Fireworks, Parade of Lights set for Saturday in Ida
IDA – The annual Parade of Lights and Fireworks will be part of this weekend’s 40th-anniversary Christmas in Ida festival.
The parade, set for Saturday, also will be livestreamed.
The Family Fireworks Show, presented by Consumers Energy will be visible throughout the community. The pre-show will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include a holiday performance by Anita’s Dance Center of Muskego, Wisconsin, and Marissa Pierce, a national and world baton champion with Team USA. The show will take place in the television and judges stage on Lewis Avenue.
The Parade of Lights will kick off at 7 p.m. The parade is presented by the DTE Energy Foundation.
About 120 parade units will be part of this year’s parade and will be illuminated with millions of lights and animation, Bob Knabusch, parade chairman, said.
“The Parade of Lights steps back to the first parade of lights that features the agriculture community with lighted displays of farm implements, fire trucks, floats, parade balloons, bands, cartoon characters and marching bands and dancers,” event organizers said.
Roger and Kim Wirth are the parade’s grand marshals.
“The Wirths are long-time dedicated members of the Christmas in Ida organization. They will tour the parade route on a float made by the Southeast Michigan Antique Tractor and Engine Association driven by Lee Eggert,” event organizers said.
Special guests appearing in the parade are country artists Diamond Rio, headliners of this year’s country concert. The Coffman, Laemmel and Lingar families are hosting Diamond Rio in the parade. Monroe Dodge Chrysler Jeep Superstore is hosting Laci Kaye Booth, who will perform the Young Country Concert. Other special parade guests include Louie the Light Bug from DTE Energy; McGruff and Scruffy, hosted by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and the Grinch and Abominable Snowman, hosted by the Michigan State Police Monroe Post.
The parade also will feature the Christmas in Ida Prince and Princess and Court featuring Ida High School students: Student Council’s Grantham Nelson and Ashley Burger; the Band’s Vincent Morelli and Abby Darr; Key Club’s Xander Brown and Mia Karl; National Honor Society’s Reid Benware and Kylie Greiser, and the Trap Club’s Lane Adney and Briley Kanitz.
Also in the parade will be 2022 Miss Monroe County Payton Perry-Radcliffe; Miss Monroe County Outstanding Teen MaKayla Dickinson; Junior Miss Monroe County Princess Anna Grace Brendel; Little Miss Monroe County Princess Sophia Adams, and Tiny Miss Monroe County Princess Elliette Blanchett. Miss Lenawee County Fair Queen Emily Maran also will participate.
The winning canines of the Holiday Hounds on Parade will be featured on a float by Project Second Chance.
Parade within a Parade, developed by Christmas in Ida, with bring the parade back to its agriculture roots with tractors and farm equipment. Taking part will be the Southeastern Michigan Tractor and Engine Association, Gondek Farms, Pat Bruck Farms, Boldt Farms, Linda and Jim Bogedain, Bryan Bruck Farms, Caitlyn Dusseau, Jake Jewell, Lee Eggert, Trent Eyler, Trevor Dusseau, Norm Seegert Sr, Sam Sheils Farms and Masserant Farms.
Music be provided by four high school marching bands, Airport, Britton-Deerfield, Hudson and Ida. Dance and baton groups include Twirl Michigan, Kylie & Co and Anita’s Dance Company.
The Christmas in Ida Executive Board will present “A Holiday Carnival,” featuring a holiday scene with reindeer, Christmas trees, a carousel and hot air balloon. More than 12,000 Christmas lights illuminate the float.
Festival Partner entries include DTE Energy, Hampton Manor of Dundee, Ann Arbor Railroad, Consumers Energy, Sen. Dale Zorn, STAR Towing & Recovery, Meijer Inc., Monroe Dodge Chrysler Jeep Superstore, Nash Icon 98.3 and Stevens Disposal & Recycling.
