FESTIVAL EVENTS
New for 2008: Our 1st annual Frozen Blueberry 5k Run & Walk was held Saturday, January 26th, 2008. Congratulations to the 165 hardy participants who braved the snowy conditions and stayed on course. A good time was had by all proving that Blueberries can be enjoyed any time of the year!
Future Blueberry Events for 2008 or later: Car Show; Dance Competition; Art Exhibit; ORV or Snowmobile Races (yes..in August); Talent Show. Would you like to see any of these events added to our festival lineup? We are accepting new members. Click on our contact page; give us a call.
Thanks to everyone who donated books for the 2007 Bargain Book Sale; it was a huge success! The time and energy expended over the course of one year collecting, sorting and cataloging the books makes it unfeasible for us to offer the event this year. However, you can still find book bargains this year courtesy of the Montrose Historical Museum. They accepted our left-over books and are now accepting donations from the public. This year during the festival, museum officials are having their own book sale fundraiser with proceeds earmarked for a new roof. Call Joe or any other museum volunteer at 810-639-6644 if you'd like to donate your books to assist in this worthwhile endeavor.
Blueberry Festival Parades-Always a
Favorite
 The
Montrose Blueberry Festival features two great
parades. Friday, Aug. 15th, evening festivities kick
off with the 17th annual Kids Parade at 6 p.m. that
starts and ends at the circle drive of Hill-McCloy High
School. Children may decorate bikes, wagons and miniature
floats or walk the route in costume. Participants will
be eligible for prizes and will be judged by this year’s
Blueberry Queen and Court. This year’s theme is “Pirates of the Caribbean” and kids are encouraged to be creative and wear
themed costumes. However, Parade chairman, Pat Thorsby
says any costume is fine.
 The 37th Annual Blueberry
Super Parade kicks off promptly at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday,
Aug.16th. Long a festival favorite, the 100-plus-unit
parade draws an estimated 15,000 spectators. Headlined
by the 2008 Parade Grand Marshals, and featuring the
2008 Blueberry Queen and Court, the parade promises
the return of many traditional entries including the
Keestone Kops, Shrine Clowns, The Frankentrost Band,
the Flint Banjo Club and numerous Queen floats from
Michigan cities.
31st
Annual 5-Mile Run & Walk
After Years
of Outsourcing to Bauman's Running and Fitness
Shop, festival members will again be at the helm of the 2008
Blueberry Festival 5-Mile Road Race. This year's
race, featuring both run and walk, takes place on Sunday,
August 17th, 2008, at 8:00 a.m. Race coordinator, Mandy
Suwienski has made great strides in restructuring this race. Although changes have been made to the start and finish lines, the overall route remains unchanged. 2008 also offers expanded registration hours, the improved awards ceremony, and fitness demonstrations. For more information, log on to the following
site: www.blueberryrace.com.
Get
Down and Dirty with the Blueberry Mud Drag / Mud Bog
The 15th annual
Mud Drag and 9th annual Mud Bog is sanctioned
by, and follows the rules of, the Concerned Racers 4/WD
Club. The mud flies Saturday, August 16th, at 4 p.m.
at 11320 N. McKinley Road. Registration takes place
from 12 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Drag classes are: Street Legal
I and II; Super Stock I; Mod I-II; and Pro I-II. Guaranteed
purse! Bog classes (D.O.T.) are.35 and Under Street
Stock; 36.5 D.O.T and under.; 40 D.O.T.and under; 44 D.O.T.and under;
Open any size D.O.T. or Tractor Tire and Cut Tires Chain Drive Class 3-4-5. Guaranteed purse!
Admission
for spectators is $7 per person, $1 for kids age 5-10.
Under 5 years old free. Concessions are available, but
you can bring your own.Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Alcohol and fireworks prohibited.
For more information, contact Joe at 989-280-3534, or visit the Concerned Racers website at www.concernedracersclub.com.
Men’s
and Women’s Slo-Pitch Softball Tournaments
A Blueberry Festival tradition is the annual slo-pitch
softball tourney that takes place Friday, Saturday and
Sunday, Aug. 15th-17th. Tournament co-chairpersons expect
to have 24 teams competing in the men’s division and
22 women’s teams in competition. The men’s tournament
will be held at the softball complex on N. Seymour Road,
just a half mile off Vienna Road (M-57). Women’s tournament
play will be held at the softball complex, as well as
diamonds on Hickory Street and at the Montrose Baptist Church on Vienna Road. . For
additional information call the Blueberry Festival office
at 810-639-3475.
Blueberry
Pancake Breakfast a Festival Mainstay
 Mouthwatering food is a
festival tradition and the annual Pancake Breakfast
is no exception. Breakfast is served both Saturday,
Aug. 16th and Sunday, Aug. 17th from 8 a.m. until 1
p.m. in the cafeteria connecting Kuehn-Haven Middle
School and Hill-McCloy High School. The delightful,
all-you-can-eat breakfast features those heavenly blueberry
pancakes hot off the grill, sausage, juice, milk and
coffee. Breakfast is priced at $6 for adults, $4 for
children 6-12, children 5 and under eat for free.
 The
Pancake Breakfast crew whips up an amazing
20,000 pancakes, cooks over 1,200 pounds of sausage,
and pours an estimated 300 gallons of milk, 200 gallons
of coffee, and 150 gallons of orange juice. Over 400
local volunteers are needed to perform the annual rite.
