MICHAEL ZEHNDER

A massive expansion is coming to the water park at Bavarian Inn Lodge in Frankenmuth.

FRANKENMUTH, MI — The Frankenmuth Dog Bowl returns to Michigan’s Little Bavaria for Memorial Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 28 and 29. Event organizers expect more than 100,000 visitors to attend this free festival, which takes place at Frankenmuth River Place Shops, 925 S. Main St. While admission to the Frankenmuth Dog Bowl is free, some events, such as the annual Canine Cruise on the Cass River, require a registration fee. The 2022 Frankenmuth Dog Bowl will conclude with a Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth fireworks show at 9:45 p.m. Sunday. Click through the gallery above to see photos from past Frankenmuth Dog Bowl events.

SAGINAW, MI — Brian Patrick’s hot sauce brand, Eddie’s, started out as a heartfelt tribute to his father, who died in 2016. Since then, the Saginaw man and his wife, Jackie Patrick, have perfected the recipe, grown their business, B & J’s, and captured the interest of retailers and consumers throughout Saginaw County and beyond. “It’s flying off the shelves right now,” said Brian Patrick of Saginaw. It’s buzzing everywhere.”Brian Patrick said Eddie’s Hot Sauce is “full of flavor.” It’s named after his late father, Eddie Patrick, who died in 2016. Brian Patrick said seeing the brand inspired by his late father grow in this way has been “a blessing.”“It’s overwhelming.

FRANKENMUTH, MI - A popular German-themed shopping complex in Michigan’s Little Bavaria is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month. The River Place Shops facility was built by the Bavarian In Zehnder family in 2001 on a piece of property that formerly housed business such as the Carling and the Frankenmuth Brewing companies. “The Bavarian Inn Zehnder family is tremendously excited to celebrate 20 years of creating enjoyable experiences at River Place Shops,” said Michael Zehnder, vice president of Bavarian Inn Corp., which owns and operates River Place Shops. The River Place Shops location has also been used throughout the years to host popular festivals in town, such as the Frankenmuth Dog Bowl and the Funtown Chowdown Food Truck Festival. To celebrate its 20 year anniversary, River Place Shops will be home to special events this month.

FRANKENMUTH, MI — Event organizers are expecting more than 100,000 people to visit Michigan’s Little Bavaria as the Frankenmuth Dog Bowl returns this Memorial Day weekend. The free event, touted as the world’s largest Olympic-style festival for dogs, is set to take place Saturday and Sunday, May 29 and 30, at Frankenmuth River Place Shops, 925 S. Main St. Dogs are welcome, but they must be kept on a six-foot leash, according to a Frankenmuth River Place Shops news release. The 2021 Frankenmuth Dog Bowl concludes with the Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth fireworks show at 9:45 p.m. on Sunday. Click through the gallery above to see photos from the 2019 Frankenmuth Dog Bowl.