Wakefield raring to go with full Fourth of July schedule

By P.J. GLISSON

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Wakefield — More than a week of celebration now begins in Wakefield with “Family, Friends, Freedom” as this year’s Fourth of July theme.

The Matt Ahonen Memorial 24th Annual Softball Tournament begins today at 5 p.m. and continues at 9 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday at the softball field area on Cemetery Drive.

Next Thursday, July 1, the Hometown Variety Show will be held at 6 p.m. at the Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School. The show will be held outside on the north side, facing Sunday Lake. In the event of bad weather, the show will move to the school gym.

“It’s gonna be really exciting,” said Denise Haas, who is in charge of the show.

Haas said that about a dozen acts will include a fire twirler, a yodeler and a living history performer.

At 8 p.m. that night, a street dance also will take place on the corner of Sunday Lake and Hancock streets.

On Friday, July 2, the Wakefield Historical Museum will feature a “Forchuly” open house from 1-4 p.m.

Saturday, July 3, events will begin at noon with a beanbag tournament at Wakefield’s VFW Post 9084. It will include social and competitive divisions, and bags and boards will be provided.

A town picnic will start at 1 p.m. in the John Siira Pavilion of Eddy Park, next to Sunday Lake. Where hot sandwiches, corn on the cob, and other food and beverages will be for sale.

Members of the Wakefield Volunteer Fire Department will be in the park from 1-3 p.m. Games for all ages, as well as other fun activities, will be offered from 1-4 p.m. A bean bag toss tournament and a youth homerun derby will run from 3-4 p.m. at the Little League Field.

Live music by a series of musicians will be offered from noon to 10 p.m. The Gogebic Range Band also will hold a concert within the park’s older pavilion next to the beach at 7 p.m.

At 8 p.m. that night, a second street dance will take place on the corner of Sunday Lake and Hancock streets.

Also on July 3, the always popular “Lightning on the Lake” fireworks display will take place at 10 p.m. over Sunday Lake.

This year’s show — which is rumored to be longer than usual — is being dedicated to two beloved Wakefield citizens who passed away last year. In 2020, Debra Granato died at age 60 on March 17, and Joe DelFavero died at age 75 on Sept. 25.

DelFavero had served as Wakefield mayor and was a member of the fireworks committee, and Granato had been heavily involved in many aspects of the town’s Fourth of July festivities.

On July 4, the Wakefield Fireworks Committee will provide a 6 a.m. salute to start the activities.

At 1 p.m., the Vintage Warbirds will do a flyover. Directly afterward, the children’s parade will move down Sunday Lake Street after starting at the fire hall, and the general parade will move from Putnam Street along U.S. 2 and up the main street.

Just prior to the parade, the Klassic Kruisers will drive through the parade route in classic cars.

Children’s races will be held after the parade at Roger Randall Field, west of the school. Friends also are encouraged to visit one another at the VFW and at Wakefield’s American Legion Post 11.

Ticket sales for a 50/50 drawing are already moving at a fast pace. Lead ticket man Marco Movrich said his crew sold 55,000 in 2019 and ran out during the parade route. The prize that year was $27,500.

This time, he said that 65,000 tickets were ordered.

“We are looking for a good year,” said Howard Stein, who was selling $1 tickets with Alisha Hill on the corner of Sunday Lake Street and U.S. 2 on Wednesday.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wakefield followed suit with many other towns in canceling almost all of its Fourth of July festivities last year. So energy is pent up for this year’s bash.

“Everybody’s excited,” said Marsha Vestich, who was buying 50/50 tickets Wednesday. “You better believe it.”