Communities throughout the area will be celebrating the Fourth of July this weekend. Among events featuring parades, fireworks and fun are:
GLADSTONE
The city of Gladstone will kick off its Fourth of July festivities Saturday. The day will begin with a Firecracker Five Mile Run. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. in Van Cleve Park, followed by the race at 9. Little League games will be held at 10 a.m. and noon for 7-8 year olds at Bayshore Ball Field.
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Some of the communities with Fourth of July celebrations scheduled are: Gladstone, Escanaba, Manistique, Bark River, Curtis, Garden, Hermansville, Powers and Trenary.
Activities will follow on Sunday. Ultimate Air Dogs Trials will begin at noon at the west end of Harbor. Food vendors will be at the park during trials. The day will also include historical Gladstone and lumberjack stories told by Lumberjack Bill Jamerson.
On Monday, the parade will begin at 11 a.m. with line-up at 10. Grand Marshals will be Ken and Lorna Benson. Parade theme is "From Shore to Shining Shore."
Food vendors will open at noon as well as kid's games in Van Cleve Park.
Ultimate Air Dogs finals will also take place. The day will also include inflatables, kids games, face painting, dunk tanks, Pogo Stick Extravaganza, Great Lakes Timber Show, and children's fishing pond.
Entertainment will be provided by the Barbershop Quartet, and the German Band. Main Stage Entertainment will run from 5-7 p.m. with Derrel Syria and 7-9 p.m. with Slave to Gravity.
There will also be a possible flyover by military aircraft (weather permitting).
The evening will conclude with fireworks at dusk.
ESCANABA
Escanaba's Independence Day Weekend Celebration will be held at Ludington Park with a full slate of family activities planned for Monday.
The Independence Day Weekend Celebration at Ludington Park culminates with the Rotary Club of Escanaba "Family Day in the Park" activities. Children's games include: tug of war, water balloon toss, sack races, golf putting game, prizes, and free American flags from 1 to 5 p.m. Other activities planned include the Abracadabra inflatable climbing wall, moonwalk, slide and other activities from 1 p.m. until dusk.
Escanaba Public Safety will have a fire truck display, a Jaws of Life demonstration, as well as police dog demonstrations at 2 and 4 p.m.
Favorite summertime foods will be available in the park from 1 to 11 p.m..
The Fourth of July Celebration continues during the evening hours at Ludington Park with the Escanaba City Band performance at the Karas Band Shell around 8:30 p.m. featuring favorite patriotic tunes and marches until dusk.
Monday's activities will conclude with a fireworks display scheduled to begin at dusk, approximately 10:15 p.m. MIX 106 will again host a live broadcast and patriotic music during the fireworks display. In the event of inclement weather, the fireworks will be rescheduled for Tuesday, at dusk.
MANISTIQUE
Festivities in Manistique will begin Friday with a kiddie parade at 6 p.m. Line up will begin at 5 p.m., followed by judging at 5:30.
On Saturday a parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. and will include four bands: Manistique High School Band, Escanaba City Band, Newman Navy League Cadet Corps Band, and McGregor Pipe Band. An art fair will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the marina.
The night will conclude with fireworks at dusk.
BARK RIVER
An Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration will be held Monday in Bark River.
The parade begins at Rays Feedmill at 11 a.m (EDT) and ends at the Bark River Sports Park. Monetary prizes will be given for floats in increments of $100, $200 and $300. Junior division floats (age 14 and under) will also be given in increments of $50, $75 and $100.
Floats and parade participants, vintage cars, kids floats, horses and more are all welcome with a non-entry fee. Pre-registration is helpful, but not necessary.
Entertainment will be provided all day at the Bark River Sports Park with Heartland Express. Food and refreshments will also be on the grounds.
Fireworks begin at dusk.
CURTIS
The 37th Independence Day Celebration will take place Sunday in Curtis. The Biggest Little Town Parade will begin at noon and will include floats, marching units, color guards and bands. The theme for this years parade is, "Honor Those Who Have Protected Us." Parade line up will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Sand Town Road.
More than 40 arts and craft booths will be on the grounds starting at 10 a.m.
The Lions famous chicken barbecue and trimmings will be served beginning at 11 a.m. Half chickens are $8; quarter chickens, $6.
