Festivities include the parade at 11 a.m., a bean bag tournament, cowpie bingo, bounce houses and even a kids tractor pulls. The event will feature live music by The Pink Violin Band, as well as burgers, brats and more.

Jerry Maki, a former president of the Rock Lions Club, described the event as having a “family reunion-like nature,” noting that many people who live outside of Rock travel back for Labor Day.

Herb’s Bar in Rock will also have its Labor Day Weekend celebration Friday through Sunday, with horseshoes, cornhole and bonfires.

The Tyler Gitchel Band will perform at a time to be determined Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

A past Rock Lions Club Labor Day Celebration parade. This year’s celebration is Saturday. (Daily Press file photo)

Gitchel, 18, won both 2023 Male Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year at the North American Country Music Association International competition in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The Howard City, Michigan, native has opened for several artists such as Ray Scott, Dale Watson, Ben Chapman, John Paycheck and Whey Jennings. As a fifth-generation musician, he’s following in the footsteps of his father, Luke Gitchel, who is the band’s electric guitarist and has played at Herb’s Bar in the past.

Tyler’s musical journey has been strongly shaped by his father, according to his website, https://tylergitchel.com/home.

Luke Gitchel, Tyler’s father, has a long history as a musician. Luke has played the guitar in multiple bands, including the Radiators, The Journeymen and the Tyler Gitchel Band. Luke was previously a musician for Dolly Parton’s pre-show at the Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Tyler Gitchel remembers his father taking him to various venues as a child where Tyler first began to sing. As Tyler grew older, he learned how to play the guitar.

The Tyler Gitchel Band consists of drummer Tom Story, bass player Dylan Dietz, steel guitar player Lucas Galloway, fiddle player Clint Gitchel and electric guitar player Luke Gitchel.

“Those musicians that you’re with become family. You can trust them with anything,” Tyler Gitchel said of his bandmates.

The Tyler Gitchel Band has performed at numerous venues, including the Rapid River Stillhouse in Grand Rapids, Mich.; The Grand Lady Riverboat in Jenison, Mich.; the Gun Lake Casino in Wayland, Mich.; The Hayloft in Traverse City, Mich.; and more.