Best Beach Night 2026 - South Haven, South Beach

Dunk Tank Auction for Beach Safety!
Some of South Haven’s favorite familiar faces are taking a seat above the dunk tank, and YOU get the chance to send them swimming!

THE DUNK DETAILS

WHERE: South Beach, South Haven, 60 Water St.
WHEN: Friday, September 11, starting at 5:30 PM
BIDDING OPENS: 11:00 AM on Friday, September 4
EXTENDED BIDDING! BIDDING NOW CLOSES: 8:00 PM on Thursday, September 10th!
Bids may be placed at no cost. When the auction closes, only the winning bidder for each participant will be contacted to submit payment. Since Visit South Haven is a 501(c)(6) organization, rather than a 501(c)(3), the dunk tank bids are not considered tax-deductible charitable donations. However, 100% of the proceeds will be set aside and used exclusively for future beach-safety needs.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS

Choose the local you would most like to see take the plunge and place your bid. The highest bidder for each participant wins the opportunity to step up to the dunk tank and keep throwing until they DUNK THAT LOCAL!

Keep an eye on the competition because someone else may be just as eager to dunk them!

ONE WINNER. ONE DUNKER.

We want to spread the fun around, so each winning bidder may personally throw for one dunk tank participant only.

If you place the highest bid on more than one participant, you will choose which person you would like to dunk yourself. We will then select enthusiastic volunteers from the audience to throw for your other winning bids on your behalf.

You will still be recognized as the winning bidder for every auction you win. We want to spread the love and give more people a chance to step up and make a splash!

CAN’T BE THERE? NO PROBLEM!

We will contact the winning bidders on Friday morning, September 11th, to confirm whether they will throw, designate someone else to throw on their behalf, or have us choose a volunteer from the audience.

If we cannot reach you before the dunk tank begins, we will recognize and thank you as the winning bidder during the event, then select someone from the audience to dunk your person on your behalf.

COME ENJOY BEST BEACH DAY!

The dunk tank is part of Best Beach Day, happening from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at South Beach. Join us for an afternoon of community fun celebrating South Beach being named the Best Beach in Michigan in the 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards!

The celebration will also include free hot dogs and beach balls while supplies last, a community tug-of-war, and a community beach photo at 5:15 p.m. The dunking begins at 5:30 p.m.!

Will you dunk a community leader? A familiar face? Someone you have been waiting years to send splashing into the water?

There is only one way to make it happen.

BID BIG. MAKE A SPLASH. SUPPORT BEACH SAFETY.

One hundred percent of auction proceeds will be designated by Visit South Haven for beach-safety initiatives, supporting efforts that help keep our beaches welcoming, enjoyable, and safer for everyone.

South Beach is officially one of Michigan’s best. Now let’s have some fun celebrating it!

READY. SET. BID. 

Visit South Haven is the official destination marketing organization for South Haven and Van Buren County — an independent, not-for-profit, lodging membership-based organization guided by a local Board of Directors. Our work is focused in three key areas: marketing the destination, investing in destination development, and using data to guide strategy. We’re a small but mighty team of marketers, event planners, and hospitality pros who love what we do and where we do it. Behind the strategy and schedules is a group of energetic, imaginative people who care deeply about helping everyone experience South Haven at its best! 

The Dunk Tank Auction for Beach Safety officially goes LIVE at 11 AM on Friday, September 4th!

Now is your chance to bid for the opportunity to dunk one of South Haven’s favorite familiar faces. Choose your target, place your bid, and keep an eye on the competition!

Bidding closes at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9, so don’t wait to make your move.

Then join us for Best Beach Day on Friday, September 11, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at South Beach. Enjoy free hot dogs and beach balls while supplies last, a community tug of war, and a community beach photo at 5:15 p.m. The dunking begins at 5:30 p.m.!

One hundred percent of auction proceeds will support beach-safety initiatives in South Haven.

Bid big. Make a splash. Support beach safety!