Jump in 2022 Clare Chamber photo
By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
Summer holiday fun begins next week in and around Clare with a FREE Movie in the Park (Shamrock Park, 404 Wilcox Parkway) sponsored by Wood’s Household and presented by North Light Movie Night, with fun and free outdoor movies on Mondays in the Clare area.
Woods Household owner Brett Moser said, “This year we are doing six free movies around Clare and Farwell starting with Summerfest on the 19th in Shamrock Park. The movie will begin at 8:30 pm and attendees will need to bring their own seating – either chairs or a blanket to sit on. In case of rain, the event may be cancelled.
The website for the series is www.northlightmovienight.com and there is a link to the Facebook page where those interested will be able to see the movie details once [they are] selected by the venue.”
“We’re really excited to partner with the other local businesses this year to provide free entertainment for families throughout the summer and early fall,” Brett added.
Check on Wood’s Household Facebook page and/or North Light Movie Night’s Facebook page for information.
Tuesday, June 20th will be Community Cares for Clare from 6 to 9 pm. Any group, organization or volunteer is welcome to come and help clean up Clare for the summer. The event begins with a 6 pm “meet-up” at the Pere’ Marquette District Library parking area behind Clare Hardware. If you know of anyone in need of assistance or if you would like to sign up to help, email: events@claremichigan.com or call 989-386-2442.
Wednesday evening (June 21st) it will be Business After Hours from 4 to 8 pm at Buccilli’s Pizza of Clare.
Thursday is the beginning of three days of City-Wide Garage Sales in the City, which will be going on each day from 8 am to 4 pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Those who wish to participate in the free weekend sales (no charge at the City) should contact the Clare Area of Commerce and give the address and days they will participate.
In addition to City-Wide Garage Sales, there will be live music on Thursday, the 22nd as part of the Summer Concert Series in the pavilion at Shamrock Park (from 6 to 8 pm) and the Clare Jaycees Rubber Ducky Race is scheduled at the Clare VFW (146 Wilcox Parkway) at 8:30 pm. Participants can adopt a duck for $5 or adopt and decorate a duck for $10. Prizes for the winners are: 1st place – $100 cash; 2nd place – $50 cash; and 3rd place – $25 Clare Cash.
Friday evening from 5 to 10 pm, the Kaye Brothers Amusements Carnival will be in Shamrock Park with food and fun for everyone. The Carnival will also be open Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm and on Sunday they will be open from noon to 5 pm.
Saturday (June 24th) is the biggest day for the Summerfest celebrations in and around the City. The Sweat Shaker Bike Race begins at Mid Michigan College’s Harrison Campus at 8 am and along with the City-Wide Garage Sales and the Carnival at Shamrock Park, there will be a Craft Show and Sidewalk Sales downtown from 10 am to 4 pm
Saturday at noon, you won’t want to miss the second annual Frog Jump Contest held at the Clare VFW. Find and name your frog, bring him to the VFW. The contest is free and the winners of the fastest, and longest jump will mean prizes in each of three categories: up to age 8, youngsters from 9 to 12 years old, teens from 13 to 18, and adults from 19 to 107. Call or email the Chamber for more information.
From 2 to 5 pm a new event, “The Chop Festival” will be held at Shamrock Park. The first annual Michigan Pork Festival, sponsored by the Michigan Pork Association and the Clare Chamber, (in the small pavilion) will include Information and activities from 1 to 6 pm.
At 2 pm. Participants can come and make their own Pork Rub; The Pork Cooking Competition with Chamber member restaurants participating is at 2 pm and at 2:30 it is the Cooking Competition – Communities Favorite. At 3 pm there will be a Hog Calling Contest; at 3:30 a Pork Chop Flipping Contest; Pig Knowledge Trivia at 4 pm; and at 4:45 the Chop (side burns) Contest.
Only area restaurants who are Chamber members will participate in the Chop Cooking Competition. Pork Chops will be delivered to those participating on Friday morning, they will cook their pork Saturday afternoon, deliver it to Shamrock Park between 1:50 and 2 pm, and after judges from the Michigan Pork Association select the winners. Winners will win an award from the Clare Area Chamber & the Michigan Pork Producers Association, which is sponsoring the event. For more information contact the Clare Chamber.
Saturday afternoon registration is at 4:30 for the annual, and very popular Maury Irwin State Farm Teddy Bear Races at Shamrock Park. The races for three-, four- and five-year-old youngsters will begin at 5:30 pm. Everyone who signs up will get a free t-shirt and the top three in each age group will win a teddy bear!
At 6 pm Saturday it’s another much loved event – Witbeck’s Free Family Hot Dog Picnic at Shamrock Park.
And, stick around, because at 8 pm the annual Gateway Community Band Summerfest Concert begins in the large pavilion at Shamrock Park.
Winding up a perfect day, at dusk on Saturday evening, the Huge Great Lakes Fireworks display will light up the sky over Shamrock Lake. The spectacular sky array will be shot off from Barnes Island.
The fun continues Sunday because the Kaye Brothers Amusements Carnival will be in full swing from noon to 5 pm July 25th at Shamrock Park.
Summerfest sponsors this year include: Bishop Buick, GMC Inc.; Cops and Doughnuts; RiteHite; MFCU (Members First Credit Union); Jay’s Sporting Goods; MyMichigan Health – University of Michigan Health; Buck 92, My104-3; Black Diamond Broadcasting; Witbeck’s Family Foods; the Michigan Pork Producers Association; Buccilli’s Pizza of Clare and R.B. Harsh Construction, Inc.
For more information on any of the Summerfest events next week, call the Chamber at (989) 386-2442 or email office@claremichigan.com.