Sturgeon Fest 2026
Saturday, June 6 • 10am-3pm
Fort Gratiot Lighthouse Park, Port Huron
Huron Lady Sturgeon Cruise – Buy Tickets Here
It's an adventure that's back from the depths! We have two ways for your to experience the Giant of the Great Lakes - by Ship and by Shore! Each spring, thousands of lake sturgeon gather under the Blue Water Bridges to spawn – ground zero for one of the largest remaining populations of lake sturgeon in the Great Lakes – making these experiences like none other!
Affectionately known as the “Gentle Giant of the Great Lakes”, Lake Sturgeon are phenomenal to see up close. They can weigh up to 150 pounds, grow over 7 feet, and live over 100 years. Once on the brink of extinction and added to Michigan’s Threatened Species list, Lake Sturgeon are making a comeback and have become a spotlight species for the habitat restoration work completed in the St. Clair River.
Since the Sturgeon Festival was hatched in 2013, Friends of the St. Clair River has been highlighting the fascinating story of this ancient fish - a mascot for the Great Lakes recovery. The Blue Water Sturgeon Festival is our largest annual fundraiser and funds raised during the festival support our education and conservation programs.
Festival Activities
Huron Lady Sturgeon Cruise - June 6 at 11am & 1pm
Get the hottest ticket on the water! Our 1.5-hour Sturgeon Cruise takes guests on the St. Clair River and Lake Huron featuring a live sturgeon aquarium experience and sturgeon activities from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s research vessel. During this narrated cruise, interact with wildlife biologists conducting research that is helping to reintroduce sturgeon around the Great Lakes. Ticket sales support our year-round education and conservation programs.
Live Sturgeon Touch Tank - All day, Lighthouse Beach
It’s a LIVE sturgeon encounter! Get up close and touch a lake sturgeon! Meet the Michigan DNR biologists leading the research on lake sturgeon.
Art Contest Voting
Vote for your favorite artwork using pocket change! The finalist's sturgeon art from 5th grade students were selected from hundreds of posters from across the Blue Water Area. It's up to the community to select the winners with pocket change. Help us catch a keeper and for your favorite art piece by casting your vote now. Sturgeon Homecoming - 2:30pm, Lighthouse Beach
Meet at the touch tank on the beach to see both baby and adult Lake Sturgeon hand-released back to the wild.
Adopt A Sturgeon - All Day
Adopt a Lake Sturgeon that includes a 10” plush sturgeon, adoption certificate with naming opportunity, and species spotlight card full of data about your sturgeon. Click here to Adopt Your Sturgeon.
Kids Activities - All day, Pavilion
Meet us under the picnic pavilion for fish print painting, crafts, Seymour Sturgeon selfies, and more!
Food Trucks, Live Music, Giveaways, and More!
Great Lakes & Nature Vendors!
2025 Exhibitors
(* denotes sponsor)
- MI Dept. of Health and Human Services
- St. Clair-Detroit River Sturgeon For Tomorrow *
- SEMCO Energy Waste Reduction *
- Michigan Sea Grant
- DNR Forest Health Specialist
- DNR Wildlife Division
- St. Clair County Health Department
- St. Clair County Parks & Recreation Commission
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Great Lakes Commission *
- United States Coast Guard
- Great Lakes Fisheries Commission *
- C-nic Xpressions
- The Toadstool Treasury
- SEA LIFE Michigan
- Cheryl Morgan, Author
- Trev's Mobile Bike Shed
- Lake St. Clair CISMA
- Blue Wave
- Clean Boats, Clean Waters
- Tim Brown, Artist
- Camp Cavell
- E Bikes & More
- Pheasants Forever
- Rivers Are Life
Food Vendors
- The Sip Shop
- Your Mom's House
- Coastal Carolina BBQ
- Luv's Lemonade, Roasted Nuts & Soft Pretzels
Event Considerations
- Fort Gratiot Lighthouse Station
2800 Omar St., Port Huron, MI - Lighthouse Park is smoke-free
- Bring cash for food and merchandise, there is no ATM on-site
- Lighthouse Climb tickets are $5 and can be purchased on-site from the Port Huron Museum
- Lighthouse Park and Beach are open. The Lighthouse Beach parking lot charge is $5
Are you interested in being a Sturgeon Fest sponsor?
N’me Lake Sturgeon – Indigenous Name
• 4 t-shirts
• Logo on t-shirt
• 4 Sturgeon Cruise tickets
• Entertainment Stage naming rights
• Brook Trout benefits
Brook Trout – State Fish
• 3 t-shirts
• 3 Sturgeon Cruise tickets
• 10x20 exhibit space
• Painted Turtle benefits
Painted Turtle – State Reptile
• 2 t-shirts
• 2 Sturgeon cruise tickets
• Logo on banner and event program guide
• Petosky Stone benefits
Petosky Stone – State Stone
• 1 t-shirt
• 1 Sturgeon Cruise ticket
• 10x10 exhibit space
• Logo on social media & website
2025 Sponsors & Partners
N'me Sturgeon
Brook Trout
Painted Turtle
Petosky Stone
Partners
Sturgeon Resources
Downloads
Sturgeon Videos
Justin Chiotti, of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, takes us behind the scenes to show the collection process of lake sturgeon from the St. Clair River in Port Huron. The work of lake sturgeon conservation in the St. Clair River is very important. It extends beyond the borders of Michigan with the introduction of this threatened species into other Great Lakes. Sponsored by the Toledo Zoo and Aquarium.
The St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River, also known as the Huron-Erie Corridor, are the international waters that connect Lake Huron to Lake Erie. Environmental changes in the Corridor over time have resulted in a loss of habitat for fish and other organisms. This video is focusing on the successful St. Clair River fish habitat restoration project and the science and collaboration that made it a success!
Saving The Sturgeon
We’re helping local students play a significant role with lake sturgeon conservation in the St Clair River. Sponsored by St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency.