Festival showcases community
IMLAY CITY — Sunny skies, big smiles and good vibes were at the forefront as the 2024 Imlay City Summer Fest unfolded over the weekend.
The annual summertime event hosted by the Imlay City Area Chamber of Commerce drew families, friends and neighbors from around the area, and showcased the best of both the community and Michigan’s glorious summer season.
Back to the best
Longtime Imlay City resident Ilene Foster said she was getting some old time Blueberry Festival vibes at the event on Saturday, and that’s a good thing in her book.
“I’m happy to see this coming back—some of the things we used to enjoy,” Foster said. “This is great! Next year I’m bringing the grandkids.”
Visitors Brooklyn Hayes and Shay Palermo agreed. The young moms from Imlay City were thrilled that there were so many kid-friendly options.
“I love the inflatable jump stuff that my toddler could do,” Hayes said. “We really appreciate that all of the kids activities are free.”
Palermo—whose kids range in age from 4 to 11 echoed those thoughts.
“The kids are having a lot of fun, and we love all of the food trucks,” she said.
Kids enjoyed romping around on inflatables, playing giant board games, cooling off at the splash pad and taking a spin around the skating rink. A number of Chamber member businesses dipped into their pockets to make sure kids could skate for free. Vintech, Imlay City Ford, Milnes Chevrolet, Doctors of Physical Therapy and Glamour Paws Dog Grooming stepped up to cover the cost.
As for areas of improvement, both Hayes and Palermo said they’d like to see more vendors next year.
Social media comments were mostly positive as well.
“I thought it was amazing,” posted Trent Schoonover. “Took my kids, they had a blast.”
Mindi Steffens chimed in, “Both my kids and I had a great time. I’d love to see more vendors and a
‘social district’ so you aren’t confined to the beer tent. It would be great to sit in the band tent with your beverage.”
Hot sun, cool cars
An exceptional variety of vintage and unique vehicles lined Third Street all the way on Saturday for the Summer Fest Motor Show. Organized by Jennifer Kulin and Louis Tisch, car enthusiasts shined up their treasures to participate in the show. Shop Life Customs LLC generously sponsored the event.
Imlay City resident Bobby Rodriguez brought his Plymouth Roadrunner—one of just 1,400 made in 1969.
“Technically it’s a 1969-and-a-half model,” Rodriguez said. “It’s the only roadrunner with a 440 engine.”
His brother Emmett was the original owner of the classic car. Rodriguez purchased it in 1970, following the unexpected loss of his brother, who was killed in a motor vehicle crash.
A newer model vehicle drew the attention of Attica residents Jeff Carney and Cody Allen. The pair gathered around Carney’s 2007 gleaming black Roush Mustang.
“It’s all original,” Carney said.
Festival goers were just as enthused as the vehicle owners.
“Great job putting this together,” said Imlay City resident and Commissioner Shane Collison. “Was a great turnout.”
Elizabeth Brinkman of Glamour Paws downtown agreed.
“One of the best,” she said.
Though it was a tough choice with so many interesting entries, Ken Vanniman, Wayne James and Anthony DeBono earned 1st-, 2nd- and 3rd-place honors respectively.
Pups…and a cat…
on parade
Also under Saturday’s sunny skies, visitors were treated to an old-fashioned Pet Parade, sponsored by Imlay City Veterinary Clinic. Coordinated by volunteers Christe Exline and Sally Reinhardt, the parade drew two dozen entries of dogs big and small—and one frightened but brave little tabby cat named Indy. Indy and its owner Victoria Thorsgard earned the ‘smallest entry’ award.
From kids to grownups, visitors along the parade route saw a toy fox terrier, a huge great dane, some laid-back Newfoundlands, a Yorkie poo and more. The Patriotic theme drew out the red, white and blue attire of owners and their pets, while kids got to walk alongside their favorite animated tv character, Bluey.
More fan favorites
Friday’s opening ceremonies featured this year’s Summer Fest t-shirt designer Autumn Case, an Imlay City High School student.
Vocalist Melissa Burns lifted her voice in an emotional rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Burns and fellow ‘Uncovered’ band musician Jeff Renard later entertained the crowd. Friday night’s headliner ‘Torch’ rocked the house while visitors chilled in the beer tent to enjoy the sounds.
Sponsored by the Imlay City Downtown Development Authority, Saturday’s headliner—fan favorite ‘Third Degree Burns’— drew a big crowd. The group of young area musicians lit up the audience and sizzled with enthusiasm and skill.
Fire in the sky
Another perennial fan favorite heated things up on Friday. The fireworks show drew accolades from most who saw them.
The display sparkled in the skies over the Eastern Michigan State Fairgrounds and beyond. Social media pages lit up too, with a majority of positive reviews, including Nichole Sliman’s.
“I absolutely loved this year’s fireworks,” she posted. “The kids and even the adults stayed engaged the whole time. The finale was amazing! Awesome job everyone! Can’t wait ’til next year! Thank you for all the hard work!”
Tracey Bon agreed.
“The finale was phenomenal,” she said.
Longtime Imlay City resident and Chamber member Leo Super of Super & Son Nursery & Landscape summed it up: “Great Show! Thank you to all who made the Summer Fest possible.”
Making it possible
From the pinata dangling from the fire department’s ladder truck, to the community faith service, Saturday’s popular parade and everything in between, it was evident that this year’s Summer Fest was a community affair.
A sea of sponsorship
signs dominated the landscape in front of the information booth and the beer tent—a testament to Chamber member businesses’ generosity and community spirit.
Chamber President Sheryl Davis says a group of dedicated volunteers came together with one goal in mind—to pull together a family friendly event in short order.
“The entire committee worked together as a whole and helped wherever was needed,” she says. “Everyone was so dedicated to making sure this festival was a huge success for the community. The amount of encouraging words given to each other in our group chat was very uplifting.”
The good vibes continued, Davis says, with the feedback she received from festival-goers.
“Seeing all the smiles from everyone that attended as well as from all the volunteers and the committee really made the event special,” she says. “The amount of people that came to me and said what a great time they had…was wonderful to hear.”
Equally wonderful, Davis adds, is the number of people who are interested in getting involved with the festival committee for next year.
Both veteran and new sponsors also emerged when needed most, Davis says, demonstrating their dedication and commitment to the community.
“It would have been impossible to put on the festival without their contributions as they were an integral part of providing free activities and the fireworks for the community,” she says. “We cannot express in words how much we appreciate our Chamber sponsors.”
Equally appreciated was support from the Imlay City Police and Fire Departments, the DPW and City offices, as well as the Imlay City DDA.
“The support we received was exceptional.”
Join the team
Anyone interested in becoming involved in the Chamber, volunteering for events or becoming a member, is encouraged to call 810-542-3256 or email icchamberexedir@gmail.com.
