Fireworks light up the sky at the end of the day. Photo by Vic Ruggles

Crowds filled the streets downtown to hop on rides at the carnival, watch the talent show, view a movie on a 40-foot screen and to cheer on the parades.

This year's Freedom Festival held Thursday, June 21, through Sunday, June 24, featured two parades on Saturday, a Youth Parade with a "Disney Stars" theme and the Grand Parade, "Stars of East Jordan." Serving as Grand Marshall was the East Jordan Public Schools with 80 walkers who accompanied the schools' float in the parade.

Resident Tom Graham drove his shiny, black Ford Model T in the grand parade.

He is a member of the Ford Model T International Club and has four more antique cars and trucks at home. The automobile Graham chose to bring to the parade has a racing engine of the same type used in the Indy 500 in 1924-25.

Friday's highlight was the lip-sync contest and a talent show in Memorial Park. Lipsync winners were:

Gabby Cutler as Elvis in the seven-year-old and under category. In the 8 to 12-year-old category the winners were Katie Huckle, Katie Spence, Kirsten Malpass and Cameo Williams as the Cheetah Sisters. Ages 13 and up winners were Brady Brenan and Brandy Bartlett as Johnny and June Cash.

The Talent Show featured singers and the ages 12 and under winner was Syndal Thompson, ages 13 to18 was Alisha Healy and the adult division winner was Paula (Miss V) Vollbach.

More music was provided on Saturday by Charlie's Root Fusion and Horton Creek who entertained under the band shell on a perfect June evening.

The Festival 500 raffle-drawing winner was Patsy Steglitz of Charlevoix.

Other activities included a flea market, horseshoe tournament, bingo, a horse pull and a Sunday morning Lumberjack breakfast. A firework show closed Saturday's events.

Festival president Gretchen Bender said she was pleased with this year's Freedom Festival and the many people who attended.

Police Chief Dan Reece had a full force on for the weekend and reported no major incidents during the fourday festival.