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Ontonagon Labor Day Festival

ONTONAGON – The 65th annual Labor Day Festival returns in full this year with parades, Maxwell Street sale, Music and race. The Festival will be held Sept. 3 through Sept. 5, with most of the activity on River Street.

The festival opens Sept. 3, with a community picnic at 5 p.m. at the Marina Park featuring free hot dogs, pop and chips. There will be a display of rescue vehicles, State Police, Ontonagon Sheriff Department, and the Aspirus helicopter (pending weather conditions.)

Maxwell Street opens with a bang at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, with venders from many areas showing and selling their wares. The Labor Day Committee, led by Margo Anderson and Tanya Weisinger, have arranged music all day on River Street. Some of the area’s favorite musicians will be performing, including Lightening Ridge, featuring Mike Urbis, sponsored by the Citizens State Bank. A car show returns at 10 a.m., as well as children’s games. At noon, the Kiddies parade, led by the Clown Band of Houghton, will parade down the street. Each child will receive a prize and there will be special prizes for winners in walking, bike, small and larger pulling floats.

Saturday night fireworks will light the sky at dark. Last year because of the limited COVD crisis, the committee had fireworks. It was so well received that the public asked to have it included again. At great expense, the Labor Day Committee agreed and brought it back on the agenda.

Sunday will start out early with the Ed Hansen 5K and 10K race. Registration at the fire hall is from 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. with the race starting at 10 a.m. Registration can also be made online.The route will be familiar to return runners and includes an area along Lake Superior. The labor Day Parade starts down River Street at 2 p.m. and is led by Parade Marshall Steve Asplund of WLUC-TV. WLUC-TV is also celebrating its 65 birthday — the same age as the Ontonagon Labor Fesival and with the announced retirement, Asplund — and his designation as Marshal, is a fitting honor to both the Ontonagon Labor Festival and the station.

Marty’s Goldinaires Band and Drum Corps will again be featured and present a concert at the reviewing stand following the parade.

The Community Festival begins at the Recreational Center following the parade. Food, music, games and refreshments will be featured. The 50-50 prize money ticket will be at 8 p.m. and you need not be present to win.

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