What Is a Jobbie Nooner? It’s Not What You Think

I have lived in Michigan most of my life and heard the term Jobbie Nooner the other day for the first time. It wasn't what I thought but looks like a lot of fun.

How Does an Event Turn 50 Years Old and I've Never Heard of It?

Michigan never ceases to amaze me with events that happen across the state I have never heard of but this one surprises me since I spent a lot of time where it's held.

When I first heard about "Jobbie Nooner" I admit that my mind went straight to the gutter. Sorry, Mom, in case you read this story.  I was in a Detroit band many years ago and spent a lot of time there. The drummer I played with had a big boat but never mentioned this event. I brought it up and he said that his family went to this event every year until they all moved away from the metro Detroit area.

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What is Jobbie Nooner?

Jobbie Nooner is a massive boat party that's been happening on Lake St. Clair around Gull Island on the last Friday of June, since 1974. The word Jobbie comes from the auto workers in Detroit who call themselves "Jobbies."

The auto workers, Jobbies, would take off the last Friday in June from work to go party at Gull Island which would start at Noon hence the name "Nooner." From the photo above Jobbie Nooner has become much more than an auto worker event which has now grown into a Lake Havasu-type boat party.

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Jobbie Nooner just celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 28, 2024. If you missed this giant party don't worry because it has become so big now there is a second Jobbie Nooner that happens the first Saturday after Labor Day.