Getting ready for Fourth of July celebrations, teenagers from St. Ignatius Loyola Church in St. Ignace and Immaculate Conception Church of Moran work on their parade float Thursday, June 19. Painting the wood for the back of the float are (from left) visiting seminarian Ryan Ford of Gladstone, and from St. Ignace Nick Grogan, Chris Moran, and Devin Chargo. Adding patriotic red, white, and blue flowers made out of napkins to a float decoration are (from left) Dorothy Chargo of St. Ignace, Jennie Bird of Moran, and Tessa Pavia of St. Ignace. The float, which will be entered in the St. Ignace July 4th Ruby Goudreau Memorial Parade, will be decorated with flags and the teens will paint the words "Thank God For Freedom" on the back of the float beneath an American flag. Parades, games, picnics, sailing races, and fireworks will mark 4th of July events across Mackinac County this year as residents prepare to celebrate the country's Independence Day. Community celebrations in the Straits area span the weekend and will keep residents and visitors entertained with activities for the entire family.

St. Ignace

The city begins celebrating the holiday with the announcement of and crowning of the royal court Thursday, July 3, at 5:30 p.m. at City Council chambers in City Hall. The Royal Court, which participates in the Friday, July 4, parade, includes Miss St. Ignace, Junior Miss St. Ignace, Princess, and Prince. The winners will be chosen by two anonymous judges from Mackinaw City and Cheboygan. Contestants were required to submit an application, essay, and letters of reference.

At 7 p.m., the free waterfront concert series Bayside Live! begins at 7 p.m. at the St. Ignace Marina Pavilion.

The Straits Evangelical Free Church will host a Kids Freedom Party Thursday, July 3, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the church. Children up to sixth grade will have the opportunity to meet local servicemen, pray for and write to the troops, sing patriotic songs, participate in outdoor games, and eat cake and ice cream.

The Fourth of July Ruby Goudreau Memorial Parade begins Friday, July 4, at 1 p.m. The parade begins at the corner of Stockbridge and North State streets and travels south along State Street, ending on McCann Street.

Immediately after the parade, the St. Ignace Kiwanis Club will hold races for children at Dock 3, which is near the Coast Guard station off South State Street. Children can enter a running race, a potato sack race, three-legged race, a wheelbarrow race, and search the sawdust pile for hidden coins.

At 3 p.m. the St. Ignace Fire Department will hold an open house and serve free hot-dogs, bratwurst, ice cream, and beverages. Residents and visitors can participate in karaoke contests. (The open house will move to Little Bear East Arena on Marquette Street if it is raining.)

Fireworks are set for dusk in St. Ignace and are visible from the shoreline throughout the downtown.

Moran

Fireworks will light the sky at dusk over Brevort Lake Saturday, July 5, near the village of Moran. The public is invited, free of charge, to watch the display at the end of Dukes Road. This is the first Independence Day celebration sponsored by the Brevort Township Community Foundation, said foundation president Kirk Lipnitz.

Mackinac Island

Island July 4 celebrations begin at 10 a.m. with the 31st annual stone skipping contest at Windermere Point at the Hotel Iroquois on the Beach. National Public Radio's Michele Norris will talk with Eric Steiner, the play-byplay announcer for the event. Donations from the contest support the Mackinac Island Public Library.

Banners, flags, and bunting will decorate Fort Mackinac for its 1880s Independence Day celebration that begins at 1:30 p.m. and lasts until 7 p.m. The Star Spangled Fourth celebration includes a 38- gun salute honoring the states of the period, performances of patriotic music, and children's games. Fort visitors are invited to participate in the dances and games. A special combination ticket will provide admission to Fort Mackinac events and the Fort Tea Room's All American Picnic.

Children's games, including sack races, water balloon tosses, and the watermelon roll will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Windermere Point, sponsored by the city recreation department.

At approximately 9:45 p.m. fireworks are planned for Windermere Point.

An Around the Island Yacht Race presented by the Pink Pony and the Mackinac Island Yacht Club is set for Saturday, July 5. Skippers will set sail at 2 p.m. off the east breakwall of the Mackinac Island Harbor. The race route spans approximately 10 miles around the Island.

Mackinaw City

July 4th games will begin at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Marina Park. Events for the whole family include a three-legged race, golf contest, penny scramble, disc toss, basketball shooting contest, and egg toss.

Patriotic music will be played over loudspeakers beginning at 9 p.m. in the park, followed by a fireworks display at dusk.

Cedarville and Hessel

The annual Arts and Crafts Show at the Community Center in Cedarville runs from Thursday, July 3, through Friday, July 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A pancake breakfast will be served Friday, July 4, from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. by the Les Cheneaux Ambulance Auxiliary at the Clark Township Fire and Ambulance Hall on Meridian Street in Cedarville. Proceeds will be used to purchase supplies and equipment for the Clark Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, the Cedarville Trojans Booster Club will offer at sale prices championship and fan athletic apparel in the gymnasium lobby in Les Cheneaux Community Schools. Concessions will also be available at the school.

The Annual Les Cheneaux Independence Day parade begins at 11 a.m. Friday. More than 100 entries will travel from Grove Street down Beach Street and west on Hodeck through Cedarville, then along Meridian and M-134 and end at Beach Street. This year's theme is Mardi Gras, and judges will award the best parade entries.

