By Mary Drier
Staff Writer
SEBEWAING — The 50th annual Michigan Sugar Festival in Sebewaing will be June 12 – 15, and the theme this year is “Back to our Roots.”
Besides the Michigan Sugar Queen, and the prince and princess competition, this year there will be the first Sebewaing teen queen and junior queen. The teen queen is open to those ages 15-17, and the junior teen queen is open to girls ages 10-14. Their crowning will be 7 p.m., Friday, June 13 during the opening ceremonies of the festival.
Those events will give young ladies an opportunity to gain experience with interviews, public speaking, poise, and more.
Some of the features at his year’s festival include a tiger show with Brunon Blaszak, who is a third-generation tiger trainer. The Bengal tigers in his show walk a tightwire, leap, jump and dance on command. There will also be a tractor and truck pull 6 p.m. Saturday, at the MPX Motorcross Race track one-half mile north of town.
The festival kicks off Thursday with the midway opening at 6 p.m., laser tag at the tennis courts 6-9 p.m., and beer and wine tasting 7-10 p.m.
Some of the events on Friday include: a petting zoo 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., children’s activities in the main park 10 a.m. – noon, inflatables noon – 4 p.m., a live tiger show 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the south ball diamond, an X-Box Game trailer, a children’s parade at 5:30 p.m., followed by a candy drop.
In the evening, sugar beet harvesters will be on display starting at 6 p.m., at Bay and Center streets, bingo 6-10 p.m., open ceremonies at the main stage is at 7 p.m. starting with an honor guard and national anthem, introduction of the grand marshal – the first sugar queen followed by the crownings of the prince and princess, the junior teen queen, and sugar queen.
The night will wrap up with Rebooted performing in the entertainment tent 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Some of the events on Saturday include: the grand parade at 10:30 a.m. followed by a chicken barbecue, lawnmower racing 1-1:30 p.m. on Bay and Center streets with the finals race at 4 p.m., bed races 4:30 p.m. at Frederick Street between Henry and Fourth streets.
Evening events include a fireworks display at dusk, and Midnight Blue performing in the entertainment tent 9 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Sunday events start at 8 a.m. to noon with a pancake breakfast, a worship service 10:30 a.m. at Bay Shore Camp, a car and a motorcycle show each at 1-5 p.m., the polka band The Natural Tones performing at the entertainment tent 1-5 p.m., a kiddie tractor pull at 2 p.m., an ice cream social 2-6 p.m., the button drawing for prizes, the Farmers vs. Merchants annual game 6 p.m., and the Steel Cowboys performing at the entertainment tent 7-10 p.m.
Also, there will be town-wide garage sales 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday – Saturday, June 5 – 7. A fishing tournament at the Sebewaing Harbor Marina 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.. Saturday, June 7, and 9 a.m. – noon kids will paint the town. Plus, the Sugar Slicer Golf Tournament will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 11.
Wrist bands for the rides can be purchased in advance or at the festival. Advanced coupons are $15 and are to be taken to the ticket booth at the midday to have a carnival member attach the wrist band. During the festival, wrist bands are $18 to purchase. Another option is to purchase two coupons for one day for $30 and redeem for two wrist bands for two people for one day, or purchase two coupons for $30 and redeem for one wrist band one day and one wrist band another day. Wrist bands are color coded for each particular day and must be attached by carnival personnel on the day you want to ride. Coupons can be redeemed Thursday Sunday.
Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.