Friday was Kids at Festival Ironwood. The festival
grounds were filled with activities for the smallest and
youngest members of our community.
The day began early when parents would bring their
children to the downtown Masonic lodge, where they could
be registered each for the child identification program.
The Masons offer this safety program each year at
Festival Ironwood.
At 10 O’clock the Duck Pick opened, leaving little
doubt this is the number one favorite event for Gogebic
County‘s youth. Last year the pond was closed early when
the prizes ran out, all 1,000 of them. This year
Festival Organizers and H.O.P.E. would be ready with
4,500 prizes. Yes, they would all be gone by Saturday
night.
Another favorite kiddies event was the Fun Castle
Moonwalk, like the duck pick would be busy all day long.
The lineup actually began Wednesday at the unofficial
opening of the festival.
Representatives from H.O.P.E was at the festival with several cute
kittens and dogs looking to adopt some parents. Visit
H.O.P.E. at: 590 Easy St. Ironwood, MI 49938 or
phone: 906-932-1511 Visit
H.O.P.E.'s website:
http://www.myhopeanimalshelter.org/
Four H coordinator Vicki Nelson again brought a
fantastic array of activities for the area youth to
enjoy. The Gogebic 4-H provide numerous fun and
educational activities for the area’s youth. Each year
Vicki brings new activities as well as some proven
favorites to the festival
above - Shane is a member of the 4-H and he
especially likes volunteering and helping out. Here he
is preparing to assist the kids painting puzzles. One of
the puzzles is the food pyramid where kids can paint the
different foods in hopefully the right places.
pictured above is Sarah and Ashleigh who will help
the youngsters with stringing beads, a popular item for
the kids. Sarah is the daughter of 4H Coordinator, Viki
Nelson. Sarah's sister would be helping her fellow
firefighters at the IVFD and the ITVFD food booth.
Jamie, Neva and Mandie are also stringing beads.
Mandie was not familiar with Barry Manalow, something
that may need to be added to the 4H program.
above - the great Minnow Racers.. Lots of fun thanks
to the minnows donated to the 4H and the festival by
Tyger Bait of Ironwood!
Another great craft event was provided by the
Carnegie Public Library. Above Katey and Emile help
children to make beautiful bookmarks, that they
hopefully will use.
At ten 0’clock, Slow Poke Da Clown began making
animal balloons for the kids. Children would line up
waiting for their favorite balloon creation.
above - Cody's all smiles about his fantastic Tiger
Face.
Speaking of lining up, Twinklz Face Painting also
began side by side next to Slow Poke. Arist Cheryl
Cunico was busy for two days painting fantastic masks on
children’s faces… She is Fantastic, and offers a myriad
of amazing creations for the children to choose from.
Just in time to beat the rain, there was a Trike &
Bike Kids Parade for the kids. Prizes were awarded in
several age categories as well as for the best bike
rider wearing a safety helmet. The parade began with a
police escort, at the east end of the depot, traveled to
the west around and back through the alley and back to
the eastside portico where the prizes were awarded.
At 1:00 p.m. the Kids Woodchip Scramble began.
There, what seemed like the entire children’s universe
gathered to dive into the sawdust and to garner as many
coins and pieces of candy as humanly possible within
three minutes allocated to each group.
There were several age groups in which the kids could
participate. The little children were no less able to
sawdust dive as their older counterparts. It was wild
and it was terrific. This great event was sponsored by
Woodtech Builders.
Adult visitors to Festival Ironwood had an
opportunity to sit, eat and relax mid day when Mesuin
performed for festival goers. Kim played the keyboards
and did a really great job. You could sit and enjoy his
music forever. The young musician is home schooled. He
will be a senior this year. Kim hopes to major in music
when he attends college. Mesuin has recently entertained
at Theatre North, Wilder Arts, and other notable
fundraisers.
perhaps the youngest of the festival goers, six week old
Kaven and his mom Charity.
From 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Dorothy and The Boys
played their wide ranging genre of live music. As usual
the audience appreciated the terrific music as performed
by this favorite local band.
In the evening, the community’s youth would once
again fill the big tent, when two rock bands would be
performing their favorite classic rock music.
Music from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm was performed by LP3.
After some electronic difficulties, Uncle Fester
took the stage and played until near midnight.
Click on Images to for large view
Polar Bear
Cookbook
Thank you
to everyone who submitted
recipes for the Polar Bear
Hockey Cookbook. The cookbooks
are now available. The cost for
the cookbooks are $10.00 so make
sure to grab one for yourself
and maybe one or two as a gift.
They can be purchased at the Pat
O'Donnel Civic Center concession
stand or by contacting Kerry
Roehm or Micki Sorensen.
