America turns 250 this year, and communities across Monroe County are marking the milestone with fireworks, parades, festivals and family-friendly events, including “Hometown Heritage,” a new large celebration planned for July 8 in downtown Monroe.
Whether you’re looking for the celebrations, local history or some things unique to Monroe County, this guide has everything you need to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial in Monroe County.
Why America 250 matters
America’s 250th birthday offers an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s history and the role Monroe County has played in it.
Monroe County dates back to the early 1600s.
“French missionaries came to this territory as early as 1634,” according to the County of Monroe. “The missionaries named the river the River Aux Raisin because of the many grapes in this locality. A trading post and fort were established here in 1778. Francois Navarre was the first white settler in 1780. The first settlement was called Frenchtown when about 100 French families came here from Detroit and Canada.”
The city of Monroe was named for President James Monroe, who once traveled through the area. Monroe celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2017. A nine-foot-tall statue of President Monroe was installed in front of the county courthouse in downtown Monroe. It was created by artist and sculptor Devon Vergiels, who also sculpted the Little Brown Bear statue in front of the Dorsch Memorial Branch Library.
Big celebration planned in Monroe
The City of Monroe is hosting “Hometown Heritage: Monroe’s America250 Celebration” July 8 in downtown Monroe. The celebration will take place from 5:30 p.m. to dusk in Loranger Square and will feature a drone show.
July 8 will be an evening of “history, heritage and community pride,” the city said in an event announcement.
Originally, local business owners Tino Amaya and Deb Staelgraeve hoped to have a fireworks show at Munson Park. Amaya and Staelgraeve said they were unable to arrange a fireworks show and instead are offering a drone show. It will begin at dusk July 8 on the River Raisin.
“The show will feature 250 drones lighting the night sky with patriotic images and a special Monroe-inspired finale,” the city of Monroe said.
“Hometown Heritage: Monroe’s America250 Celebration” also will include the City Market (3-8 p.m.), food trucks, children’s activities and patriotic exhibits. Other planned events include patriotic church bell ringing (5:55 p.m.), Air Force Roots in Blue Band (6:30 p.m.) and Rick Whited Duo (8:15 p.m.).
At 6 p.m., youth, veterans and other community members will read excerpts from the Declaration of Independence in the town square. The City of Monroe said other communities will have similar events to commemorate the first public reading of the document on July 8, 1776.
More local events
From late June through the end of July, Monroe County has several patriotic events planned.
Luna Pier Freedom Fest
After a day of exploring city-wide garage sales, head downtown for food trucks, entertainment and a show over the pier. Music will be offered from noon-10 p.m. at the Luna Pier Beach Cafe. A Bird’s Eye View aerial performance will run from 5-7 p.m. Citizen of the Year will be announced at 6. Roaming Fan Flow, a ribbon artist, will entertain from 5-7 p.m.
Fireworks at Trenton Summer Festival
The festival also includes live music, music bingo, yoga, sand art, beer tent and the hockey championship.
Field of Honor
Created by the Monroe Exchange Club, Field of Honor will feature a minimum of 500 flags to honor local military.
Fireworks at Willow Metropark
Other activities will include park trails, pool, playground and entertainment by a live band.
Fireworks at Lake Erie Metropark
City of Gibraltar’s 62nd annual 4th of July Celebration
Featuring a parade at 10 a.m. July 4, carnival, beer tent, live music, America250 station, bike decorating, cornhole and food.
Dundee’s 4th of July Parade
The parade route is south on Rawson Street, east on M-50, proceeding east on Main Street and then north on Dunham Street. The parade will end at the Dundee Veterans Hall. After the parade, the Dundee Veterans Memorial Club will have an open house and will offer hot dogs and hamburgers.
All organizations and individuals are welcome to be part of the parade. To sign up or for more information, contact Larry Cymbola 734-625-7401 or Cymbola1@aol.com or call the Dundee Veterans Club at 734-529-2880.
Meats & Ministry: Fireworks Spectacular
Offered will be food (hamburgers and hot dogs) and fellowship. Attendees should bring a chair or blanket and a side dish to pass.
Firecracker Open Golf Tournament
All players will play six holes from each set of tees.