Meijer will display a tractor trailer featuring large photographs of Diamond Rio and illuminated with thousands of Christmas lights. The Meijer Great Lakes Limited Partnership will display a replica 1936 Chevrolet truck used for the first grocery delivery service.
The commercial division includes WTOL 11, Monroe County Road Commission, Food Town Fresh Market, Trailer Connection, LLC, Progressive Sweeping Contractors, Great Clips, Sit Means Sit, Ann Arbor Railroad, TLC Community Credit Union, Express Employment Professionals, J Dog Junk Removal & Hauling, Just Right Grain System, Marflow’s Lawn Service, Village Wealth Management, Infinity Salon & Spa, JJ Curran Crane, U.S. Army Recruiting Station Monroe, Monroe Community Ambulance, Durocher’s, Valor Milling, First Student, Bobby Luna, Monroe County Republicans, Lyon’s Towing, and Merkle Funeral Home.
Entries in the nonprofit categories include Civil Air Patrol, Northwest Mini Bikes and Trikes, Cub Scouts Pack 538 -Ida, Monroe Composite Squadron, Glass City Crawlers, Michigan Falun Dafa Association, Point Place Power Sports featuring DJ ADubb, Convention of States Action, Rachel Cordle, Bedford Veteran Center, Ida Lightning, Boy Scout Troop 597 Newport, Cub Scout Pack 777 Bedford, Boy Scout Troop Pack 777 Bedford, ABATE of Michigan, United States Naval Sea Cadets, Buggy Nation
The Zenobia Shrine will make a return appearance with the Jeepsters and other units. Jeff and Tami Mentel will display a 75-foot long float with over 21,000 lights.
Entered in the religious category are Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Union Street Missionary Baptist Church, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and 24/2 Community Church.
Monroe County 4-H’s Stable Way Miniature Horse Farm 4-H will have a float. Another was made by Monroe County 4-H Clubs. Fire department entries include Bedford Fire Explorers; Whiteford and Ida Township fire departments; and the City of Toledo Fire Shop.
The school category includes Bedford Express High School Robotics, Dundee FFA and Ida Middle School Student Council.
Santa and Mrs. Claus along will arrive with Santa’s elves, riding on a new float commissioned by Michigan Duck’s Unlimited. Santa and Mrs. Claus will sit in their sleigh with five reindeer leading the way flanked by a flock of flying mallards.
“The Michigan Ducks Unlimited is excited to present Santa’s float for a second year. We look forward to a great night in downtown Ida,” Tracy Oberleiter, chairman of Ducks Unlimited Michigan, said.
More than 100 parade units are entered in the competition, which will be judged by Kristine Brenner, CEO of Monroe Community Credit Union; Ryan Wahl, financial advisor for Genoa Bank; Tim Matune, vice president of the Mall of Monroe; Alison Wahl from Teacher Horizon Science Academy, and Dale Biniecki, retired Monroe County 4-H leader. The parade judges will ride on a float hosted by the Ida High School Trap Team.
Categories for parade awards are non-profit, agriculture, school organizations, commercial, religious, lawn and garden tractor and go-carts, golf carts, 4-H clubs, fire departments, partner, grand prize, Santa’s pick and 10 honorable mentions. This anniversary year will be recognized with the special Agriculture Heritage Award.
The Parade of Lights will be live streamed at www.youtube.com/user/MPACTStudio. Hosting the television and internet production are Jim Miller of Newport, State Sen. Dale Zorn with special guest host McKenzie Kuehnlein, news anchor of WTVG 13 ABC.
Public parade announcers will be at three downtown locations and includes Jim Thomson, Lyn and Marco from K100 radio station and Michele Peled and Jeff Yorkey from Monroe County Radio.
The recorded production of the parade of lights will be aired beginning at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 and continue throughout the holiday season on D & P Communications, MPACT Charter Communications, Comcast and Buckeye. It can be viewed at www.youtube.com/user/MPACTStudio.
On the Net: www.christmasinida.com
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Fireworks, Parade of Lights set for Saturday in Ida
