Mike Boys was selected to be the Grand Parade Marshal for the 2017 Blueberry Festival Parade on Monday, September 4th.
Boys was an original board member of the Blueberry Festival, which was created to celebrate the Sesquicentennial celebration of Indiana in 1967.
New this year is the addition of Honorary Parade Marshals. Wanting to stay with the theme, “Back Home Again in Marshall County” the Blueberry Festival committee wanted to include the representatives from the other festivals in the county. Mark VanDeWeele from Argos is chairman of the Argos Summer Kickoff festival. This 2-day festival is held the 4th weekend of June to celebrate the start of summer.
Sharon and Larry Lemler of Bourbon have worked on Bourbon’s SummerFest for several years. The Bourbon Summerfest is an annual celebration that invites everyone to Bourbon for a weekend of fun with games, food, face painting, rides and contests, and offers attractions that are guaranteed to capture the interest of all age groups.
Eric Thornton of Bremen is a 19 year member of the Bremen Fire Department. He gives back to his community by serving as the Bremen Firemen’s Association President in charge of the festival committee. This annual 4th of July festival kicks off with a huge parade, continues for 5 days with a carnival and activities at Sunny Side Park and concludes with a huge fireworks display.
Trent Bennett has been on the Culver LakeFest committee for the last 7 years and has served a president for 2 years. The annual July Festival in Culver’s town park in the middle of summer includes a parade, craft and food booths and a magnificent fireworks show shot from the middle of Lake Maxinkuckee.
The final Honorary Parade Marshal is Eric Anderson of Plymouth, president of the Yellow River Festival. Held the 1st weekend in June, this annual festival shares the history of the Yellow River with civil war re-enactors, living history events, food and entertainment. The Yellow River Festival is held in River Park Square in Plymouth.
The Marshall County Blueberry Festival Parade is sponsored by Saint Joseph Regional Health System and steps off at 9:30 Monday morning, September 4th from Plymouth High School and travels Baker Street to North Michigan Street, through the downtown area to Garro Street and ends at the Lincoln Junior High.
