Summer fest 2025 planning in full swing!

Dear Editor,

First let me take a minute to introduce the people who selflessly make up our core. Vicki Sefcovic and Julie Chrysler are Co-Chairs of the festival, Michon Thompson, Sheryl Davis, John Powell, Missy and Danny Filler, Allysa Caudillo, Randy and Kim Jorgensen, Lisa Super, Louis and Jennifer Tish, and Catherine Minolli make up the most important pieces in how smoothly the Summer Fest goes.

There is so much that goes into the behind the scenes work that without all of these wonderful people, we could not do what we do!

We also have a lot of volunteers that make a big difference in the activities, contests, and organization as the Festival is running that we want to acknowledge but that will be showcased separately. They are instrumental to a great event such as this one!

Summer Fest has a foundation from years before with a new and vital flare that will continue to grow for years to come.

The ending of the Blueberry Festival was sad for us all, especially those of us that have been lifelong residents of the Imlay City area.

When the Summer Fest was formed in 2022, the committee in charge of naming this festival knew it had to get back to a grassroots festival that brought back to life everything great about the Blueberry Festival with new energy that would sustain for another 40 years!

Julie and I were part of that committee as were many life long and local residents and blueberry enthusiasts. Julie and I have been a part of this community for our whole lives with family roots dating back to the 1800s. Tradition is very important to us!

What is new this year?

We are still in the early planning stages but we can reveal that this year we have 2 major changes and are bringing back something from the past!

First, Kickoff will be on Friday August 8th at 6 p.m.

Second, this year’s festival will be a 3 day event!!!!

We are excited to see how this works out. Having a later kickoff will allow for more participation from our community! Having a three day event will allow us to expand on a couple big projects that take up a lot of time and space. Stay tuned for more information on that as it becomes available.

Now for the piece from the past. Our annual parade will take place on Saturday, August 9th at 6 p.m.

This year we are turning back the clock and hosting our parade at this later time to honor our roots of this great event!!!!

We are excited to announce the theme of the parade for this year is, “Imlay City – Past, Present, Future!”

What does Imlay City mean to you?

Sincerely,
—Vicki Sefcovic