Uncle Sam Jam
Offered will be free concerts, a carnival, monster truck rides, fireworks, classic car show, custom motorcycle show and cornhole.
Promoting the Publick Good
Featuring living history. Experience life in 1817 on a working farm. The event is sponsored by Monroe County Museum.
Patriotic quilt display
The homestead is creating a display of banner-style quilts to honor local military personnel from the Revolutionary War to those currently serving.
“We are attempting to group the individuals according to their service period or in family groups,” said Jenise Steinman, a member of the homestead. “Individuals, past and present, are honored by embroidering their information on a center medallion. This information includes their name, rank, military era, noted battle and, if they died in service, their burial location.”
Toledo Museum of Art’s America250 Homecoming and Picnic
Featuring a homecoming and picnic on the lawn, music, hands-on activities and glass-blowing demonstrations.
Fireworks at Flat Rock Summer Blast
The festival also includes carnival rides, live music, food trucks, vendors, beer tent, petting zoo, children’s activities and a three-day volleyball tournament.
Carleton’s Annual Cruisin for a Cause
Fireworks will be part of the annual event, which also includes a car show, vendor show, parade, children’s activities, live music and food.
Nations & Cannons: A Revolutionary Role-Playing Experience
“Experience history through an immersive and fun role-playing experience set in the American Revolution,” said event organizer, the Monroe County Museum.
Fireworks to kick-off the Monroe County Fair
Only here
Monroe County has some places and history you’ll only find here. Here are some of them:
Monroe is home to a national park that preserves, commemorates and interprets the January 1813 battles of the War of 1812 and their aftermath.
Exhibits pertain to the Old Northwest Territory, Great Lakes history, Native-Americans, French settlement and Battles of the River Raisin.
Located at 333 N. Dixie Hwy. in Monroe, the battlefield is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission is free.
Monroe County is on Lake Erie, which offers boating, fishing (especially walleye and yellow perch) and swimming at beaches like Sterling State Park in Monroe.
Michigan’s only Lake Erie port is the Port of Monroe.
In 1927, Monroe cousins Edward M. Knabusch and Edwin J. Shoemaker started a furniture company in Monroe that would become an international brand. In 1931, the founders got a patent for a reclining chair. Today, La-Z-Boy offers recliners and a wide range of other products.
In 2015, La-Z-Boy built a new 200,000-square-foot headquarters in Monroe, making a $60 million investment in the community.
La-Z-Boy will turn 100 in 2027.
A 42-foot Uncle Sam statue with an observation platform sits outside Uncle Sam’s Fireworks in Ottawa Lake.
According to the store’s Facebook page, Uncle Sam has been at the current site since 1992. The statue was originally created for a Toledo restaurant.
Ottawa Lake’s Uncle Sam statue was featured in the book “Oddball Michigan: A Guide to 450 Really Strange Places” by Jerome Pohlen.
Located at 126 S. Monroe St. in downtown Monroe, the museum is closing July 6 for a major, two-year renovation. In addition to special exhibits, the museum’s regular displays feature early Michigan, first Americans, French inhabitants and Gen. George Custer.
Custer, well-known for his Civil War victories and death at the Little Big Horn, was born in Ohio, but attended school in Monroe. He married Elizabeth (Libbie) Bacon, daughter of a prominent judge. The Bacon home was on the site of today’s Monroe County Museum.
Monroe County Museum also has exhibits on some other well-known county residents, including Kaye Lani Rae Rafko-Wilson, Miss America 1988; author Vern Sneider; landscape artist Robert Seldon Duncanson; and professional boxer Bronco McKart.
Know Michigan’s fireworks laws
Michigan law generally allows consumer fireworks to be used from 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. each day from June 29 through July 4.
Consumer fireworks may not be discharged on public property, school property, church property or another person’s property without permission from the property owner. Local governments may also have additional restrictions on where fireworks can be used.
The City of Monroe offers a fireworks webpage with FAQs, links to the laws and safety guidelines.
Residents should always follow manufacturer instructions, keep water nearby and be mindful of neighbors, pets and dry conditions when using fireworks.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Your complete guide to America’s 250th birthday in Monroe County
Reporting by Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News | USA TODAY Network
