Michigan Sugar Festival

Last updated
Michigan Sugar Festival
Statusactive
Genrefood festival
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s) Sebewaing, Michigan
Coordinates 43°43′56″N83°27′04″W / 43.73222°N 83.45111°W / 43.73222; -83.45111 Coordinates: 43°43′56″N83°27′04″W / 43.73222°N 83.45111°W / 43.73222; -83.45111
Country USA
Years active120
Inaugurated1902 (1902)

The Michigan Sugar Festival is an event that occurs one weekend in the middle of June each year. It is held in the village of Sebewaing, Michigan.

Contents

Purpose

The purpose of the festival is "To show the area's appreciation to the sugar industry which has purchased sugar beet crops from farmers and processed sugar here with local employees since 1902." [1]

History

During a Chamber of Commerce meeting in early February 1965, then President Herb Gettel opened a discussion about having a sugar festival in Sebewaing, one of the four towns in which the Michigan Sugar Company had a factory. The town's newspaper editor Walt Rummel, Norman Schroeder, and Carl Hess went to the company's headquarters in Saginaw, Michigan to propose the idea. The idea was a hit, and on March 4, 1965, the Sebewaing Chamber of Commerce voted to hold a Sebewaing Sugar Festival on July 2 and 3. It was the first major community celebration since the Sebewaing Centennial in 1953. [1]

2020 saw officials cite the COVID-19 pandemic as grounds for cancellation. The 56th was deferred to 2021.

Events

The village park is the location for the midway, which has local vendors selling goods, along with carnival games and rides for all ages. There is also an entertainment tent, where bands perform and a dance is held on the first night of the festival. The main events are the crowning of the Sugar Queen Friday night, the Grand Parade on Saturday morning, and the Fireworks show Saturday night. In addition, there are tractor pulls and softball tournaments, among other events. [2]

Sugar Queen

The Sugar Queen was once called "the sweetest girl in the world." She, along with a first and second runner up, are determined in June. To run for Sugar Queen you must be ages 18–23 and live for at least one year in one of the "21 counties in the state of Michigan in which sugar beets are grown." A general knowledge of sugar beets is recommended. [3]

Previous Queens include (no Queen in 2020):

YearQueen
1965Marry Ann Lacourse
1966Judy Bollstetter
1969Karen Rummel
1972Laura (Shetler) Witczak
1977Sharon Rase
1980Lori Rase
1983Deann Balash
1984Debbie Smith
1988Shelly Sieman
1991Vickie Parrish
1992Kristy Williamson
1993Janna Gatton
1994Nicole Longhini
1996Leslie Donovan
1997Sarah Zagata
2001Amanda Kohl
2006Erica Hoffman
2007Samantha Bishop
2008Rebecca Doerr
2009Elizabeth Krhovsky
2010Dana Davidson
2011Kelsey Prohaska
2012Taylor Janicek
2013Victoria Hudgins
2014Isabella Krolikowski
2015Riley Smith
2016McKenzie Reinhardt
2017Kayla Ratajczak
2018Paige Lupcke
2019Channon Terrell
2020Shaelynn Lavrack
2021Ally Kemp

Fund-raising

Many local businesses give donations to put on the festival, and the Sebewaing Fire Department takes donations year round for their Fireworks show. Donation boxes can be found all around the area at local businesses.

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References

  1. 1 2 "How it all began ..." The Huron County View . June 13, 2010.
  2. Sugar Queen
  3. "Michigan Sugar Company - Education". Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010.