Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By MEGAN HUGHES
MERCER, Wis. — People parked in every available spot in Mercer on Wednesday, Aug. 2, to make their way to downtown to celebrate Loon Day.
Vendors from all over the county set up and sold their goods, with area businesses hosting musicians and other events during the busy day that started early. The craft fair was open until late afternoon and music continued into the evening.
Organized by the Mercer Chamber of Commerce, Loon Day has become a staple, and with crowds of people numbering in the thousands flooding the town.
More than 200 tents of crafters lined the streets. There were all sorts of sewn and otherwise constructed items for sale — some with natural tones, others in bright colors. Some were made to be worn, while others were meant to be displayed in all sorts of manners, perhaps hung on the Christmas tree, in the garden or on the wall in the den.
Some other highlights included freshly popped kettle corn, various food stalls serving hot and fresh festival goodies, games for kids such as a ping pong toss, and booths by area organizations.
Some people ran through sprinklers set up outside of the fire department to cool off when temperatures reached the mid 80s.
The chamber hosted several events as part of Loon Day. There was a street dance the night before with music by the Old Pine Road Band.
On Loon Day itself, the chamber hosted its annual loon calling contest in the early afternoon. Winners included, by age group: age 6 and under, Nora from De Pere, Wisconsin; ages 7-12, Vincent from Beecher, Illinois; ages 13-17, Eli from Princeton, Illinois; adult, Rita from Mercer; and the grand finale winner, Nora from De Pere.