Montrose Blueberry Festival

FESTIVAL EVENTS 2013 Updates Are Here!

Future Blueberry Events for 2014 or later: Dance Competition; Art Exhibit; Talent Show; Bed Races; Blueberry Baking Contest; ORV or Snowmobile Races (yes..in August). 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. We are looking for any interested and able-bodied volunteer(s) willing to direct new or existing events. Please contact us here.

Blueberry Festival Parades-Always a Favorite

The Montrose Blueberry Festival features two great parades. Friday, Aug. 16th, evening festivities kick off with the 22nd 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 “Under the Big Top ” and kids are encouraged to be creative and wear circus-themed costumes. However, parade chairman, Pat Thorsby says any costume is fine.

The 42nd Annual Blueberry Super Parade kicks off promptly at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18th. Long a festival favorite, the 100-plus-unit parade draws an estimated 15,000 spectators. Headlined by the 2013 Parade Grand Marshals, and featuring the 2013 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. Kudos to our sponsors who help to make this parade such a success: Riverside Market; ELGA Credit Union; O'Guinn Family Funeral Homes, and MediLodge of Montrose.

36th Annual Road Race Run & Walk

The 2013 Blueberry Festival Road Race features a 5K & 8K route. The event includes both a run and walk, and takes place on Sunday, August 18th, at 7:30 a.m. Race coordinator, Mandy Rindhage, continues to make improvements to this popular event and says the 5k/8k format first introduced in 2010 has brought increased participation. Back again for a second year is our "Kid's Fun Run" which will take place immediately after the 5k/8k awards ceremony. Kids of all ages are encouraged to join us at the football field to run the track. For more information on any race or to sign up, click here: 5k/8k Run & Walk.

Get Down and Dirty with the Blueberry Mud Bog

The 20th annual mud event is sanctioned by, and follows the rules of, the Concerned Racers 4/WD Club. The mud flies Saturday, August 17th, at 3 p.m. at 11320 N. McKinley Road after the Blueberry Festival Super Parade. Tech & Registration takes place from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Must be registered by 2:30 p.m. Street: 36 and under DOT; Class 1: 36.5 DOT and under; Class 2: 40 DOTand under; Class 3: 44 DOT and under; Class 4 & 5: Open-any size DOT or Tractor Tire and Cut Tires; Chain Drive Class 3-4-5. Entry fee all classes $25. Guaranteed purse and "Bounty on the Pit"!

Admission for spectators is $8 per person, $2 for kids age 5-10. Under 5 years old free. Food & drink concessions are available. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Alcohol and fireworks prohibited. For more information, contact Joe at 989-280-3534, email him at crcpapajoe@yahoo.com, or visit the Concerned Racers website at 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. 16th-18th. Tournament directors expect to have up to 34 teams competing in the men’s division and 24 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 or contact tournament director Bill Persails at 810-602-9606.

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. 17th and Sunday, Aug. 18th 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. Due to tough economic times, breakfast prices are rolled back to the 2008 price of $6 per person. As always, 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 Cheerleader fundraiser on your way out of the pancake breakfast. Pick up a fresh baked blueberry pie or other blueberry baked goods and help the girls raise money for their team.

New Events

Three new events being organized for 2013 include a Wine & Cheese Tasting on Thursday night at the Entertainment Tent. For our younger fans we introduce Movie Night, and for those young at heart, how about joining in our Outhouse Races? Check back for more information on these great new additions to our schedule of events.

Additional Events

4th Annual Golf Scramble to be held Saturday, August 3rd at Briar Ridge Golf Course. The event, organized as a fundraiser for the Montrose Open Cupboard Food Pantry, promises to become one of the premiere events each year. Mark your calendar for Saturday, August 3rd, and make plans to join us at Briar Ridge Golf Course, 11099 Dodge Rd, Montrose. Registration begins at 8 a.m., with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Enjoy donuts & coffee for breakfast, coney dogs & chips at the turn, and a catered Chicken & Rib dinner and prizes after the scramble. Contests include separate longest drive for men and women, closest to the pin 50-50, and Las Vegas hole, in addition to door prizes, raffles, and a 50-50 drawing. Registration is only $240 (4-person team) and we have room for up to 25 teams. Late registration the morning of the event is available at no extra charge. Call Don at 810-639-3475 for more information or an application. Online registration forms are available now on our application page.

