Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
TWO LADIES from One Time Functions wow the crowd on their stilts at last year's Bessemer Fourth of July Parade.
By IAN MINIELLY
Bessemer - It is almost time for the finest of traditions, the Bessemer Fourth of July Blast. The Bessemer Blast is a week long celebration that occurs every year on and around Sophie Street in Bessemer.
Daily events
Each day between June 27 and July 4, members of the community are encouraged to participate in the 50/50 raffle, poker run, selfie challenge and geocache dash. Each contests details are available online at bessemer4th.com
Wednesday, June 27
The Tree of Honor lighting ceremony kicks off the celebration at 7:30 p.m., with Marty's Goldenaires providing musical entertainment. The tree is in the pocket park by Abelman's on Sophie Street. The Goldenaires will practice on Sophie Street following the lighting.
Thursday June 28
The American Legion in Bessemer is hosting a spaghetti dinner from 4-7 p.m. The Round 2 Saloon is hosting a Smear Tournament at 6 p.m., while the Pit Stop Bar and Grill hosts their outdoor dart tournament at 7 p.m.
Friday June 29
Area restaurants are hosting fish fry dinners while JJ's Bar has karaoke from 8 p.m. - midnight.
Saturday June 30
With a need to exercise to burn off all the food consumed Friday, starting and finishing at Bessemer City Hall is the Hometown Run/Walk and Tot Trot, which starts at 8:30 a.m. Following the trot, Sharon Lutheran Church is putting on a salad luncheon from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Pet Costume contest kicks off at noon on Sophie Street, which was a giant hit in 2017.
Massie Field is the site of the Children's Freedom Relay at noon, while the Lake State Mud Racers Mud Run on North Moore street gets revved up for getting dirty at 1 p.m. Between 4-7 p.m., the Bessemer VFW hosts its annual Pig Roast.
The Minnow Races splash into business from 6-7 p.m. On Sophie Street, followed immediately by a treasure hunt on Sophie and the 9 p.m. Half year New Years Party at the Pit Stop. All of this and it is only Saturday.
Sunday July 1
The Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast aims to feed hungry souls and bodies from 8- 11 a.m., while the Daughters of Isabella Our Lady of Guadalupe silent auction goes out for bids. Sharon Lutheran Church is hosting worship in the park at Bluff Valley Park at 9 a.m., which is also the same time the 3 on 3 basketball tournament begins raining threes on Mary Street.
11 a.m. Is the start of the treasure hunt on Sophie Street, with DOVE bingo at Bessemer City Hall from 12-4 p.m. Between 4-6 p.m. The Lions Club hosts its chicken dinner at St. Sebastian while the duo known as Letters From Home starts singing at the VFW at 6 p.m.
Monday, July 2
DOVE Bingo from 12-4 p.m. In city hall gives people a chance to recover and power into the next three days. Although Polka Dancing with Hank Thunander at the VFW from 3 – 7 p.m. Will wear people right back out again.
Sophie street activities start at 5:30 p.m., running until after 7:30 p.m. With the children's chalk drawing contest, Finlander Five Tournament, Children's Dance, Street Bowling, War Tournament, Water Balloon Toss and Simon Says competition. Two days of fun remain at this point.
Tuesday July 3
Events do not kick off until 3 p.m., when the VFW starts selling burgers and freedom fries. The always well-attended Domino Fall is scheduled to knock off at 6 p.m. In the high school gymnasium before people are encouraged to head back to Sophie Street again by 7 p.m.
The high school band is putting on a street performance, followed by a bean bag tournament at 7:30 p.m. Also at 7 :30 p.m., an outdoor life size beer pong competition is scheduled before the bed races at 8 p.m. A nice bit of scheduling expertise put the water balloon launch at 8:30 p.m., to cool folks down, right before the street dance with music by Lake Effect results in warn out shoes and broken hearts.
Wednesday, July 4
The city has been building up to Wednesday's late night bonanza of fun for a week. The traditional Poncho's Salute with the Matonich family at Massie Field is on tap for 6 a.m. From 9:30 -11:30 a.m. It is time for family games and races.
Heading back to Sophie Street, the children's parade starts at 1:30 p.m., with line up starting at 1 p.m., by city hall. The Bessemer Volunteer Fire Department will hand out free hot dogs and soda during its open house at 2 p.m., which is when the geocache is scheduled to end.
From 5-6:30 p.m., the parade line up is planned, before the the high school band conducts area reconnaissance over the parade route while the Memory Lane Car Cruise drives through. The 50/50 ends at 7 p.m. With the start of the giant parade through Bessemer. The last float in the parade will announce the 50/50 winning ticket number.
Marty's is putting on a show from 9:10 – 9:55 p.m. At Massie Field, before Thunder on the Mountain begins launching its aerial assault above Bessemer at 10 p.m., ending the week of fun and merriment.
