Parades and fireworks take months of planning for area volunteers
People wait in line to get on an amusement ride Friday evening during the Fourth of July festivities at Lake Shore Apartments in Ypsilanti Township. It takes months of organizing to pull off holiday events, such as parades and fireworks.
Jeffrey Smith | For AnnArbor.com
See a complete list of Fourth of July events.
Ed Verhamme of the Ann Arbor Jaycees, is the chair of this year's Fourth of July parade, which steps off at 10 a.m. today at the corner of South State and William streets in downtown Ann Arbor. He's been working on the parade since February.
"We started the basic planning and getting permits in February, and contacted participants and sponsors in May," said Verhamme. "This is a full immersion experience and a great way to connect with the community."
Verhamme moved to Ann Arbor five years ago from the Upper Peninsula and has been with the Jaycees for three years. The parade is in its 21st year, and will include grand marshals from the University of Michigan Survival Flight. It starts at the intersection of William and State, goes north on State to East Liberty Street, then west to South Main Street and back to William.
Verhamme says that what was most rewarding about being part of the parade last year was carrying the banner that signifies the end of the parade and getting the cheers and applause from the crowd. It was enough to make him lead the effort this year.
George Brown has been working since January with other Kiwanis Club members on plans for the Fourth of July parade in Whitmore Lake.
"We needed an early start to generate funds, and to look for clowns, and fife and drum corps," said Brown, who has been a Kiwanis member since 1972.
The theme of the Whitmore Lake Parade is "Ignite the spirit of America" and many of the floats will represent that theme. The parade starts at noon on Monday on North Main and continues on Main Street to the Northfield Township Public Safety Building.
"The big payoff is when you see all the people enjoying themselves," said Brown.
Bob Rhees, a 45-year volunteer for the fireworks in Manchester, is the first to tell you that theirs is the best fireworks show in Southern Michigan. The Manchester Men's Club has been running the fireworks for 30 years, and Rhees says they only need a month to plan the event.
"All we do is close off the park with fences on Saturday, then on Sunday we bring in the tables and 48 barrels of beer for the beer tent and set up the Porta-Johns," he said. "The money we raise is what we have to spend for next year, and this year we're shooting off over $11,000 in fireworks."
"I enjoy being part of the fireworks because I like doing things for the town," said Rhees. "I'm 76-years-old and it keeps me young. I'd like to keep doing it for another 10 years."
The fireworks in Manchester were on Sunday night at Carr Park.
Comments
63Townie
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 12:46 a.m.
By the looks of Ann Arbor's parade, it was put together in a day or so. Mostly politicians, special interest groups and business advertising. Amusing but nonetheless sad. What the inflatable "Mongolian BBQ Man" has to do with the 4th of July is beyond me.
Rizzle
Fri, Jul 8, 2011 : 12:53 p.m.
63Townie you obviously know nothing about how long it takes to organize a parde. Over 20 years ago, the Jaycees volunteered to take over the event for the city, because NO ONE ELSE wanted to do it. They do it for FREE and volunteer hundreds of hours of their time to organize it. They also do fundraising to pay for some of the participants such as the Fife and Drum Band. You sound like a townie, so I assume you've been to the parade before. If it is so sad for you why do you keep attending? Mongo Man is there because anyone who wants to be in the parade is not prevented from doing so. Corporate participants are asked to make a donation to the parade, so that the Jaycees can cover parade costs.
Peter Jameson
Mon, Jul 4, 2011 : 11:57 p.m.
parades ought not to be so boring.