Petunia Parade seeking volunteers

MCP file photo

LUDINGTON — Volunteers are being sought to help carry on one of the community’s most recognizable summer traditions as preparations begin for the 39th annual Ludington Petunia Parade.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, when participants will gather at 8 a.m. to plant approximately 32,000 red, white and blue petunias along Ludington Avenue and at the city marina.

Organizers say the effort depends heavily on volunteer “block captains,” who are responsible for overseeing sections of the planting area. The route is divided into 44 blocks, each requiring a captain to coordinate planting on parade day, assist with weeding throughout the summer months, and help remove the flowers in September.

In addition to maintaining the floral displays, the role offers residents an opportunity to contribute to the city’s appearance and community spirit. Organizers highlight benefits such as spending time outdoors, gardening and working with a team of volunteers.

Two informational meet-and-greet sessions for prospective block captains are scheduled at Ludington City Hal, 400 S. Harrison St.: Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m. and Monday, May 11, at 7 p.m. The meetings will cover safety guidelines, planting procedures and maintenance expectations.

Those interested in volunteering may contact organizers Mary Lou at 616-866-0374 or Karla Cain at 231-740-3100.

____________________

Please Support Local News and Sports Coverage

Receive daily MCP and OCP news briefings along with email news alerts for $10 a month. Your contribution will help us to continue to provide you with free local news. 

The payment can be paid monthly through PayPal: Click this link.

To sign up for an annual subscription, email editor@mediagroup31.com. In the subject line write: Subscription. Please supply your name, email address, mailing address, and phone number (indicate cell phone). We will not share your information with any outside sources.

For more than one email address in a household, the cost is $15 per month per email address.

We can send you an invoice for a yearly payment of $120, which you can conveniently pay online or by check. If you are interested in this method, please email editor@mediagroup31.com and we can sign you up. You can also mail a yearly check for $120 to Media Group 31, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454 (please include your email address).

Payment must be made in advance prior to subscription activation.

We appreciate all our readers regardless of whether they choose to continue to access our service for free or with a monthly financial support.

_____

This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2026, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.

As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.