“Callin’ out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat? Summer’s here and the time is right for dancin’ in the street.”
So goes the first verse of the 1964 Martha and the Vandellas classic. And so went Snow Lake’s Fourth Annual Street Party on the afternoon and evening of Aug. 9!
This jointly sponsored event started with the Legion meat draw and ended with folks dancing on Elm till the wee hours. It is quickly becoming known as a must-attend experience in the North!
In the Chase the Ace draw, Michelle Bridgeman’s ticket was pulled in the initial draw.
Anyone who has taken part in the draw knows that in order to walk with some money, a person must win twice in this game. When Bridgeman’s ticket was pulled, she strolled calmly into the Legion to take her chance at drawing the ace of spades from a deck of 42 (10 cards had been drawn in previous draws).
She came back out seconds later – not so calmly – proclaiming that she’d pulled the winning ace! Bridgeman ended up going home with $2,710.50.
Also at the outset of the event, the Legion began its 50/50 draw. It ran it throughout the Street Party with the winner drawn at the end of the night.
MaryAnn Otto was already at home and had retired for the night, when she heard from daughter Sara that she’d won the popular draw. She pocketed a cool $452.50.
An added bonus, during the meat draw, was that the band for the evening, Snow Lake’s own Dix and Chix, was doing a sound check and gave those in attendance a small taste of the fare to come later that evening.
Both the Snow Lake Motor Inn and Legion Branch No. 244 put on this yearly celebration, and they have added to it each year.
This particular version saw the addition of bright yellow (and spanking new) security fencing. It was a joint purchase between the Motor Inn and the Legion and did its job on this evening, keeping everyone in or out, whatever the case.
A further advancement saw the event’s Pig Roast sidelined for a menu that featured pulled pork on homemade bun, maple-baked beans and coleslaw. It was a popular and tasty change with anyone who consumed it.
Once the meal had finished, people were ready for music and Dix and Chix did not disappoint. They played a little of everything and folks were up dancing, clapping and enjoying each offering from the start of every set to the end.
Even as the wind got up and sprinkles of rain ensued, the spirits of those dancing weren’t dampened, and those in the band played on!
The evening featured a few fireworks set off in areas around town and nature let go with a few boomers of her own!
My Take on Snow Lake runs Fridays.
