Donielle Flynn

The Lizard King! Check out this giant Iguana from Raising Reptiles at the New Baltimore Trade Center’s Reptile Show! The Reptile Show happened last weekend (Saturday, February 17th, 2024). There's always something cool happening at the New Baltimore Trade Center. Just one of the many fun things to do in New Baltimore, Michigan!

Congratulations, New Baltimore! You are the WCSX City of The Week!  We are celebrating by highlighting 5 fun things to do in New Baltimore, Michigan, and giving you some interesting info on the history of New Baltimore.  Scroll down to learn more!

New Baltimore History Fun Facts

Before the arrival of European settlers, indigenous tribes are known to have inhabited much of New Baltimore’s shoreline for thousands of years. In the 1800s, the land was reported to have many ancient burial mounds and man-made earthworks.

In the middle 1800s, New Baltimore took advantage of its waterfront location by operating port facilities, exporting agriculture, and manufacturing products. The area was known for the manufacturing of barrels, brooms, bricks, coffins, corsets, and creamery products. Lumber products and building materials were shipped by boat from the local mills.

New Baltimore was originally the Village of Ashley after Alfred Ashley.  Mr. Ashley was a businessman from Mt. Clemons.  In 1845, he platted the first 60 acres of land in what would become New Baltimore. He also built the first sawmill and dock.

Next up, we check in with Joel Morgan of City of The Week.  He’s our man on the streets of New Baltimore!

Joel’s Notes in New Baltimore

It was a sunny winter morning visit to New Baltimore. I started by heading to Walter and Mary Burke Park to get a look at the tallest flag pole in Michigan. The massive American flag gently waving in the morning sun with the sparkling water of Anchor Bay behind it made for a spectacular sight. This awesome park is right downtown and is the location of many New Baltimore events such as Winterfest which will take place next weekend (Feb 21-24, 2024).

I noticed a few cars parked at the VFW Hall so I stopped. I met New Baltimore VFW Post 7573 members Denise, Joe, and Dawn who were preparing pierogis, paczki, and other great food for a Polish Dinner the post was hosting later in the evening.  The VFW Hall’s kitchen smelled so good! Denise wanted me to thank Big Jim & Ryan, Donielle Flynn, and Screamin’ Scott for the tickets that she won to Brett Michaels last summer and to let everyone know that she had a BLAST!

Three people smiling and holding up a sign that says "94.7 WCSX."

Denise won Brett Michaels tix from Big Jim’s House last Summer! Joe and Dawn at the New Baltimore VFW Hall. Joel found them in the VFW Hall Kitchen preparing a giant Polish Dinner feast for the members later that night! Thanks to all our Veterans!

A Bit of Shopping in New Baltimore

The New Baltimore Trade Center is a vendor booth-type mall that always has cool stuff and cool people. They were having a Reptile Show so I had to check it out! I met some Herpetologists (reptile experts) like Matt from Raising Reptiles and Gabriel from Rock’in Retics & Reptiles. There were a few reptiles on display, but it was mainly reptile-related stuff like reptile food (crickets & mealworms Yum!), warm lights, habitat stuff, and reptile-related wearables.

Two iguanas on a tree limb inside of their habitat at The Reptile Shoe in the New Baltimore Trade Center.

A couple of reptiles are on display at the Reptile Show inside the New Baltimore Trade Center, New Baltimore, Michigan. They call themselves “The Mini-mall with it all.” The venue is pet (and reptile) friendly.

New Baltimore is also home to Ditto Consignment & Design, a very cool store!  You can find THOUSANDS of vintage & antique Art Deco, Tiki Style, Mid Century, Kitsch, Boat/Lake style items. Customers come from all over to shop at Ditto Consignment & Design.  There is so much there to see… you have to explore it! Owner Nancy is a lifelong Eastsider who is like an Antiques Roadshow Expert as well as having the distinction of attending more rock concerts than anyone else I’ve ever met!

Two women smiling and holding up a Rolling Stones logo poster.

Nancy and Theresa are long-time WCSX Classic Rockers at Ditto Consignment and Design in New Baltimore! There are thousands of awesome, collectible, and vintage artifacts to discover there! Looks like Nancy & Theresa found a cool Rolling Stone logo circa 1972!

