By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
The first day of summer arrives Monday, June 20 at 6:34 p.m. which is known as the summer solstice.
In Lake Orion, the day means we are on the cusp of a tradition forged by carnival rides and beer at the Lake Orion Lion’s Jubilee.
“Traditions are what make a town a community. Traditions—events people look forward to, plan around, and remember from year to year,” Lake Orion Lion Joe Hildebrand said.
This summer marks the third year of bringing the Jubilee to downtown Lake Orion. For the third consecutive year, the Lions will shoot off the first fireworks celebration of the season on Saturday, June 26.
Hildebrand said the fireworks will be launched from barges near Pelton’s Point, fully visible to people at Green’s Park and in the downtown area. The Village of Lake Orion will be charging participants $1 to enter Green’s Park for the show.
The Jubilee has much to offer.
The carnival, including several beginner and advanced rides, and the prize-bearing games, will open Thursday, June 23 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, June 24 from noon to 11 p.m., Saturday, June 25 from noon until midnight, and Sunday June 26 from noon until 6 p.m.
Running like clockwork again this year will be the Lion’s Beer Tent, open Thursday, June 25 from 5p.m.-10 p.m., Friday, June 26 from noon-12:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 27 from noon-12:30 p.m. It will not be open Sunday unless the fireworks are postponed due to the weather.
On Saturday morning don’t miss the Pancake Breakfast cooked by the First United Methodist Church from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Then witness another crowd pleaser, the Annual Big Wheel Race. In its ninth year, the race will commence at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 25 in the municipal parking lot next to Children’s Park.
This year the Lions are getting serious.
“We’re not using those plastic-type big wheelers, after the first year those were destroyed,” Hildebrand said. “We found metal ones, similar in style.”
Children ages four through eight can race, if they are wearing their helmets and have a signed waiver from their parents or guardians.
Race winners, second place runner ups, and each third place racer in each age group will receive a trophy, and a free wristband to the carnival for Saturday afternoon from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the rides.
Because much of the downtown will be closed off, including Flint from Anderson to Lapeer St. and Broadway from Front to Shadbolt, a complimentary shuttle will be available to drivers.
The shuttle will pick up at the Lion’s Club property on Miller Rd. at the intersection with Flint St. and Orion Rd. It will make a loop down to the Jubilee, head over to the Lake Orion Schools Administration Building on Lapeer St. for people who park on that side, and then head back to the Jubilee and Miller Rd. Shuttles will be available noon to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Completely new this year will be service the Lion’s are known best for: providing a free vision screening to test kids’ eyesight. The Lions just purchased a new camera for the free service, and will conduct the vision screenings from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday in a booth near the center of town. After he Jubilee, the Lions will provide the free screenings at the Orion Township Library every second Saturday of the month.
“It’s a really neat camera. It’s so easy I can use it. It’s essentially a camera that will scan the children’s eyes and if there’s a vision issue the camera picks it up,” Hildebrand said. “It’s up to the parents to take that information to an eye doctor.”
What’s a community event in Lake Orion if the proceeds didn’t go to something special?
Last year the Lion’s Club raised over $20,000 from the Jubilee, almost double what it profited in the past at Canterbury Village, and all is spent on charitable services, such as the eye screening and providing glasses to the community.
“If we can get a decent Friday and Saturday downtown there’s no telling what we could make this year,” Hildebrand said. “I’m hoping for beautiful weather so that everybody has a good time. It’s just so much fun to walk downtown during the busy times and to see all the smiles on the kids’ faces, and the families having fun and talking to each other. That’s what it’s all about.”
For more information check the Lion’s website, www.lakeorionlions.org/.