Call 810-639-3475 if you would like to be a breakfast
volunteer.
Visit the Girl Scout fundraiser on your way out of the pancake breakfast. Pick up a fresh baked blueberry pie and help the girls raise money for their local chapter.
New Events
A 3-on-3 basketball tournament will be held on Saturday 8/16 and Sunday 8/17 in the high school parking lot. Divisions available for 3rd grade through 40 & Over. Registration $20 per player (4 players per team). Sponsored by and benefitting Montrose Girl's Basketball. Details forthcoming. For registration forms contact Stephanie Miller: 517-230-4662.
A "Quilts at The Depot and Needle Arts Show" will be held at the Montrose Historical Depot. Dates & times: August 15th 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; August 16th 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; August 17th 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A huge book sale at the Montrose Historical and Telephone Pioneer Museum, August 14-15-16-17. Visit www.montrosemuseum.com for more information.
Returning Events
The Demolition Derby roars back into town bringing all the mayhem and madness you might have missed last year. Those dynamic, daring, devilish drivers take over the McKinley Road (mud drag) site on Sunday, August 17th, at 2 p.m. Register early and be assured your chunk of the prize package. Visit our application page and download a copy today.
Texas
Hold'em returns to the Entertainment Tent on Wednesday,
August 13th from 6 p.m. until midnight and this year we've expanded registration to include adults 18 and older. Tournament
play begins promptly at 6, with late registration from
5-6 p.m.. Call 810-639-3475 to register as spaces
are filling up fast. Come watch the excitement
as 150 players compete for a slice of the $1,300 prize
package. Dealers are still needed so if you know
your cards, sign up to help. Food available for
dealers and players. Cash bar. Picture I.D. mandatory due to lowering of age.
Wednesday
night kicks off the 2008
festival with the 11th annual Beautiful Baby & Kids
Contest held in the middle school auditorium.
Registration at the door is from 5-6 p.m., with the
pageant beginning at 6:15 p.m. Applications can
be obtained on the website application page or by calling
810-639-3475.
Back for a seventh season is Montrose’s
answer to American Idol. The 7th annual Karaoke contest
covers three days with qualifying rounds on Thursday,
Aug. 14th, and Friday, August 157th. The top fifteen
finalists from each round will proceed to the grand
finale on Sunday, August 17th. Cash prizes total $500
and the contest is open to participants 18 and older with absolutely no entry fee.
Call the festival office at 810-639-3475 for applications
or visit the application page on our website.
Returning for a 3rd season is our Kid's Karaoke contest. Kids competition precedes the adult finale and kicks off promptly at noon on Sunday, August 17th. Participation gifts for all children; prizes awarded to 1st through 3rd place finishers in each category.
Enjoy
the Blueberry Festival but just LOVE those
Renaissance Festivals? His Majesty hath set forth This Proclamation: "All who come must have fun"!
The Shiabruck Medieval Village opens Friday, August
15th through Sunday, August 17th. Located near
Campers village and across from Hill-McCloy H.S.,
Shiabruck offers renaissance style re-enactments, jousting,
storytellers, wandering musicians and plenty of souvenirs.
For more information about the Shiabruck Medieval Reenactment
Association just click on this site: www.shiabruck.com, or contact Dana MacVay at 989-652-8444 (8 a.m.-2 p.m. M-F) or 989-624-5925 (3 p.m.-8 p.m. & weekends). Applications can be found on the website or by calling the festival office.
Entertainment
Tent Highlights
Texas
Hold'em slides into the tent on Wednesday,
August 13th. Late registration is from 5-6 p.m.
with tournament action beginning at 6 p.m. Will
you be the lucky player destined to nab a share of the $1,300 cash payout?
Food available, cash bar.
Teens are welcomed into the tent on Thursday evening, August 14th, from 9 p.m. until midnight for their very own night. The annual teen dance returns to the entertainment tent for the third year. Enjoy the sounds of "Interactive D.J. or just socialize. Water and soft drinks available. Cover charge.
The Canine Competition showcasing man's best friend returns for a fifth year on Saturday, August 16th. Late registration from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., contest begins promptly at 11 a.m. and runs until noon. Participation ribbons for all pooches; first through third place medals; and a Best in Show trophy await all those who enter.
Karaoke
returns to the entertainment tent Thursday
through Sunday. Open karaoke begins Friday, 11 am to 7 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m, and Sunday
noon until 2 p.m. Karaoke contest qualifying rounds
on Thursday and Friday with the finals on Sunday from
2-6 p.m. Grab a share of the $500 prize package.
The Kid's Karaoke Contest returns this year on Sunday, August 17th from noon until 2 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to the top three singers in each division. This event precedes the adult Karaoke finals, so stay all day and cheer on your favorites. A good time for all family members.
Hit
the Entertainment Tent on Friday, August 15th,
8 p.m. - 2 a.m. We'll have you on your feet rocking to the sounds
of "Soulstice", Michigan's
premiere dance band. Soulstice' wide repetoire
of music includes classic soul, disco and funk, rock
and ballads. Make plans to return on Saturday, August 16th when we introduce "Grand Scam" in their first-ever Montrose Blueberry Festival appearance. Audiences around Michigan have named Grand Scam a grand slam; see them perform live on our stage. Must be 21 or older to enter. Cover charge.
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