This weekend is going to be one for the history books in my hometown of Bay St. Louis. Saturday, City leaders will officially dedicate the Municipal Harbor during Bay Harbor Fest.

The harbor opened three weeks ago and boats are already in the slips. I passed by there last weekend and it was a beautiful sight to behold in “Da Bay.”

I’m not a boating fan myself, I get seasick, which admittedly is strange for a girl raised near the water.

However, to see this harbor completed fills me with pride.

I love my hometown, which I never fully realized until after Hurricane Katrina, when it was almost wiped off the map.

Growing up, all I wanted was to get out. But, almost losing it, made me appreciate it for the wonderful and beautiful place it is.

The harbor is sure to bring many more visitors to my quaint town to experience the local food and shopping, the historical venues and most of all the people of Bay St. Louis; they are truly what make this a special place.

The new Jimmy Ladner Rutherford fishing pier is open and ready for fishermen.

One of my favorite things to do when I was growing up was crabbing and fishing off the piers with my Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw.

The harbor has a 350-foot day pier that will allow boaters to temporarily dock for up to four hours without charge.

Bay Harbor Fest begins in downtown Bay St. Louis Friday from 3 p.m. to midnight. Saturday’s hours are 8 a.m. to midnight and Sunday’s hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the harbor.

Learn more about the festival at www.bayharborfest.com.

For me, this new harbor represents the resiliency of my fellow “Bay Rats.” To overcome great hardship, rise from the storm surge and become a community that relies on one another is really and truly what makes Bay St. Louis, “A Place Apart.”