By Mary Drier
Staff Writer
FAIRGROVE — Fairgrove is the place to be over Labor Day weekend for the annual Michigan Bean Festival which runs Friday, Aug. 30 – Monday, Sept. 2.
“Most of last year’s activities that provided so much fun will be back again this year, and some activities will be bigger and better than ever during the festival,” said festival President Linal Baur. “We have lots of activities for the family.
“Something new this year will be go-cart races, that’s on Friday.”
Plus, monster truck rides will be back with “Standin’ Tall” doing just that… And, Mid Michigan mud runs are back.
“It’s a point series event with two of them at Fairgrove,” said Baur, noting one was on June 29. “And the other will be Sept. 1 during the festival.”
The classes include: stock, three different modified, open, exotic and mega. Also, there will be “mini mud boggers power wheel racing.” Class one is for ages six and under. Class two is for ages 10 years old and under.
The runs will go on rain or shine, and participants are encouraged to bring their own chair.
Friday Night Aug. 30: at 5:30 p.m. is the Harvest Potluck (Great Northern Bean Room) and Go Cart Races Motorsports Park. At 6 p.m. Monster Truck Rides, D & R Shows Carnival, the entertainment Tent, and the Lion’s brat stand opens.
The crowning of the 2013 Michigan Bean Queen will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Fairgrove United Methodist Church, and from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. the “Rock Show” will be in the entertainment tent.
Events on Saturday, Aug. 31 include: at 9 a.m. Volleyball Tournament (West Side of park), Bean Creation Drop Off (MBF Building); at 10 a.m. -12 p.m. auto show Registration ($10.00 registration fee at West Side of Park), and beautiful baby contest registration ages 0 to 9 years at entertainment tent, and at 10:30 a.m., bean creation judging.
At 11 a.m. is the beautiful baby contest at the entertainment tent, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., the Lions will host a Vision Screening for youths age 1-5 years old.
At noon, the D & R Show’s Carnival opens as does the Lion’s brat stand, and the free cup of bean soup giveaway starts, and monster truck rides until 10 p.m.; from noon – 3:30 p.m. is an auto show at the west side of the park, 1-10 p.m. bingo, 12:30 – 6 p.m. is a craft show and flea market, and a blood drive at 1 p.m.
Then, at 5 p.m. is the candy launch on the west side of the park, at 6 p.m. is the Unique Motorsports off Road Demolition Derby at the Motorsports Park, and at 8 p.m. is the Steve Armstrong & The 25 Cent Beer Band at the entertainment tent.
Activities start Sunday, Sept. 1, at 8 a.m. with the firefighters pancake breakfast at the Fairgrove Fire Hall, followed at 10:30 a.m. with a Community Church Service at Mulberry Park Pavilion.
At noon the D & R Shows Carnival, Lion’s Brat Stand, free bean soup, craft show, flea market, and monster truck rides start.
Bingo will be 1-9 p.m., and organizers are trying to develop a poker and euchre tournament for the afternoon, and at 1 p.m., Mid-Michigan Mud Runners Mud Bog will be at the Motorsports Park, at 2:30 p.m., the Watrousville United Methodist Church’s Homemade Pie and Ice Cream Social (MBF Building); plus two bands, The Rock Show, and Steve Armstrong & 25 Cent Beer Band will perform, and there will be a fireworks display at dusk.
On Monday Sept. 2, activities start at 8 a.m., with a pancake breakfast at the Fairgrove Methodist Church, at 11 a.m. is the grand Michigan Bean Festival parade down M-138 and Center Street.
A variety of activities start at noon: the carnival opens as does the Lion’s brat stand, free bean soup giveaway, monster truck rides, craft show, flea market, horseshoe tournament registration for amateur and professional players; an old engine and antique tractor show, a chicken BBQ at the entertainment tent, and lunch at Fairgrove Methodist Church.
Events in the afternoon start at 1 p.m. with a horseshoe tournament in the Motorsports park, bingo 1-6 p.m., an auction at 3 p.m. in the entertainment tent, and the festival wraps up with the bean festival raffle 6-7 p.m. in the entertainment tent.
Carnival ride bands are $15 from noon-6 p.m., and $15 from 6 p.m. to close.
Also, applications for the volleyball tournament, parade and craft show are online at www.michiganbeanfestival.com.
Volunteers are needed to help.
Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.