet show, or spin a DJ set in the evening, there are lots of opportunities large and small to share your talents and play on the riverfront stage.
Ideas: Let us know your other ideas! If you brew your own beer, have some new games to play, or make custom T-Shirts, we would love to hear from you! This site will be updated with more information as the dates get closer.
Please RSVP by Memorial Day for shirt orders
