Organizers are gearing up for the Happy Birthday Springfield Parade set for Saturday, May 22.
‘We are so excited about the parade,? organizer Diane Wozniak said. ‘The only thing left to worry about is the weather.?
The festivities will begin early with live entertainment slated to start at 9 a.m. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. with a puppet show by Oakland County Parks and Recreation planned for noon.
‘There will be lots of food and fun for everybody,? Wozniak said.
The parade will feature more than 30 entries. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard has been chosen as Grand Marshall.
‘He is the best guy in Oakland County. Whenever we had discussions about who would be grand marshall his name would always come up,? Wozniak said.
The event will encourage folks to enjoy ‘a day in the ‘burg? after the parade. The Candle Factory plans to make a ‘huge candle? for the event, and Wozniak said there will be cake as well. Organizers are encouraging folks to save newspapers to make party hats, and service clubs will sell food during the event.
A Comcast intern plans to videotape the parade, with Jeff and Sharon Cornice to serve as emcees in the downtown area. Mel Hager, a local 4-H leader who helps coordinate Keego Harbor’s annual parade, will be in charge of the lineup, Wozniak said.
The Davisburg Rotary has renovated a local harness shop, the Kaleidoscope Foundation plans an open house in their building, and the historic Davis house will be open as well.
Springfield Township was founded in 1836, with the official anniversary in March, but Wozniak said, ‘It’s too cold to have a parade in March.? The timing of the parade was deliberate to avoid conflicts with other community events, she said.
The business association believes the parade will help bring much-needed attention to Davisburg, and fits their motivation to do ‘anything to bring people downtown.?
The idea came from some older Springfield Township business individuals who remembered when Springfield use to have a parade. The goal is to make this a yearly event the weekend before Memorial Day weekend.
‘We took the idea and ran with it. The amount of response we have gotten has been phenomenal,? Wozniak said.