Editing St. Joseph, Michigan (section)

===Venetian Festival===
From 1979 to 2011, St. Joseph was the site of the Venetian Festival, which comprised three traditions: the Blessing of the River, the Lighted Boat Parade, and a Classic Boat Parade. The festival's name was a nod to similarities between St. Joseph and [[Venice, Italy]].<ref name="venetian.org">{{cite web |url=http://venetian.org/history.html |title=Venetian.org |website=venetian.org |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004074611/http://venetian.org/history.html |archive-date=4 October 2018 }}</ref>

In 1987, [[USS Oliver Hazard Perry|USS ''Oliver Hazard Perry'']] came to port, and its commander let festival-goers take a free tour. This initiated a tradition whereby [[US Navy]] [[ships]] regularly came to the festival. Music also contributed to the festival's success, and was offered at three locations: the [[wikt:bluff#Etymology 2|Bluff]], [[Shadowland Pavilion]], and the Main Stage. Many local musicians played at the Bluff and the Pavilion, while the Main Stage hosted such well-known bands as the [[Beach Boys]], [[Cheap Trick]], [[Gin Blossoms]], [[Little Big Town]], and [[Jason Michael Carroll]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In a study done by Michigan State University in 1998, approximately 63,000 people attended the 1997 Venetian Festival and the festival generated around $1.7 million in revenue to the local economy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ast III |first=William F. |date=2011-09-28 |title=Venetian Festival officials dissolve 33-year-old St. Joseph summer event |url=https://www.harborcountry-news.com/news/venetian-festival-officials-dissolve--year-old-st-joseph-summer/article_f149bcb5-2891-5454-acec-890c0a964036.html |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Harbor Country News}}</ref>

Competitions also took place along [[Silver Beach Amusement Park|Silver Beach]] and the [[St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan)|Saint Joseph River]] during the festival, including volleyball tournaments, a river run & walk, and sand sculpturing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://venetian.org/tourney_landing.html |title=Venetian Festival |access-date=2014-12-01  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223113408/http://www.venetian.org/tourney_landing.html |archive-date=February 23, 2009 }}</ref> The Lighted Boat Parade and the Classic Boat Display both took place along the St. Joseph River and were a part of the Venetian Festival since 1987. [[Fireworks]] and rides were also attractions, bringing people from bigger cities such as [[Chicago]]. A [[blessing of the river]] was done July 30, and continues as a tradition to this day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://venetian.org/events_landing.html|title=Appointment of the Admiral & Blessing of the River |access-date=December 1, 2014  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411073248/http://www.venetian.org/events_landing.html |archive-date=April 11, 2009 }}</ref>