Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Ontonagon — Despite a sprinkling of rain during a Sunday parade, the Ontonagon Labor Day Festival was a huge success, with viewers briefly using umbrellas as the show proceeded without a hitch.
The 65th annual event drew a happy, hardy crowd to the third and busiest day of the activities.
After being canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was back in full force with a long and lively parade along River Street.
People came from near and far to watch this year’s parade, including Sherry Williams of Hartford, Wisconsin, who snuggled under an afghan with her two dogs, Suki and Peanut.
Despite it not being a patriotic holiday, a lot of love of country was evident. Members of the Ontonagon-area Color Guard led the parade with guidance from an SUV from Sheriff Dale Rantala’s office.
World War II veteran SSGT Don Mills, age 96, walked on foot, waving gamely at the crowd and followed by a somber float featuring miniature gravestones and asking via a sign for people to remember those who died protecting their country.
Other floats, such as a small unit from the Agate Social Club, also included American flags and other affirmations.
From the curb, three generations watched, with Jean Keranen, of Elo, accompanying her son, Greg Keranen of Pelkie, and his daughters, Ruby, 6, and Sara, 2, holding tiny American flags.
“I love this country!” yelled one man as he walked with arms up through the crowd
Adding fun to the mix were members of the Copper Country Clown Band performing live music from their float, along with little girls doing somersaults and a mini dramatic act performed by the OGC Area 51 Clean-Up Crew.
Excited kids scooped up candy tossed here and there, while some folks such as state Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock, walked the route to hand out goodies.
Parade Marshall Steve Asplund of WLUC-TV in Marquette, held out his cell phone to record the event as the car transporting him drove by.
Other parade participants included the Michigan Trails and Recreation Alliance, the Ottawa Sportsmen’s Club, the Lake Superior Tired Iron Club, the North Country Snowmobile Club, the Ontonagon County Republican Club, area fire departments and floats and vehicles representing area businesses.
Marching bands from Bessemer’s A.D. Johnston High School and Hurley High School participated in the parade.
Marty’s Goldenaires drum and bugle corps also marched the route and then provided a welcome performance on River Street as a crowd circled to clap and shriek approval.
Good times continued afterward at the Ontonagon Village Community Center, which featured savory picnic foods, live music, games for kids, a silent auction and plenty of help from Ontonagon volunteers.
Lee McCaffery was outside grilling hotdogs while Arnie Bolo delivered them inside to Leah Tucker, who was among several servers helping people such as Ashley Daniels, of Ontonagon, to feed their kids and other loved ones.
Meanwhile, Mark Bobula, of Ontonagon, was busy setting up for his band, Easy Money, to play throughout the evening.
“We’ve been doing this since 1973,” he said, kidding that it’s “not so easy” anymore.
Lauren Miles also was running a silent auction to make money for the rec center’s operational costs. A 50-50 drawing also was expected.
The festival began on Friday with a community picnic in the Marina Park. Saturday featured a kids’ parade, a car show, live music and fireworks, and Sunday began with the Ed Hansen 5K and 10K race.
Margo Anderson and Tanya Weisinger led this year’s Labor Day Committee.
