Withstanding the heat and smoke in his outdoor kitchen, John Halpin (right) of Curtis shovels charcoal under 100 chickens on a rotisserie, while Lucas Abram, 11, of Curtis, squirts water as needed to keep the cooking flame low. Behind them, crowds are drawn by the scent of the barbecue to the Lions Club tent to enjoy Curtis' favorite Independence Day meal. More than 1,400 chicken dinners were served by the Lions Club Sunday, July 5.

Thousands of people began lining the main street in Curtis Sunday morning, July 5, in anticipation of the "Biggest Little Town Parade in Michigan," a traditional celebration of Independence Day. All along the approximately two-mile route that hugs South Manistique Lake, families set up lawn chairs and blankets to cheer on the marching bands, floats, and antique cars and tractors that came through town waving American flags, while children waited eagerly with plastic shopping bags for a chance to collect candy and beads thrown from the parade. Children leaned forward to trade high-fives with members of the Ahmed Shriners, who rode through town in miniature race cars.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie Pipe Band marches at Curtis Park following the parade. The group played on its own in the park and also joined the Kalamazoo Pipe Band for several songs.

About 15,000 people were in town for the parade that has become one of the U.P.'s most anticipated of the year, in a town of only about 650 permanent residents, said organizer Captain Bill Kelly. With his wife, Lorraine, and a small team of volunteers, Mr. Kelly has pulled the parade together for 35 years.

"The place was packed, as usual," Mr. Kelly said Monday, July 6. "We were quite pleased with it."

While uncounted parade entries began lining up on Sandtown Road east of town about an hour and a half before the procession stepped off at 12:30 p.m., hundreds of spectators took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the Curtis Lions Club's "Famous Chicken Barbecue" near Curtis Park, where 675 whole chickens were slow-roasted over charcoal, 100 birds at a time, and served with coleslaw and potato salad to families waiting for the show to begin. More than 1,400 chicken dinners were served through the course of the day.

Hungry crowds line up for the Lions Club chicken barbecue as Jim Wells (left) of Curtis and Garland Seegert (right) of Germfask dole out the potato salad and rolls.

"We don't turn 'em and burn 'em, we cook them so they're cooked from the inside out," Mr. Kelly said of the rotisserie chicken the Lions Club has been offering for many years, a crowd favorite. A special charcoal is ordered from Wisconsin, he said, to provide an even cooking heat. Volunteers work under the tent to cook and serve the meal throughout the day.

Floats and marching groups this year depicted the parade theme, "Year of the Child," in honor of the Curtis community's efforts to establish a charter school, Mr. Kelly said. The school, Three Lakes Academy, boasted a garden-themed float in the procession with a banner reading "Opening Fall 2009." The float was the parade winner. As judged by community volunteers, King Coin laundromat took runnerup honors, and honorable mention for floats went to Shawn Construction, Triangle Rental, and Woods and Water Real Estate.

The Ahmed Shriners delighted children along the Curtis parade route as they zipped along in their miniature cars, handing out candy and beads.

Music was a highlight of the celebration. The Curtis community shows particular appreciation for its marching bands, offering free hot dogs, soda pop, and potato chips to band performers at the end of the long parade route at Curtis Park, before inviting each group to perform on the park lawn throughout the afternoon. This year, participating musical groups were the Royal Canadian Legion band of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the Newman League Cadet Corps #30, the City of Sault Ste. Marie Pipe Band, the Kalamazoo Pipe Band, Newberry High School Band, and the St. Ignace Saints of Steel drum band, playing atop a flatbed semi-truck.

After the parade, large crowds gathered beneath the birch trees at Curtis Park to enjoy a craft fair, inflatable playground equipment, food and beer tents, and concerts.

The Newman League Cadet Corps and the Royal Canadian Legion Band each performed marching numbers on the lawn, followed by bagpipe music by the Kalamazoo Pipe Band. The Kalamazoo bagpipers were joined by the City of Sault Ste. Marie Pipe Band and the two groups played several songs together before the Sault pipers took center stage. The Saints of Steel band of St. Ignace closed out the afternoon of music by performing many steel drum songs from the park pavilion. The group also sold 30 of its CDs to the crowd to benefit school music programs in St. Ignace.

The Saints of Steel band rolls to a stop at the end of the parade route in Curtis. Along the route, band members took turns holding drums and equipment steady while others played. Crowds waiting at the park watched as the band finished a song atop the truck, then later performed a concert at the pavilion.

Many along the parade route and in the park donated to the parade fund, said Mr. Kelly, and proceeds from the Independence Day celebration will benefit Lions Club programs in the community, including an annual scholarship. The club also supports Northwoods Air Lifeline, a medical transport program operated by volunteer pilots. Northwood Air Lifeline owns two light aircraft and a hangar at Iron Mountain, and had completed 2,200 missions through last year, said Mr. Kelly, a volunteer chairman for the program.

Fireworks over the lake at dusk concluded the Curtis Independence Day celebration.

See more Curtis celebration photographs, page 12.