Also located on the grounds will be a Chamber refreshment tent, Three Lakes Academy Food Tent, Curtis Women's club bake sale table, children's inflatable slide, rock climbing, along with children's games.
Bands will play short concerts on the grounds after the parade. Back by popular demand is St. Ignace High School Steel Drum Band, Sault Ste. Marie Bag Pipe Band, Bag Pipe Bands and Brass Bands from Ontario and Michigan, Navy League Band (boys and girls ages 13 and up) Newberry High School Band Shrine Unit, Color Guard - U.S. Coast Guard Home Defense, American Legion VFW, Royal Canadian Legion, other veterans units, and Smokey Bear and Companions.
The evening will conclude with fireworks at dusk.
GARDEN
Garden will celebrate Independence Day on Saturday. Parade line up will begin at 11 a.m., followed by the parade at noon. This year's theme is "Patriotic Songs of America." Kids games will run from noon to 3 p.m. and music will be provided from 4-9 p.m.
The days activities will also include: a bounce house, cake walk from 12-3 p.m., an auction at 2 p.m., rip-off tickets all day with a raffle drawing at 2 p.m., bed races at 4 p.m. with cash prizes awarded, and food and refreshments from noon to 6 p.m.
The day will conclude with fireworks at dusk. Rain date is Sunday.
For more information, contact Robin at 450-0286.
HERMANSVILLE
The Hermansville Independence Day Celebration will be held Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Hermansville Lake and Park.
Parade line up and registering of floats begins at 9 a.m. on Earle Drive by Stewart Manufacturing. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. (CDT). Cash prizes will be awarded for floats, antique cars, classic cars, best decorated ORV and the two best decorated bicycles. Prizes will also be awarded at the park immediately following the parade.
Food will be provided by Ladies Auxiliary 340. The day will also include games, prizes, refreshments and mud runs, all beginning after the parade.
The 14th annual Hermansville Classic Car Show will begin with registration from 8-11 a.m., judging from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and conclude with the awards presentation at 3 p.m.
There will be music with Whitens and Friends - Michigan Highway. Both museums will be open all day. Fireworks will begin at dusk, and sparklers, fireworks and alcohol are prohibited during the fireworks.
The 19th annual William Anderson Sports & Recreation Club will host mud runs Sunday at Hermansville Lake. Registration is from 8 a.m. to noon and a $15 entry fee applies. Racing begins at noon CDT.
For more information, call 498-2398.
POWERS
Fourth of July festivities will be held in Powers on Friday at Veteran's Memorial Park, following the parade which begins at 5 p.m.
Food, refreshments, volleyball, basketball, horseshoe, kids games, and air rides for kids will be offered.
The fishing derby will run from 6-7:30 p.m.
Music will be performed by Feed from 6:30-11 p.m. All times are central time.
There will not be a fireworks display this year.
For more information, call Jeff, 497-5172.
TRENARY
Trenary Lions and Lioness 76th annual Independence Day celebration will take place Monday (rain or shine) beginning with a parade at 11 a.m., led by Superior Central School Band and Color Guard.
The midway will open at noon and will include games, pony rides, races and other competitive events for all ages, Mickey's pasties, The Donut Diner, refreshments, a beer stand and more.
Music by Maude will begin at 1 p.m. as well as a co-ed volleyball tournament.
Little League baseball game will begin at 3:15 p.m. followed by a raffle drawing at 6.
A huge fireworks display will follow at dusk.
For more information, call Roy Aho, 446-3219. For details on volleyball, call Amy, 446-3226.
MUNISING
The Fourth of July holiday weekend in Munising will kickoff at 5 p.m. Saturday with the Firecracker 2-Blocker Soap Box Derby.
Monday will begin with a Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. at Bay Shore Park. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. flag raising will follow at 10 a.m. at All Veterans Memorial. The parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. with the theme "We the People, Our Heritage." Other activities at Bay Shore Park for the day include: the watermelon eating contest at 1:45 p.m.; The Guess is Right from 2-3:30 p.m.; and free ice cream at 2:30. A pet parade will start at the Munising Post Office at 3:30.
A water fight at Elm Avenue in Munising will start at 4:30, and grease pole at the city pier will take place at 5:30 p.m.
The Guess is Right at Bay Shore Park will start again at 5:30 p.m. and run until 7 p.m., followed by free quarters at 7, and an egg toss contest at 8.
The day will conclude with fireworks at 10 p.m.