Music Carries Curtis 'Biggest Little Town' Celebration
By Paul Gingras

The Scarlet Ladies of the Lakes, a Curtis/Newberry division of the Red Hat Society, travel up Main Street for "The Biggest Little Town Parade in Michigan." The event took place in Curtis Sunday, July 1. Pictured here (from left) are Curtis area residents Sue Ellison, Pat Webster, and Gerry Holbrook. Hidden (in front) are Donelle Mattson and Rita Knierim. (Photograph by Joni Davis)

Music filled "The Biggest Little Town Parade in Michigan" in Curtis Sunday, July 1, where residents and thousands of visitors celebrated Independence Day with a parade for the 33rd year, producing "enormous enthusiasm," said organizer Captain Bill Kelly, who initiated the event in 1974. Captain Kelly noted that turnout was down slightly this year, but that everyone had a great time, and vendors did very well.

The parade theme was "music, music, music." Most of the displays that marched, rolled, and strode up the road included some form of music.

To honor his years of service on the Independence Day Celebration and Parade Committee, Bill Schmidt of Curtis and Florida was named parade marshal this year. Mr. Schmidt recently celebrated his 80th birthday. On Sunday, he rode in honor near the beginning of the colorful procession.

Part of the day's jovial activities, three members of the Ahmed Shrine, an Upper Peninsula-wide Shriners group, travel up Main Street in Curtis for "The Biggest Little Town Parade in Michigan" Sunday, July 1. (Photographs by Joni Davis)

Traveling along Main Street, from Sandtown Road to Curtis Park, the parade then spilled into Curtis Park, where the celebration continued into the evening.

The Petoskey Steel Drum Band, riding on a flat-bed truck donated by Tom Burton of Newberry, did a "fantastic job," said Captain Kelly.

"It was really a hit," added Joni Davis of Curtis.

Displaying elaborate regalia, the Frost Bagpipe Band of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and the Grand Traverse Pipes and Drums Band of Traverse City sent their strident notes ringing up the street and across South Manistique Lake.

Other music boomed through town, produced by The Royal Canadian Legion Brass Band of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the youthful Navy League Cadets, also of Sault, Ontario, and the Newberry High School Marching Band.

While listening to the Petoskey Steel Drum Band, Madison Mae Robinson pauses for a picture during the Curtis Parade. Madison is the daughter of area residents Justin Robinson and Betsy Williams.

The Royal Canadian Legion Color Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard Color Guard of Sault Ste. Marie, added to the event, along with Veterans of Foreign War and American Legion groups from Newberry, Curtis, Engadine, Germfask, Sault Ste. Marie, and St. Ignace.

Many antique cars rolled through this year, adding nostalgic style to the parade, most likely spillovers from the 32nd Annual St. Ignace Car Show the previous weekend, Mr. Kelly speculated.

In addition to several seasoned floats that take part in the parade annually, new floats were added by the McMillan Masonic Lodge and the Manistique Lakes Area Lions Club.

After the parade, there were a number of small concerts in Curtis Park, played by the bands in the parade. For concerts involving youth groups, Bonnie Goulette and Lorraine Kelly of Curtis provided soda pop, potato chips, and hot dogs to the hungry musicians.

The popular Lion's Club chicken barbecue, an annual event, sold out of food at 3 p.m.

Northwoods Air Lifeline set up a booth to explain the group's free emergency transportation service. Based in Ironwood, the organization is made up of dedicated pilots who help people get to distant locations for medical treatment. To raise money to assist in flight costs, members offered blankets, hats, and steins.

Keelin Dunn of California, a 10- year-old dancer, performed Irish dances at the band shell. Her grandparents are Lorraine and Tom Fitzpatrick of Curtis.

Nearby, Curtis Ladies Aid held a bake sale.

Fifty arts and crafts booths offered their wares. While the event was planned to end at 5 p.m., sales went on well into the evening, prior to a "gigantic fireworks display at dusk, put on the fireworks council," Captain Kelly said.

This year, The Scarlet Ladies, a division of the Red Hat Society, won best float. The Curtis Park float was voted runner up. Floats receiving honorable mention were produced by Vos Village Market, Portage Creek Antique Mall and Josie's Posies, and the Manistique Lakes Area Lions Club.

John Goulette of Curtis was credited with creating the layout plan for events following the parade.

Next year, the "The Biggest Little Town Parade in Michigan" will be July 6.