Want to be a sponsor for this event? Contact Janet at 810-639-3475 or click here to email us for your sponsor registration form.

The 5th Annual Blueberry Festival "Kick-Off" Car Show, returns on Sunday, August 11th at the corner of Hickory and Saginaw Street. Registration runs from 8-11 a.m. with the awards ceremony at 3 p.m. Trophies to the top 25 vehicles, dash plaques to the first 50 vehicles registered, two Queen's Choice trophies, and the Grand Marshal's trophy for the best overall vehicle. This year we add a class for motorcycles with separate judging, awards, and dog tags to the first 25 bikes.

Montrose Railroad Depot located at 154 W. State Street (M-57), is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Check out all the interesting railroad and other memorabilia from days gone by. Contact the Depot via email at montroserrdepot@yahoo.com.

Montrose Historical and Telephone Museum located at 144 E. Hickory Street, is open to the public Sunday, August 11th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, Aug. 16th from 9:00 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 17th from 9 a.m to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 18th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Make plans to visit the museum as they showcase 42 years of Blueberry Festival memorabilia.

Wednesday, August 14th kicks off the 2013 festival with the 16th annual Beautiful Baby & Kids Contest held in the middle school auditorium. Registration at the door is from 6-7 p.m., with the pageant beginning at 7:15 p.m. Applications can be obtained on the website application page or by calling 810-639-3475.

Back for an twelfth season is Montrose’s answer to American Idol. The 12th annual Karaoke contest features two full hours for rehearsal prior to the contest start. The contest on Sunday, August 18th, is open to the public and begins at 2 p.m. in the entertainment tent. Rehearsal from noon until 2 p.m. Cash prizes total $500 and the contest is open to participants 18 and older with absolutely no entry fee. This family-friendly event features 50-50 drawings, raffles and auctions where you can score some great bargains. Call the festival office at 810-639-3475 for applications or visit the application page on our website.

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 16th through Sunday, August 18th. 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: Shiabruck, 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.

Blueberry Souvenirs and baked goods can be found at the Blueberry Store located ouside Carter Elementary in conjunction with the festival Arts & Crafts show. Pick up your 2013 "Under the Big Top" themed t-shirts and other festival souvenirs or grab some fresh-baked blueberry pies, muffins, donuts and other delicious baked goods.

Looking for Blueberries? Look no further than the Boy Scouts concession booth located in the heart of the Blueberry Festival, the Montrose city park. You'll find those mouth-watering blueberries, blueberry pies, blueberry baked goods, and blueberry ice cream in addition to other goodies served up by Montrose-area Boy Scout Troop 123.

Entertainment Tent Highlights

Teens are welcomed into the tent on Wednesday 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 sixth year. Enjoy the sounds of DJ Rob Mata, or just socialize. Water and soft drinks available. Cover charge.

The Canine Competition showcasing man's best friend returns for a tenth year on Saturday, August 17th. 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.

The Kid's Karoke Contest returns on Saturday, August 17th, from 5-7 p.m. in the entertainment tent. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes for age groups 6-9; 10-12; 13-15; & 16-17. Come on out and cheer on your favorites!

Karaoke returns to the entertainment tent Friday through Sunday. Open karaoke hours are Friday and Saturday, 11 am to 5 p.m. The adult karaoke contest returns on Sunday from 2-6 p.m. the format for the adult competition offers two full hours for rehearsal and is open to all contestants 18 and older. Grab a share of the $500 prize package.

Hit the Entertainment Tent on Friday, August 16th, and Saturday, August 17th as the Blueberry Festival offers up live music with popular performers. New this year: Ladie's Night at the Tent on Friday with 1/2 price entry, gift prizes to the first 50 ladies, and drink specials until 10 p.m. Announcement of our Friday and Saturday headlining bands coming soon. DJ Joe returns to keep the music flowing during band intermissions. The tent opens at 8 p.m. and closes at 2 a.m. Must be 21 or older to enter and must have photo ID. No exceptions! Cover charge.