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.

The Parade is filled with exciting breeds. Included will be Vinnie, a Husky sled dog that has raced in the Iditarod, more than 45 greyhounds, and many scout dogs to show a humanitarian side of dog rescue teams. Island dogs and tourist dogs have also been entered into the parade. More than 68 dogs have already registered, and a table will be open at noon to take any last-minute registrations as well.

What would a dog and pony parade be without the ponies? Ponies from Country Road Haflingers will be marching in the parade alongside the canines.

The theme of this year’s Parade will be “Tails of Mackinac.” Dog owners are encouraged to dress their pets in costumes to help tell some of the legends and stories surrounding the Island. Prizes will be awarded for dog and owner look-alikes and to the dog dressed in a way that fits best with the theme.

Immediately after the parade will be a Dog & Pony Show at Windermere Point. Emceed by Island comic Stu Stewart, the show will include talks by some of the dog world’s greatest stars, such as Mike Morgan of Mid-Michigan Kennels. Speakers for Paws With A Cause, K9 training, and dog sledding will be on hand as well. Other activities include photos taken by Sara Chambers, “Smooch the Pooch,” agility equipment, and a silent auction for a “Pooch Porch” and oil paintings. Pre-parade celebrations will be held at French Outpost and the Grand Hotel Jockey Club, while a post-parade party will be hosted at Mission Point Resort’s Eurogardens.

Sunday is the grand finale to the Lilac Festival. Beginning at 1 p.m. there will be a pre-parade overture in which the bands entered in the parade will perform a free concert in Marquette Park. Performances will be given by school bands, fife and drum corps, and Celtic pipes. At 4 p.m. the Grand Parade will begin, originating at Mission Point Resort and proceeding through downtown to its destination at Windermere Point.

The Lilac Festival Grand Parade is one of the largest festival parades in Michigan and is distinctive because all floats are drawn by horses. The parade hosts bands, bagpipers, clowns, veterans, scouts, floats, and carriages. This year, three pipe bands will be performing in the parade, alongside seven marching bands. A fan favorite, the Scottville Clown Band, will be returning in its old familiar place, brining up the end of the parade. All those watching the parade are encouraged to step in after the Clown Band.

Also featured in the parade will be the King and Queen of the Dog & Pony Show, and of course Mackinac Island’s own Lilac Queen and Court. Other Michigan festival queens will also be in the parade.

Many Island businesses have entered floats this year, from Mission Point to French Outpost. Dynamite the Clown will be returning to add some humor to the parade. Many of the entrants from the Barkus & Epona Parade will be participating as well.

The theme of this year’s Grand Parade is “The Lilac Fairy.” The theme is taken from a book written by Victorian author Andrew Lange. All entrants are encouraged to dress and decorate according to the theme, so expect plenty of magical lilacs at the parade.

At 6 p.m., the $10,000 raffle drawing will be held at Mary’s Bistro. The Grand Prize winner will receive $5,000, while first and second runners-up will receive $3,000 and $2,000, respectively.