December 8, 2009 Press Release
Corunna Fourth of July Celebration 2009 Year in Review

July 4, 2009 found Hugh McCurdy Park filled with the sights and sounds of a Hawaiian Holiday
themed celebration. Children’s laughter filled the air as they tried winning prizes at the children’s
games, coconut roll, bubble gum blowing contests, watermelon eating and seed spitting contests,
Hawaiian games, and the bike decorating contest. Children’s events included face painting, inflatables,
rock wall climbing, and bike parade. Adults enjoyed the car show, craft show, and horseshoe pitching
contest. Many also enjoyed the annual pancake breakfast, Firecracker Parade, belt sander drag
racing, and new for 2009, the Birds of Prey show.

The Celebration parade float for 2009 to go with our Hawaiian Holiday theme featured a
thatch covered Tiki Hut, large palm tree, working water fountain, and chain saw Tiki carving.
This float also represented Corunna in several area parades throughout the summer including Curwood,
Showboat and Mint festival parades. We won the prize for Best Community Unit at Owosso’s Curwood
Parade.

Live entertainment was provided throughout the day. Performances in the entertainment tent were by
juggler Tim Salisbury, a regular favorite, and magic by Nicklas Paul. There was a variety of live
musical entertainment in the center pavilion throughout the day which included Back in the Day, Musical
Memories, A Tribute to Johnny Cash, and headliner Magic.

The Celebration concluded with the fireworks finale which was better than ever. If you have never brought
your blanket or lawn chair to watch the fireworks in the park you do not know what you are missing! Chills
will run down your spine as you watch the sky light up. We must thank the Fireworks sponsors, Meijers, The
Argus Press, The Independent, and Corunna’s own 4th of July Commission was able to contribute this past year.

Corunna’s Celebration is still for the most part free. There is a nominal charge for a few events like mini golf
and for purchased items like crafts and food. Funding for the event continues to come from our wonderful sponsors
and without their continued support the Corunna 4th of July Celebration would not be possible. Additional revenue
comes from fundraising activities throughout the year.

Please visit our web site at www.corunna4th.org. This is the best way to see the photos of past celebrations
and read the news of current events to prepare for the next celebration. Pages include a list of activities and
events, our sponsors, celebration news, volunteers list, and schedule. The web site is currently under review and
construction. A Baker College student is doing an internship with us to update and improve our site. The web site
provides email contact addresses. Please fell free to send us your suggestions for any improvements to the web
site and the Celebration itself.

Planning is well under way for the 2010 4th of July Celebration. The theme will be 4th of July Fantasy Many
of our activities and our parade float will represent this theme.

A major new event will be the Firecracker 5K run/walk event. Also being planned is a Sparkler Sprint which
is a one mile fun-run with no entry fee. Cost of the 5K events will be $12.00 for early registration before
June 27th, and after that $15.00. Race themed T-shirts will be provided with registration with no guarantee
of a T-shirt for entries after the deadline. Race event check-in and late registration will at the Stu Coutts
Pavilion near the Mitchell ball fields. Events are planned to start at 8:00 AM on the 4th of July. Medals
and/or other winner awards and the number of race divisions and age groups have not been finalized. Details
of how to get registration forms are also under development and will be announced later.

The volunteer coordinators of the road races are Theresa and John Sarrazin. For more information, contact
them at 989-743-5874. If any business or family would like to sponsor the Firecracker Races, please call
and express your interest. We hope to make this an annual event and a great addition to the 4th of July
Celebration.

The 4th commission finds itself in need of volunteers and additional sponsors for the upcoming 2010 celebration.
Let me just highlight two of our many Sponsors to indicate how easy it is to become involved. Chemical bank
has been a long time sponsor and not only contributes financially but the staff volunteer there time to host
the watermelon contest and help out in many other ways during the day. Mount Hope Church in Corunna was
a new sponsor this year and helped with Children’s games and came up with many new Hawaiian themed games.
They had so much fun they want to continue for future Celebrations. We seek families, organizations, or
businesses to actively host events either with donations, volunteer time, or both. Questions can be directed
to Angie Fernette, Commission President at 989-723-1166 or 989-725-5747.

The City of Corunna and the 4th of July Commission look forward to seeing you in Corunna for the next
July 4th Celebration.

Submitted by Al Bayless, Corunna 4th of July Commissioner. Cell # 810-577-5767