PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — As part of “Love Ludington” weekend, Historic White Pine Village will be celebrating Mason County Day on Saturday, June 11.
This year marks the 40th season that the village has been open to the public, and it will be decked out in red, white, and blue. Patriotic decorations and flowers will greet visitors, and even the Village Ice Cream Parlor, located in the original Pere Marquette Township Hall, will have red, white, and blue sundaes available.
Mason County residents will be allowed free admission: just bring your identification to show the admissions staff. A discounted admission rate of $3 per person is also available for those who reside outside of Mason County.
This year, the day will be filled with interesting attractions and events, including a craft show, flag ceremony, blessing of the vintage vehicles, Ludington Mariner Old Time Base Ball open house, radio controlled model plane demonstration by the Twisted Sticks R/C Club, and a performance by the renowned line-dancing group, the Custer Boot Scooters.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the Mason County Day Craft Show open for the entirety of the day. Scores of vendors with a wide variety of wares will gather their booths at the end of Main Street in an outside “fresh-air” market.
- At 11 a.m., the Twisted Sticks R/C Club and its displays of radio-controlled aircraft will show visitors the joys of flying with your feet on the ground. The club is chartered with the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), allowing anyone who is an AMA member in good standing to become a club member. “The majority of our current club members are R/C fliers with a primary interest in sport flying. Our club enjoys a relaxed atmosphere and genial companionship between members,” said Larry Scherer, club member. “Our main goal is to have fun and enjoy the challenge of building and flying radio control model aircraft.” The club’s airfield is located at the corner of Inman Chauvez roads, right on the north side of Consumers Energy Pump Storage Project
- Sawmill demonstrations will take place at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Blacksmith Travis Dewall will be in the Blacksmith’s Shop throughout the day, demonstrating his talents and offering wares for sale.
- At noon, the Ludington Mariners Old Time Base Ball Club will have its open house at the Village Ball Field, with a talk on the rules and history of base ball by Chuck Rueger and a pick-up game to follow- come and be prepared to play some ball
- At 1 p.m., a flag ceremony by Ludington American Legion Post 76 will take place, with a Blessing of the Vintage Automobiles by Mickey Two-Eagles. The Pere Marquette Historical Motoring Club will attend, and all other vintage auto owners are welcome.
- The Custer Bootscooters will be dancing on the pavilion stage during the afternoon, as well.
- The mural “A Place for All Seasons” will be on display for the first time since being relocated to the Village.