Along the parade route there were vendors selling a variety of
goods. The Boy Scouts from Troop 209 in Ontonagon were also
selling ice cream. Later the Scouts would march in the parade
carrying the National Colors.
Greenstone a local group of really fine musicians
provided music for those gathered to view the parade. Saturday,
the trio entered the crowds at the Laborfest car show and craft
fair. Saturday the trio was sponsored by Peninsula Graphics.
Sunday the great group entertained for free. They play a variety
of acoustical music including blues, folk and bluegrass.
On the left playing guitar is Raoul Goulet, playing bass is Jim
Ross, and on the right playing guitar is Gene Marion.
This year’s Laborfest Parade marshals were the members of the
SONOCO. In the Marshall’s lead car was John Pelkola. John was
representing the founding members of Ontonagon’s Ambulance
Service.
This year's parade featured several
wonderful marching bands: Under the direction of Music Director,
Ben Mayer, hometown favorite the Ontonagon High School Band that
led off the parade. They were followed by The Superior Pipe &
Drums, a real crowd pleaser, with their great music and talented
dancers.
Once again the blue and gold from Bessemer
would wow them along the parade route. Year after year Mary Jo
Mykkanen, the talented Bessemer Music Director, produces one
great band after another. The Speed Boys and Speed Girls once
more got to show off what separates them from the rest of the
pack. Unfortunately, this will be Mary Jo’s last year in the
parade. She will be retiring at the end of this school year.
Rounding out the parade was the Great
Goldenaires from Bessemer. There's not too much to say about
this great Drum and Bugle Crop that hadn't already been said.
They're simply the best Rich Brown brought the group to perform
and they did it as they always do. No one goes away
disappointed.
Once again the parade committee placed a
float with overly loud music right in front of the Goldenaires.
One has to wonder how the committee can make the same blunder
year after year.
above - Cane Funeral Home's float "The Ungrateful Undead". The
float won first place in the Commercial Float Division.
The parade had great music, and this year
as in previous years
had many terrific floats. The floats were both colorful and
exciting. Of course they were covered from stem to stern with
cute little kids, who were just as excited to be in the parade,
as were the crowd was too see them.
In addition to the children and cute
animals in the parade there was also a political presence in the
parade. State Representative Mike Lahti march the route handing
out candies to the kids along the parade route.
Last year the Dem’s had the upper hand when
they brought along a live donkey. This year the Republican’s
seized the attention of the crowd with a one of a kind dog.
A music, kids, politicians, and dogs, are the usual ingredients
of a successful parade and this parade had it all.
Did we say there were kids and dogs?
Parade Video Clips
Photo Gallery
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