The Michigan Sugar Festival is an event that occurs one weekend in the middle of June each year. It is held in the village of Sebewaing, Michigan

Sebewaing, Michigan

Sebewaing is a village in Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,974 at the 2000 census. The village is within Sebewaing Township. This small community is known as the Sugar Beet Capital, due to the Michigan Sugar slicing mill located within the village and the yearly...

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Purpose

The purpose of the festival is "To show the area's appreciation to the sugar industry which has purchased sugar beet crops from farmers and processed sugar here with local employees since 1902."

History

During a Chamber of Commerce meeting in early February 1965, then President Herb Gettel opened a discussion about having a sugar festival in Sebewaing, one of the four towns in which the Michigan Sugar Company

Michigan Sugar Company

Michigan Sugar Company is an agricultural cooperative, based in Bay City, Michigan, that specializes in the processing of beet sugar. Founded in 1906, Michigan Sugar sells beet sugar under the brand names Big Chief and Pioneer....

 had a factory. The town's newspaper editor Walt Rummell, Norman Schroeder, and Carl Hess went to the company's headquarters in Saginaw, Michigan

Saginaw, Michigan

Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...

to propose the idea. The idea was a hit, and on On March 4, 1965, the Sebewaing Chamber of Commerce voted to hold a Sebewaing Sugar Festival on July 2 and 3. It was the first major community celebration since the Sebewaing Centennial in 1953.

Events

The village park is the location for the midway, which has local vendors selling goods, along with carnival games and rides for all ages. There is also an entertainment tent, where bands perform and a dance is held on the first night of the festival. The main events are the crowning of the Sugar Queen Friday night, the Grand Parade on Saturday morning, and the Fireworks show Saturday night. In addition, there are tractor pulls and softball tournaments, among other events.

Sugar Queen

The Sugar Queen was once called "the sweetest girl in the world." She, along with a first and second runner up, are determined in June. To run for Sugar Queen you must be ages 18–23 and live for at least one year in one of the "21 counties in the state of Michigan in which sugar beets are grown." A general knowledge of sugar beets is recommended.

Fund-raising

Many local businesses give donations to put on the festival, and the Sebewaing Fire Department takes donations year round for their Fireworks show. Donation boxes can be found all around the area at local businesses.