Ontonagon's annual Labor Day festival approaches

By JAN TUCKER

jantuck@jamadots.com

Ontonagon — The 63rd anniversary of the Ontonagon Labor Day Festival, Aug. 30 through Sept. 1, will feature some changes. The biggest change will be the kiddie parade which will be Saturday, Aug. 31, instead of Labor Day itself.

The change will put an emphasis on Maxwell Street Day, with the kids parade, music, sales on the street, lip-sync contest, food and an expanded bed race. Margo Anderson and Tanya Weisinger, festival co-chairs said with large crowds on Maxwell Day, the work that parents and kids put into the kiddie parade will be seen by a much larger crowd. The kiddie parade will begin at noon.

The lip-sync contest will be held at 1 p.m. Members of the Ontonagon Theater of the Performing Arts will judge the contest. The Copper Country Band will play until 2:30 p.m.

The Mike Urbis Band will perform on River Street from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Organizers expect with all this activity on Saturday, people will stay longer on the street which will be a plus for the vendors.

One of the highlights of Maxwell Street Day is the expanded bed race. The theme of the race is Bed Time Stories and the best themed entry will receive a prize of $100. There will be cash prizes for the top three bed race teams.

Saturday’s festivities will also include an auto show, dunk tank, open houses at various businesses and numerous sales on the street.

The festival kicks off as usual with a community picnic on Friday, Aug. 30, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Village Marina Pavilion. Free hot dogs, chips and pop will be distributed. Aspirus emergency responders will be on hand to greet the public as well as local and state law enforcement officials.

At 6 p.m., the popular rock skipping contest begins at the Marina launch site.

The highlight of the three-day weekend will be the big parade on Sunday, Sept. 1, at 2 p.m. The parade will feature bands, homemade floats and the Marty’s Goldenaires Drum and Bugle Corps, including their concert following the parade.

Prior to the parade the Ed Hanson 5K and 10K race will be presented by Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital and a pancake breakfast at the VFW from 7:30 to 11 a.m.

The Community will wind up the 63rd annual Labor Day Festival from 4 to 10 p.m. on Sunday with music, food, beverages, silent auction and games. The drawing for the 50-50 winner will be held at 8 p.m.