Submitted by Grand Ledge Chamber of Commerce
(Photo Provided)
The Grand Ledge Chamber of Commerce will host the 38th Annual Yankee Doodle Day Saturday, June 17, 2023. This family-friendly community event will be at Jaycee Park, 525 E. River Street in downtown Grand Ledge.
Kicking off the day will be the Market on the Grand at 9 a.m. where more than 40 vendors are scheduled to be at Jaycee Park including crafters, vendors, businesses and local farmers.
The Yankee Doodle Day Parade will start at 11 a.m. at the Sawdon Administration Building on Jenne Street, head toward Bridge Street and then follow Bridge Street north ending at the Fire Department. Businesses and local groups will be in the parade along with a bike parade hosted by the Grand Ledge Area District Library.
After the parade, there will be kids’ activities from noon-3 p.m. at Jaycee Park including face painting, balloon twisting, an obstacle course bounce house, cotton candy, various games and pony rides. Mudge’s Follies variety show will be doing a few performances throughout the day at Jaycee Park.
Food at the event will be provided by the Xavier DeGroat Autism Foundation. Burgers, brats and hotdogs will be available during the day and pulled pork in the evening.
Starting at 5 p.m., former Detroit Lions Football player Billy Sims will be speaking at Jaycee Park as part of Autism Awareness. The Xavier DeGroat Autism Foundation will be presenting awards at 7 p.m. prior to Global Village playing music. There will be a special Salute to America honoring our military, firemen and police as well as patriotic songs. Global Village will be playing throughout the evening and fireworks will be set off from Island Park at dusk.
Throughout the day, a selection of beverages for people 21 and over will be sold in a section of Jaycee Park that overlooks the performance pavilion. To enter the area, valid ID must be shown. American Legion volunteers will be the bartenders for the evening. Beer tent hours are noon-3 p.m. and 5 p.m.-11 p.m.
Yankee Doodle Day is sponsored in part by American Legion, City of Grand Ledge Downtown Development Authority, Clinton Street Counseling, Consumers Credit Union, Consumers Energy, Grand Ledge McDonalds, Meijer, Metro Net, Music Instrument Swap, Nick Cypher Farm Bureau Insurance, PJ’s Towing, Riverside Accounting, SNAP Fitness, Westside Beer Distributing, WILX-10, Xavier DeGroat Autism Foundation and Xfinity.
Please visit grandledgechamber.com for a full schedule of events throughout the town that day.
Proceeds from Yankee Doodle Day are allocated to promote the Grand Ledge community and its members.
