By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
Clare’s annual Summerfest celebration is only a little over one week away!
The event begins June 19 and is ongoing with event throughout the community until July 25th.
Summerfest kicks off this year with a FREE Movie in the Park (Shamrock Park, 404 Wilcox Parkway) sponsored by Wood Household and presented by North Light Movie Night, who presents fun and free outdoor movies in the Clare area. The movie will begin at 8:30 pm.
The movie begins at 8:30 pm. Bring chairs or a blanket to sit on. This is an outdoor event. In case of rain, it may be cancelled. Check on Wood’s Household Facebook page North Light Movie Night’s Facebook page for information.
Tuesday, June 20th is Community Cares for Clare day from 6 to 9 pm. Bring your civic organization, club, family and friends along to help beautify and clean up Clare for the summer! Meet at the Pere Marquette District Library parking lot (behind Clare Hardware) at 6 pm. If you know of anyone in need of assistance or if you would like to sign up to help, send us and email: events@claremichigan.com or call 989-386-2442.
Beginning June 22 through the 24th, City-Wide Garage Sales will be ongoing in Clare. Times are 8 am to 4 pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday throughout the city. Participants should contact the Clare Area of Commerce at (989) 386-2442 or email office@claremichigan.com and give the address and days they will participate.
Wednesday, June 21st Business After Hours will be held at Buccilli’s Pizza of Clare from 4 to 8 pm.
Thursday, June 22nd, In addition to City-Wide Garage Sales, there will be live music as part of the Summer Concert Series at Shamrock Park (from 6 to 8 pm) and the Clare Jaycees Rubber Ducky Race 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
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday the Kaye Brothers Amusements Carnival will be in Shamrock Park with food and fun for everyone. Friday the Carnival will be open from 5 to 10 pm, Saturday they will open from 10 am to 10 pm and on Sunday the hours are noon to 5 pm.
Saturday, June 24th is a big day for Summerfest attendees.
At 8 am, the Sweat Shaker Bike Race will be held at Mid-Michigan College’s Harrison Campus.
Of course, the Citywide Garage Sales are scheduled from 8 am to 4 pm again; the Craft Show and Sidewalk Sales downtown from 10 am to 4 pm and at Shamrock Park from 4 to 10 pm and the Carnival opens at 10 am and closes at 10 pm.
At noon on the 24th, the Frog Jump Contest will be held at the Clare VFW, so find the frog of your dreams, give him a name and bring him to the VFW. It’s free and there will be prizes for the Fastest Frog and Longest Jump in age categories of up to 8; from 9 to 12; from 13 to 18; and 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 event is still in the planning stages so watch for a special “Chop Flyer” to be released, or call the Chamber (989-386-2442) for more information.
At 5:30, the popular State Farm Teddy Bear Races are scheduled at Shamrock Park. Sign up is at 4:30. There will be races for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds and the top three in each age group wins a teddy bear! Everyone who signs up will get a t-shirt. Call the Chamber for more information.
At 6 pm Saturday it’s another much loved event – Witbeck’s Free Family Hot Dog Picnic at Shamrock Park and at 8 pm the Gateway Community Band Concert begins in the 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, but the fun isn’t over yet.
On Sunday, June 25th the Kaye Brothers Amusements Carnival will be in full swing from noon to 5 pm.
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; Michigan Pork Producers Association; Buccilli’s Pizza of Clare and R.B. Harsh Construction, Inc.