Following the parade, children's games will be offered at the Alvin Hossack Memorial Field on Beach Street from noon until about 2 p.m.. The event includes games, races, face painting, and the popular Clark Township Volunteer Fire Department children's treasure hunt in a foam tank. The Clark Township firetruck will be at the park, and volunteers will provide a sprinkler for children to run through after the foam tank event.

A horseshoe tournament at Snows Bar and Grill on 4-Mile Block in Cedarville will be offered at 2:30 p.m.

A fireworks display over Cedarville Bay will begin at dusk.

The Annual Les Cheneaux Fun Run and Walk begins at 9:30 a.m. for walkers and 9:40 a.m. for runners on Saturday, July 5. The event takes place 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.

Trout Lake

Fourth of July celebrations begin in Trout Lake with breakfast served by members of the Trout Lake Volunteer Fire Department. The meal takes place Friday, July 4, from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the Township Hall.

Also at the hall, the Trout Lake Women's Club will hold a Strawberry Social and hot-dog lunch from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

The annual Fourth of July parade begins at 1 p.m. Friday, with entries lining up at 12:30 p.m. at the Old Town Hall. The parade beings at the Township Hall on M-123 and travels through town to the township park.

Around 4 p.m. the public is invited to watch or participate with a team in softball tournaments that will take place at the ball diamond across from the Township Park. The games will be concluded Saturday.

At dusk, fireworks will light up the sky and can be viewed from the Trout Lake Township Park.

DeTour

Celebrations begin in DeTour Thursday, July 3, with an "Under the Stars" dance at the Pavilion beginning at 9 p.m. The band "The Wise Guys" will provide entertainment.

The Friday, July 4, parade begins at noon with the line-up of floats on Sims Street. Following the parade, a community picnic and games are set for the pavilion, and will take place until 4 p.m. Family activities include a dunk tank, horseshoe matches, and children's games with prizes.

A 50/50 raffle and mini raffles for prizes donated by area businesses will take place at 4 p.m.

Fireworks will be set off from Frying Pan Island at dusk.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, July 5, the third annual five-kilometer run will begin and end at the pavilion.

Also on Saturday, the inaugural Soap Box Derby will be held for children ages 7 to 16. The derby will take place on Division Street. Sign in and warm-ups are from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., with racing to begin at 11 a.m.

At 12:30 p.m., the cardboard freighter races begin in front of Dragonfly Floral shop on Ontario Street. The authentic-looking freighters must be at least four feet in length. Competitors will sail down Ontario Street, with the race ending in front of the Mainsail Restaurant. Those entering the race must push their wheeled freighter down the hill in a designated lane. Categories include children ages 7 through 14, women, men, and mixed.

A chicken barbeque dinner will be offered at Sacred Heart Church Sunday, July 6, at 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Curtis

The 34th Annual Independence Day celebration begins Sunday, July 6, in Curtis with an arts and crafts show opening at 10 a.m. Approximately 50 exhibitors will set up booths for the show.

The Lions Club will offer its "Famous Chicken Barbecue" beginning at 11 a.m. and the Chamber of Commerce will have a food and refreshment tent. The Curtis Women's Club will hold a bake sale. Activities for children are planned, including rock climbing, games, and an inflatable slide will be set up.

The "Biggest Little Town Parade in Michigan" begins at 12:30 p.m. Event organizers say they expect 15,000 visitors to attend the celebration, in the town of 650 residents. This year's theme is "Serving Our Community." Parade marshals are State Representative Gary McDowell and his wife, Carrie.

Seven bands are expected to march through town, including a steel drum band, Kalamazoo Bagpipe Band, the Newberry high School Band, and the Royal Canadian Legion Brass Band. The U.S. Coast Guard Color Guard will participate, along with the American Legion and the Royal Canadian Legion. Smokey the Bear and companions also will be seen on the parade route. The line-up for the parade is at 11:30 a.m. at Sand Town Road. Entries will be judged and winners will receive plaques.

Fireworks will begin at dusk at Curtis Park.

Naubinway

Garfield Township Independence Day festivities begin with a Kiddie Parade at the fire hall in Naubinway Thursday, July 3, at 5:30 p.m. Infants through 16- year-olds can participate on foot or using non-motorized vehicles, including decorated bicycles, strollers, and wagons. The parade begins at 6 p.m. The parade travels along Tuffy Street and around the block to return to the fire hall. First National Bank, which is sponsoring the parade, will give a prize to all children who participate.

Children's activities and games, including a candy walk, will begin following the parade. The events, along with food booths, will be at the Naubinway Pavilion.

The Friday, July 4, 26th Annual Black Bear Run begins at 9 a.m. Participants must pre-register between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. at the Engadine Consolidated Schools gymnasium. Entrants also can walk the route, which winds through the Hiawatha Sportsman's Club trails and ends at the Naubinway baseball field.

Sponsored by the Engadine Athletic Booster Club, the race is divided into two parts. The first is a 12-kilometer run and the second is a six-kilometer race. Medals will be given to first, second, and third place winners.

At noon Friday, the Knights of Columbus of Engadine Catholic Mission will host a fish fry and the Lumberjack Parade will begin at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Naubinway. This year, the parade has a nautical theme. The parade will loop through the west end of town and return to the church.

At 1 p.m., the Naubinway and Engadine Lions Club will host children's games at the Naubinway Pavilion.

The Merchants Association will sell tickets for a 50-50 raffle, with the drawing set for 3:30 p.m.

At dusk, fireworks will be displayed over the bay. During the fireworks show, the marina will be closed to the public for safety reasons.