4th of July Events

The 4^th of July weekend is the time when Northern Michigan communities are the busiest.  If you are a tourism-based business owner, this is the time you anticipate with bated breath.  Tourism is huge in Northern Michigan and the 4^th of July holiday means everything to you.  This year, July 4^th falls on a Sunday.  What does this mean for businesses?  This is another awesome factor; because the 4^th is on a weekend, many people who travel to Northern Michigan for a holiday vacation, will make their plans include an extended weekend.  This is all great news for the local economy!  Visitors will come to Cheboygan to fill their cars and boats with gas from the gas stations, dine in our restaurants, shop in our stores, and attend our community events.

Cheboygan has a captured audience over the 4^th of July weekend.  The annual 4^th of July parade is very well attended.  It’s fair to say that this parade brings thousands of people to the downtown area.  Because the 4^th of July falls on a Sunday, the Chamber has opted to move the parade to July 3^rd, to not interfere with the area church services.  Mark your calendars accordingly: the parade will be on Saturday, July 3 at 10:00 a.m.  If your organization or community group would like to be entered in the parade, please contact the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce.

The annual 4^th of July fireworks will begin at dusk and this date is NOT changing; the fireworks will take place on Sunday.  The City of Cheboygan’s police and fire departments do a fabulous job with lighting off the fireworks from the fairgrounds. 

The Downtown Cheboygan Summer Street Fair will take place on Saturday, July 10^th – a prime time for visitors and residents alike.  This event provides a great opportunity for people of all ages to enjoy the downtown area and take in some entertainment.  Highlights include:  arts and craft show, street carnival, climbing wall, obstacle course, Velcro wall, bounce houses, 3-point basketball shoot out contest, Ronald McDonald magic show, sidewalk chalk art, Art Without Borders, and “Downtown Idol.”  There is truly something for everyone.  The City’s Department of Public Safety will be on hand from 2-4 pm to provide children fingerprinting and the Fire Department will be in attendance at that time as well to provide fire safety demonstrations with their smokehouse simulator.

This is also an excellent opportunity for non-profit groups to showcase their organization by having an activity in the street carnival.  Dunk tanks, goldfish races, lollypop trees, face painting, are all activities that have made their way to the Street Fair courtesy of the local non profit groups.  If your group would like to participate in the Street Fair this year, please contact me.  The more activities we have at the event, the better the event will be.  Here’s to a fantastic July!