ST. JOHNS — Many people have known about the move for months, but now it’s really happening. The St. Johns Mint Festival kicks off Friday, Aug. 7, in a new location for the first time in decades.
This year’s festival celebrating St. Johns’ mint-growing heritage is being tagged, “The One Where We Moved Downtown.”
Organizers made the announcement over social media last fall, saying there was tremendous community support to move the annual event from the St. Johns City Park and Clinton County Fairgrounds to downtown because of the downtown energy and desire to have all activities and festival attendees in one location.
Danielle Schrader, the St. Johns Area Chamber of Commerce director and event coordinator, could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday. But, “we are thrilled to bring the entire Mint Festival downtown this year,” the chamber’s July 31 post on Facebook said. “This move allows us to focus on something at the heart of the St. Johns Area Chamber of Commerce: helping small businesses start, thrive, and grow.
“As you visit the Mint Festival this year, we hope you take time to explore downtown. Stop into a store, grab a meal or drink, meet a local business owner, and support the businesses that support our community all year long.”
More than 50,000 people typically attend festival activities, which include arts and crafts, a Kids Zone, parade, car show, and a Mint Queen Pageant.
Here’s what you need to know if you go:
Minty fun begins Friday
Mint Festival activities begin Friday, Aug. 7, and continue through Sunday, Aug. 9, mainly on Railroad and North Spring streets, along with Clinton Avenue, the main corridor through downtown.
Big downtown events will include the three-day craft show; food trucks; mint ice cream booth at the train depot; entertainment, beer and bingo at the downtown silos; and, on Saturday, the 10 a.m. Grand Mint Parade and noon to 4 p.m. car show, both on Clinton Avenue.
A full schedule is available on the mintfest.org website.
Why mint?
The festival allows the city to celebrate the region’s mint heritage.
According to city webpages describing the festival, “the growing of spearmint and peppermint is unique to this area, using the rich black soil that prevails.”
“Mint farming began with a two-acre crop of peppermint in 1913,” the pages said. “The county ranks first in the production of mint in Michigan, with approximately 5,000 acres of mint farmed. Each year the mint farming heritage is celebrated at the St. Johns Mint Festival.”
“The event highlights the mint farming heritage and the county’s ranking and the number one producer of mint in the state.”
The move downtown
Chamber organizers have been posting about the festival and what the move downtown means.
“We know a change like this takes some getting used to, but we’re excited to create a vibrant, walkable festival that showcases our beautiful downtown and supports our local businesses,” one post said. “We can’t wait to see you downtown!”
Contact editor Susan Vela at svela@lsj.com or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: St. Johns Mint Festival opens Friday in a new location
Reporting by Susan Vela, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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By Susan Vela, Lansing State Journal | USA TODAY Network
