EUP July 4 Celebrations Announced

Independence Day observances are planned throughout the area for various dates next week.

St. Ignace

Crowning of the royal court Monday, July 2, will begin St. Ignace Fourth of July festivities, which will include a parade, Fire Department public picnic and open house, and fireworks.

The contests for Miss St. Ignace, Junior Miss St. Ignace, Princess, and Prince will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 2, at City Council chambers in City Hall. The winners will participate in the Fourth of July Ruby Goudreau Memorial Parade, which begins at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 4.

Winners of the royal court contest are picked by two anonymous judges who do not live in St. Ignace, explained contest coordinator Kathy Cryderman. Contestants for Miss St. Ignace are interviewed by the judges and must write an essay as to why they should be chosen. Junior Miss St. Ignace contestants must also write an essay about why they would be the best candidate. Princess and Prince candidates must draw a Fourth of July picture and answer questions about themselves and their families. All contestants are required to have references.

The parade will begin at the corner of Stockbridge and North State streets. To participate in the parade and enter a judged contest for floats, decorated bicycles, strollers, or wagons, register by calling parade coordinator Merv Wyse at First National Bank at 643-6800 or 643- 7878.

Parade judges will choose best patriotic theme, best presentation, and most creative entry. The St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce will award a cash prize of $100 to winners in each category.

The St. Ignace Kiwanis Club will hold races for children at Dock 3 (near the Coast Guard station off South State Street) immediately after the parade. Children can enjoy a potato sack race, three-legged race, treasure hunt, and a wheelbarrow race.

The St. Ignace Fire Department open house will begin immediately after the races, about 3 p.m. Free hot-dogs, bratwurst, ice cream, and beverages will be available. Karaoke contests will be held during the open house. In case of bad weather, the open house will be at Little Bear East Arena on Marquette Street.

A Vesper Cruise will be offered at 9 p.m. by Arnold Line. The cruise is free of charge.

Fireworks will begin at dusk.

Les Cheneaux Independence Day activities in the Les Cheneaux Islands area will start Saturday, June 30, with the Fun Run/Walk. Runners will start at 9:40 a.m. and walkers at 9:30 a.m. at the Alvin Hossack Memorial Field at Les Cheneaux Community Schools in Cedarville. Registration is from 8 a.m. to 9:25 a.m. in the school's Duncan Gymnasium lobby.

The annual July Fourth Arts and Crafts Show in Cedarville will be Tuesday, July 3, and Wednesday, July 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the Community Center. Anyone who wants to join the show should call the Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce at (906) 484-3935.

Cedarstock, a concert featuring the rock bands Oddfellow, Forest Fire Likely, Plumb Tony, and Darwin Project, will be held outdoors at Les Cheneaux Community Schools in Cedarville beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 3. There is no admission charge.

Independence Day Wednesday, July 4, will begin with a pancake breakfast served by the Les Cheneaux Ambulance Auxiliary from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Clark Township Fire and Ambulance Hall on Meridian Street. All proceeds will benefit the ambulance corps.

Entries in the Annual Les Cheneaux Independence Day Parade through Cedarville will begin lining up along Grove Street at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Those who want to participate in the parade should call Penny Clymer at (906) 484-2330, however, advance registration is not necessary. Last-minute entries are welcome and can join the line-up between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

The parade, featuring nearly 100 entries with the theme "Celebrate the '50s," will start at 11 a.m. and travel from Grove Street down Beach Street and west on Hodeck through Cedarville, then along Meridian and M-134 and end at Beach Street. Entries should reflect the theme, and awards will be given to the best parade entries, as determined by a panel of judges.

There will be a horseshoe tournament, with registration from noon to 1 p.m. and the tournament to follow. Registration can be made that day at the Snows Bar and Grill on Cedar Street.

Following the parade, a Family Fun Day will be held at the Alvin Hossack Memorial Field on Beach Street from noon until about 3 p.m. Games will include an obstacle course, clown bounce, and bungee run inflatable games, and the popular Clark Township Volunteer Fire Department children's treasure hunt in a foam tank.

Starting at 8 p.m., there will be music at the park, and fireworks over Cedarville Bay will begin at dusk.

Mackinaw City

On Wednesday, July 4, the village will host games at Conkling Heritage Park beginning at 1:30 p.m. A performance by the Straits Area Concert Band at 9 p.m. will be followed by a fireworks display at dusk.

Mackinac Island

The annual Mackinac Island Fourth of July Regatta, sponsored by The Pink Pony, will be held Sunday, July 1. The race, considered by organizers a "competitive family fun race," is open to all boats with no entry charge.

The event will begin at 2 p.m. off the east breakwall of the Mackinac Island Harbor. The race route spans about 10 miles around the Island. A post-race awards ceremony and reception will be held at The Pink Pony.

