By VANESSA DIETZ

vdietz@mininggazette.com

ONTONAGON – A large turnout marked events at the 60th annual Labor Day festival here this weekend, including the main event: the 2 p.m. Sunday parade down River Street.

“We’ve had a lot of people this weekend,” said Village Manager Joe Erickson, who also commented on the community picnic the village put on Friday at the marina. “Could the City Council in New York feed half its citizens? You can only do that in a small town.”

The parade marshals were the Ontonagon County emergency medical technicians.

“These people are on call 24 hours a day to take care of the people in Ontonagon County,” said Jan Tucker, Labor Day Committee co-chairwoman.

The parade features floats and bands, as well as a few politicians like Lon Johnson, Scott Dianda and Bill Pope.

Norwich Country Club won $500 for taking first place in the Labor Day parade, beating long-time nemesis, the Stein Club, which came in fourth and received $100.

Taking second place and a $300 cash prize, Bill and Dode LaBine were joined by some of their nine children and 22 grandchildren on their float “Bill and the LaBine Stalk,” a testament to the family’s roots in the area.

Ontonagon Golf Course earned third place and $200, and Dream Girls took fifth and $75.

In addition, Aspirus Ontonagon won first place in the commercial division, and the Cub Scouts and Rodeo Princess took first and second in the junior division.

Bessemer’s Marty’s Goldenaires, which performed after the parade, joined several other bands to entertain the masses during the parade down the main street.

Many vendors lined the streets during the parade, including Tim Raymond, of L’Anse, who was selling a wide variety of sunglasses, necklaces and clothing at reasonable prices.

Numerous food vendors were also present along River Street which also is home to popular restaurant, bars and convenience stores that sell food year round.

“There’s food from one end of the street to the other,” said Skip Schulz from his mobile DJ truck that provided the sound system Tucker used to describe the floats as they paused near the judges, and to address the crowd.

“Was anyone here for the first?” Tucker asked, regarding the initial Labor Day Festival in Ontonagon. Several people nearby raised their hands.

“Sixty years ago they were probably marching,” she said, chuckling. “Now they’re sitting.”