Red Hatters Enjoy St. Ignace Convention

At right: St. Ignace Fire Department's Bill Fraser leads Red Hat Society members in a "chicken dance" at Little Bear East Arena during the Red Hat Society Convention June 1 and 2. Members of the fire department performed comedy skits for the group. The event was conducted with an Old West theme. (Photographs by Sam Belonga)

Red and purple were colors seen throughout St. Ignace's downtown area Friday, June 1, and Saturday, June 2, as 150 members of the Red Hat Society from across the Midwest enjoyed the third annual St. Ignace Red Hat Society Convention. Red and purple hats and clothing are signatures of the group.

The event, hosted by the local Jewels of the Straits Red Hat Society, featured an Old West theme and included a "howdydo" welcome at Little Bear East Arena Friday evening, highlighted by a "chuckwagon" barbecue and comedy skits performed by members of the St. Ignace Fire Department, who staged an Old West bank robbery and saloon brawl, and then performed a clown routine. The group of Red Hat participants also enjoyed music and dancing with the firefighters.

Fire Department volunteers helped entertain 150 Red Hat Society members at Little Bear East Arena Friday evening, June 1. They included (left) Steve Paquin, Bill Fraser, Robert St. Louis, Angie Fraser, Jason Soblaskey, Karl Yoder, and Chad Belonga.

The hockey rink was transformed into a western town, designed by Lynne Piippo and Deb Durm of the Visitors Bureau and constructed by Jerry Piippo and Jerry Fenlon.

On Saturday morning, the women were treated to a breakfast at Kewadin Casino. They then participated in an autograph scavenger hunt, in which each member was provided with an autograph book and instructed to find old western stars hidden throughout businesses in downtown St. Ignace.

Eleven merchants participated in the event, with employees dressed as country western characters.

The group then enjoyed a sunset cruise in the Straits of Mackinac with live music from the Bait Shop Boys, a bluegrass band from the Les Cheneaux area.

"It was a really fun time," said Rosalie Robinson of Jewels of the Straits.

"They sure were a lot of fun," said Mrs. Piippo of the visitors. "I look forward to having them here again."