5 Fun Things To Do In New Baltimore

  • Take The Polar Plunge at Winterfest in New Baltimore!

    Take the New Baltimore Lions Club Polar Plunge Sun, Feb 25 1-2pm at New Baltimore Beach, 36355 Front Street. It’s part of The Lions Winterfest that runs from Friday, Feb 23rd to Sunday the 25th. Gopherbroke will be performing the best in “Blues, Soul, and Rock n Roll,” plus a giant beer tent, food and drink, while a bunch of people voluntarily jump into Anchor Bay! Make sure you sign the waiver beforehand if you would like to do the Polar Plunge. The registration is $25 and costumes are “strongly encouraged.”

    Polar Plunge | Lions Winterfest | New Baltimore

    Winterfest is hosted by the New Baltimore Lions Club every year and is their largest fundraising event. Activities & entertainment for all ages, beer tents, food vendors and more!

     

  • Fishfly Festival - Biggest Party of Summer

    New Baltimore is home to the World’s ONLY Fishfly Festival! The 59th annual Bay-Rama Fishfly Festival will be held this year from June 19-23, 2024! The Bay-Rama Fishfly Festival is a fun-filled five-day event attended by over 80,000 people in downtown New Baltimore. There is a great carnival, a festival tent with live entertainment, Miss Bay-Rama Queen’s Pageant, Kid’s Day Fun, a large firework display on the waterfront, a spectacular parade along Green Street, and much more!

    Non-Profit Organization | Bay-Rama, Inc. | New Baltimore

    Non-Profit Organization: Bay-Rama, Inc., The World's Only Fishfly Festival, New Baltimore

  • Pickleballs to The Wall in New Baltimore

    New Baltimore appears to be a hotspot for Pickleball! Pickleball is kind of like “wiffle ball tennis” and it’s the fastest-growing sport in America. 36.5 million players played the game at least one time in 2023 in the United States. Michigan is one of the top 10 most popular states for pickleball. It is estimated that there are over 40,000 players in Michigan. The Michigan Pickleball Association makes its home in New Baltimore. They connect pickleball players, clubs, pros, tournaments, and organizations across Michigan. Other locations to play pickleball in New Baltimore are the New Baltimore Recreation Center and at Brandenburg Park.

    Home - Michigan Pickleball

    Michigan Pickleball promotes and networks all things for the sport of Pickleball. Find places to play, players, clubs, tournaments, lessons, leagues, and products.

  • The Tallest Flag Pole in the State

    The tallest flag pole in the state is in New Baltimore. The flagpole stands at 160 feet tall on the shores of Anchor Bay at Walter and Mary Burke Park. It was installed in 2016 at the cost of $107,000 raised by the New Baltimore Lion’s Club. Being 160 feet tall, it requires nearly 80 tons of concrete in a foundation 7 feet in diameter by 30 feet deep. The three lights shine at 23,000 luminaries each and a red solar navigational light at the top allows the 30×60 foot flag flying above to be seen at night and be visible for several miles.

    the American flag flies from the tallest flag pole in Michigan located in New Baltimore.

    5 fun things to do in New Baltimore calls for a trip to Anchor Bay. Nice playscapes for the kids, beautiful walking trails, and the tallest flag pole in Michigan standing 160 feet in the air.

    The flag makes for a beautiful view of Anchor Bay.  Nice playgrounds and walking trails surround the flag at Walter and Mary Burke Park.

    Detroit Photography | In the summer of 2015, a piece of New Baltimore's history fell, but from its ashes rose a symbol of strength and unity | Facebook

    In the summer of 2015, a piece of New Baltimore's history fell, but from its ashes rose a symbol of strength and unity. The iconic New Baltimore water tower, steeped in history, met its end, making...

  • The New Baltimore Trade Center

    The New Baltimore Trade Center bills itself as “The Mini Mall with It All.”  They have a tone of events. This Friday, February 23rd, The New Baltimore Trade Center is hosting “Meat Bingo.” Other upcoming events include an Arts and Crafts Show, a Trading Cards Show, and a Super Smash Brothers tournament!

    Meat Bingo

    Event in New Baltimore, MI by New Baltimore Trade Center on Friday, February 23 2024

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