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Summer Festival Kiddie Parade returns to Washington Park Saturday

Staff Reports
Published: Wednesday, June 20, 2012 5:07 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — The Michigan City Summer Festival is reviving the Kiddie Parade on Saturday. The parade theme "Fun in the Sun" and is open to interpretation. Kids ages 12 and younger are encouraged to participate. Prizes are awarded to the best entry that follows the parade theme.

The Michigan City Summer Festival Kiddie Parade took a hiatus in 2011. The parade will be held in Washington Park. Prior to the parade, there will be a baton-twirling clinic from 8 to 10 a.m. at Elston Middle School. The lineup begins in Washington Park at 10:15 a.m., with judging at 10:30 a.m. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. from the exit of Fedder's Alley and continue down Lakeshore Drive to the entrance across from the zoo and back to the Guy Foreman Amphitheatre.

Rules: Participation is for children 12 years and younger and is not limited to Michigan City residents. Only those entrants following the parade theme will be judged and eligible for prizes, but all children are welcome to participate.

Judging will be in the following categories:

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• Costumed individual 0-5 years old

• Costumed individual 6-12 years old

• Decorated Wagon, decorated bike or tricycle for 6-12 years old

• Family 0-12 years old

• Organized group, school or day-care, under 15 members

• Organized group, school or day-care, more than 15 members

• Neighborhood Group

• Summer Playground Program or Day Camp Group

No motorized or battery operated vehicles are allowed in the parade. Registration is free.

Those wishing to pre-register can pick up registration forms at the Michigan City Park Office, the Mayor's Office, Michigan City Public Library or online at www.mcsummerfest.org.

At the conclusion of the parade, trophies and ribbons will be presented.

The Michigan City Summer Festival, Inc. is a nonprofit organization tasked with providing and overseeing family activities and events during Michigan City's busiest season. The organization is made up of volunteers and headed by the mayor of Michigan City.

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Kiddie Parade returns to Washington Park

By Deborah Sederberg
Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, June 24, 2012 5:06 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — The sun shined and cooling breezes from Lake Michigan greeted the return of the Summer Festival Kiddie Parade to Washington Park Saturday morning.

Baton twirlers, bikes and wagons turned into boats with fishing gear, a sailor with balloons and other entries that appeared on Lake Shore Drive – 17 entries in all, some with groups of children. Most paid homage to the parade theme, “Fun in the Sun.”

The Sparklers of Long Island New York, a baton-twirling group, marched and twirled in the parade.

At-Large City Councilman Joe Doyle, longtime chairman of the Summer Festival Committee and Jonita Davis, a member of the festival committee and Port Authority board, said they were happy to see the kiddie parade resurrected after a hiatus last year.

Amy Wojasinski Labis, a teacher at Elston Middle School, said her daughter Hilary had a good time in the parade, posing as a little girl fishing. A big yellow sun shone behind her on her (wagon) boat. What’s more, a fish dangled from her pole.

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Kiddie parade winners announced

From staff reports
Published: Monday, June 25, 2012 5:07 PM CDT
The Michigan City Summer Festival committee has announced the winners in Saturday's Kiddie Parade in Washington Park.

In the Individual Marchers category, age 5 and under, Parker Gondeck as "Sunny Robin Hood, the only entry, took first place.

In the age 7 to 12 group, Zachary Bowers, 8, as "Hip Clown," took first place; and Christin Johnson, 9, as "Patriotic Sailor" with balloons, took second.

In the Group Entries category, Ryland Tolton, 3, and Mia Mullins,4, as "Hula Girl and Hula Boy," took first place; Kara Davis, 12 and Charlie Davis, 9, as "S.S. Summer Fun took second; and Julian Krotzer, 7 and Jacob Schumann, 8, as "Summer Soldiers," took third.

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In the Individual Float Entries category, Bryce Stevens, 10, as "Ice Cream Man," took first place; Primo Hernandez, 7, as "BBQ," took second; Hilary Labis, 2, as "Hilary's Beach Fun with Friends," took third.

A Performers Award went to Taylor Wright, age 12 and Kelly Canul, age 11, as "Twirling Bears."

Jonita Davis, a member of the Summer Festival committee, said the committee extends thanks to "all of the adults and children who created all the entries and participated in the annual Kiddie Parade."