Sunday Parade To End Lilac Festival in Grand Style
Dog and Pony Parade To Be Saturday
By Jessica Delaney
     As the 56th Lilac Festival draws near its end, the events just keep getting bigger. Saturday will bring a brand new event to the Island with the first Epona & Barkus Parade. The parade will follow along the boardwalk to Windermere Point and is organized by the Mackinac Island Dog & Pony Club.
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Queen’s Tradition: Coronation Kicks Off 56th Annual Festival
Blisse Beardsley To Wear Crown Through 2005 Events
     The 56th Annual Lilac Festival officially began Friday, June 10, with the coronation of the 2005 Lilac Queen. Weekend rain and clouds held back long enough for the coronation ceremony, when 2004 Lilac Queen Jennifer Wightman officially relinquished her crown to the recently graduated Blisse Beardsle
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Historic Sites Funding Caught in Political Crossfire
Island Sites in Limbo as House, Senate Haggle $1 Billion in State Budget Cuts
By Karen Gould
     Mackinac State Historic Parks has become a pawn in an unprecedented three-way 2006 budget battle between the Michigan Senate and the House, and even between House Democrats and Republicans. The drama of losing its $1.5 million state appropriation escalated last week following a House of Representati
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