PETOSKEY -- Nearly a thousand people came together Friday evening in Emmet County to voice their concerns over taxation and government spending.

The Petoskey Tea Party event was spawned from similar events seen across the country on April 15, Tax Day.

Several speakers were on hand, including Joe "The Plumber" Wurzelbacher, who is widely known for his questioning of then candidate Barack Obama about small business tax policies during a campaign stop in Ohio last year.

"Fair taxes would stimulate the economy, create millions of jobs and wouldn't cost you or I a dime," Wurzelbacher said. "But, politicians on the hill lose certain amount of control over us and what they need to remember is that they're not supposed to control us. They're supposed to serve us."

"Our overall message is cut spending and reduce taxes, we're spending ourselves into a hole we can not get ourselves out of and its just frightful for us, our children and our grandchildren," said Rich Carlson, an organizer with Friday's tea party event.  

Organizers say Friday's turn out was greater than expected.

More tea party events are expected across the country on July 4.