For further information and registration, contact Mackinac Island Yacht Club Chairman David Rowe at (810) 487-0787.

On Wednesday, July 4, Fort Mackinac interpreters dressed as 1880s soldiers will present "A Star Spangled Fourth" from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., featuring patriotic military music, a 38-gun salute, and a flagraising ceremony. Reenactors will present a program of children's activities and games throughout the day. Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for youth; children five and younger are admitted free.

"An American Picnic" will be hosted at 6:30 p.m. Picnic tickets include fort admission and may be purchased in advance at the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor's Center and Grand Hotel.

Fireworks will start at dusk at Windermere Point.

Trout Lake

The Trout Lake Fire Department will host a breakfast from Wednesday, July 4, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Township Hall. The Trout Lake Women's Club will offer a Strawberry Social from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Township Hall.

The annual parade begins at 1 p.m. at the Trout Lake Township Hall, traveling along M-123 to the township park. Entries for the parade are asked to line up by 12:30 p.m. at Old Town Hall.

Fireworks will begin at dusk and can be viewed from Trout Lake Township Park.

DeTour

DeTour Village will start its Independence Day weekend activities Sunday, July 1, with the Third Annual Freighter Race at the Mainsail Restaurant at 2 p.m.

Events will continue Tuesday, July 3, with a five-kilometer race at 6:30 p.m. Race participants can register at the DeTour Village Pavilion. Call Kris Kelley at (906) 297-5071 for more information.

A dance at the pavilion Tuesday night will feature music by Gary VanAlstine and the Main Street Band at 9 p.m.

Wednesday, July 4, activities will start at the pavilion, with a craft show at 10 a.m.

The DeTour Fourth of July parade will start at noon Wednesday, and the line-up for the floats will start on Sims Street.

A community picnic will take place at the pavilion from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. Children can enjoy a carnival at the pavilion at 2:30 p.m.

Fireworks will start at dusk at Shula Giddens Park.

Curtis

The "Biggest Little Town Parade in Michigan" will be Sunday, July 1, at 12:30 p.m. The parade theme this year is "Music, Music, Music." A steel drum band, a bagpipe band, the R C Legion Brass band, the Shrine Marching Unit, Navy League Band, high school band, U.S. Coast Guard Color Guard, Royal Canadian Legion, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Smokey the Bear will be among those participating. Line-up for the parade will be at 11:30 a.m. at Sand Town Road.

Plaques will be awarded for winning entries.

Also on Sunday, an arts and crafts show will start at 10 a.m. The Lions Club Famous Chicken Barbecue will begin at 11 a.m. The Chamber of Commerce will offer a food and refreshment tent, along with a bake sale table hosted by the Curtis Ladies' Aid. Children can enjoy an inflatable slide, rock climbing wall, and games.

Fireworks will begin at dusk.

For information regarding floats or crafts, call Captain Bill Kelley at (906) 586-9433 or the Curtis Chamber of Commerce at (906) 586-3700.

Naubinway

The Independence Day festivities in Garfield Township will begin with a Kiddie Parade at the fire hall in Naubinway Tuesday, July 3. At 5:30 p.m., infants through 16-year-olds will line up on floats, decorated bicycles, marching, or in strollers, buggies, and wagons, and at 6 p.m., they will proceed a short distance down Tuffy Street, go around the block, and return to the fire hall. No motorized vehicles are allowed in the parade.

Face painting and children's games will follow in the in the Naubinway Pavilion, where food booths will be available.

The Kiddie Parade is sponsored by First National Bank of St. Ignace.

Racers of all ages may participate in the 25th Annual Black Bear Run Wednesday, July 4. The race, sponsored by the Engadine Athletic Booster Club, will be divided into two parts. The first will be a 12- kilometer run that begins at Engadine High School, proceeds down the Hiawatha Club Trail, and ends in Naubinway at the baseball field on Boucha Road. The second will be a six-kilometer race. Runners will be bused to the Hiawatha Club Trail, where they will run to the baseball field in Naubinway.

For more information, call Aaron Fulton of the athletic booster club at (906) 477-6263.

The Naubinway/ Engadine Lions Club will offer children's games at the Naubinway Pavilion at 11 a.m.

At noon, the Knights of Columbus of Engadine Catholic Mission will host a fish fry. At 1 p.m., the Lumberjack Parade will begin at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Naubinway, loop through the west end of town, and return to its point of origin. There will be two categories for floats, business and individual.

The Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum will host its Grand Opening starting at 10 a.m. and continuing until the fireworks begin.

The Merchants Association will sell tickets for a 50-50 raffle that will take place at 3:30 p.m.

At dusk, there will be a fireworks display over the bay.