“It’s great to see the groups of people,” said Ross Rinkinen, president of the Chassell Lions Club, whose 58 members put on the festival each year. “The weather’s beautiful, the strawberries are perfect. We couldn’t ask for anything better.”

The usual assortment of trucks, marching bands and decorated floats entertained the crowd during Saturday’s parade.

People on the float for Henry Ohtonen’s farm, wearing “100” glasses in honor of its centennial, sold flats of strawberries as they rode down the highway.

The Chassell Class of 1982 celebrated their reunion with a classroom-themed float. Sometimes, watching the parade with the crowd is even more fun than being in the parade, Tim Palosaari said.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette The Ohtonen Family Farm float celebrates the farm’s centennial during the parade. The float took first place in the Strawberry Division.

“It’s a Chassell reunion,” said Tim Palosaari. “We only meet them here once a year.”

The last trucks approaching were people’s cue to stream into the park for shortcake, chicken dinner, music and more. Faith Cleary of the Lake Linden-Hubbell marching band sat at the Centennial Park entrance playing flute for a friend.

She likes marching in the parade, although it was hot this year, she said.

“I like playing with my band and having fun,” she said, adding she also likes the shortcake.

Michigan Technological University’s research vessel, the Agassiz, conducted several excursions around Keweenaw Bay where research scientist Kenny Larsen described the work the research the ship does on conditions in Lake Superior.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Micaela Geborkoff was crowned Strawberry Queen at the Copper Country Strawberry Festival Friday night by her mother, Sarah Geborkoff.

The lake has warmed 4.5 degrees over the past 100 years, making the lake more hospitable to cyanobacteria, he said. The reduced ice cover in warming has led to warming, he said.

Alex and Ana Semouchkin of Baltimore, Maryland, were among those who made the trip aboard the Agassiz. They’re up visiting Alex’s parents, who live in the area.

It was the first Strawberry Festival for both. Anna was pleasantly surprised by the high number of vendors, which Rinkinen said might be a record for the festival.

“We’re looking to get some strawberry jam — it looks like there’s a lot of good varieties,” Alex said. “The music seems really cool, so we’re going to check that out as well.”

They found out about the festival from an e-mail Alex’s mother, who works at Tech, received about the Agassiz.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Amanda Deyaert and her daughters Kinsley and Delaney Deyaert walk in the Children’s Parade Friday night during the first day of the Copper Country Strawberry Festival. Their bee costumes received Best in Show.

They enjoyed being on the water and learning about Lake Superior, which reminded them of the Chesapeake Bay.

Alex hoped Superior would be able to stay healthier than Chesapeake, which is still being cleaned up to remedy contamination from a variety of sources, including discharges from factories.

“I appreciated the call to action,” Anna said.

The Lions Club prepared 1,360 quarts this year, up 160 from the traditional order, after last year’s shortcakes sold out early. They were still in stock by 2 p.m. Sunday; Rinkinen hoped to make it to 4.

Rinkinen thanked Citizen of the Year Shelby Turnquist for her help in making the cakes this year.

Rinkinen said the continued success of the festival comes down to people wanting to support their community.

“Without all the Chassell Lions and the volunteers that helped clean the berries, that wouldn’t be possible,” Rinkinen said. “Every summer for the past 74 years, it’s been such a tradition that people want to support it.”

Here are Saturday’s parade winners:

• Strawberry

1st: Ohtonen Family Farm – 100-year anniversary

2nd: Young Angler Fishing Tournament

• Antique

1st: Hanka Homestead

2nd: 280 ZX – 10th Anniversary

• Equestrian

1st: Lisa Anderson – Horse & Cart

2nd: Audrey Hinner – Palimino

• Music

1st: Lake Linden/Dollar Bay Band

2nd: Clint Kyro – Wolf Class of 92

• BEST IN SHOW

Kingsford/Norway/Florence Band