By Sterling McGinn
This weekend, America turns 249 years old, and celebrations of our independence will erupt across the country.
The communities of Newberry, Curtis, Naubinway, Hulbert, Paradise, and Grand Marais are ready to celebrate with festivities of parades, fireworks, food, and more.
Below is a schedule of events for our area.
Newberry
Newberry events will take place on Friday, July 4. The celebrations will begin with the Kiwanis Club 46th Annual Fourth of July Parade with a theme of “Stars, Stripes, and Circus Delights!” This year’s Grand Marshal will be a Newberry tradition—Harju’s Clowns.
The parade lineup will begin at 9 a.m. on East Victory Way with registration taking place in the front lawn of the American Legion. There is no pre-registration.
The parade will step-off at 10 a.m. and will follow its usual route north on M-123, turning onto West Helen Street and proceeding past Golden Leaves Living Center to Washington Boulevard.
There will be cash prizes for floats with the best use of the theme: First prize-$1,000, second place-$500 and third place-$250.
The Annual Historic Photo Show will return this year and will be held in the basement of the McMillan Township Community Building.
The event is sponsored by the Tahquamenon Education Foundation and presented by historical photograph collectors Sterling McGinn and Jim Dwyer.
The show will feature a number of newly acquired historical photos and will be held on Thursday, July 3 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and after the parade on July 4 until 2 p.m.
The Newberry Fire Department will host their annual open house at the Peter Rahilly Fire Station located directly behind the Community building after the parade until 2 p.m.
Newberry Elks Lodge 1705 will hold a chicken barbeque at the lodge rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until gone on July 4. The meal includes a ½ chicken, cole slaw, baked beans, and a dinner roll for $19. The proceeds benefit the Elks Scholarship fund.
There will be a fireworks display at dusk at Schubach Farms on south M-123.
Curtis
The Biggest Little Town Parade in Michigan will take place in Curtis on Sunday, July 6.
The parade lineup will start at 11:30 a.m. on Sand Town Road and the parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. heading through Curtis and ending at Three Lakes Academy. The theme is “From Blizzards to Bonfires.”
There are cash prizes for floats with the best use of theme. Winning float-$3000, runner-up-$2,000 and honorable mention-$1,000.
Beginning at 11 a.m., the Manistique Lakes Lions Club will hold their famous chicken barbeque. At the Erickson Center for the Arts field, there will be arts and craft vendors, kids’ entertainment and live music on both July 5 and 6.
The fireworks display will take place from South Manistique Lake at dusk on July 6.
Naubinway
Naubinway will begin their July Fourth celebrations on Thursday evening, July 3 with a Kiddie parade at 7 p.m. Lineup will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Naubinway pavilion. There will be free kids’ snacks following the parade.
On Friday, July 4, the 43rd Annual Black Bear Run will take place at Engadine Schools.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be a carnival at the Naubinway pavilion. Events include the Engadine Library used book sale, Knights of Columbus fish fry, bake sale, and Big Mack pack snacks and food.
The parade, featuring a theme of “Our Heritage: Fishing and Farming!” will begin at 1 p.m. The grand marshal for the parade will be Arthur “Bud” Legault.
The “Thunder Over the Bay” fireworks display will take place at dusk
Hulbert
The Hulbert Freedom Festival will take place on Saturday, July 5.
The parade will line up at the Hulbert American Legion at 11:30 a.m. with the parade to step-off at 12 p.m. to downtown Hulbert.
Following the parade, there will be a number of events at the Hulbert Township Park throughout the afternoon and evening.
At 12:30 p.m., the bounce house will open and there will be an ice cream social.
From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., there will be kids’ games including a sawdust pile, scavenger hunt, tug-o-war and more.
The cornhole tournament will take place at 1:30 pm. Registration opens at 12:30 p.m.
The craft show will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and all-day activities include food trucks, curbside carvings, photo booth, face painting and a juggler.
There will also be a lumberjack competition with locals from 3 to 8 p.m.
The day will end with fireworks to take place at dusk.
Paradise
Paradise will kick off their July Fourth festivities with an EMS pancake breakfast from 7-11 a.m. at the Community Center.
The parade will begin at 1 p.m. with lineup taking place beginning at 12:30 a.m. at M-123 and Whitefish Point Road.
Fireworks will take place at dusk at the Community Center.
Grand Marais
The Grand Marais Fourth of July Celebration will take place on Friday, July 4.
The event will include a parade beginning at 1 p.m. in downtown Grand Marais.
There will be a street dance at 7 p.m. and a fireworks display at dusk.
On Saturday, July 5, there will be the Batters U.P. Ball Games.
