Daily Events at the August 13-15 Mint Festival
The St. Johns Mint Festival is scheduled for Friday, August 13 from 2-8 p.m., Saturday, August 14 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday, August 15 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. While most events like shopping at the vendors, free entertainment, carnival/inflatables and pony rides and miniature golf will be held every day, there are some events that are held on a specific day and time. Some of those include:
Community Wide Garage Sales – More than 15 sales are registered with the festival and will be held different days and times between Thursday, August 12 through Sunday August 15. A complete list of those sales will be available at the festival grounds and will be posted on the Mint Festival Facebook page the week of the festival.
Senior Citizens Day will be held on Friday, August 13 between 2-5 p.m. There will be goodie bags for the first 100 that arrive. There will be Bingo, blood pressure checks, prizes and free entertainment including Darin Larner between 4-5 p.m. Senior Citizens Day will be held in the Main Pavilion at the north end of the City Park.
Grand Mint Parade will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 14 at Oakview Elementary School on Townsend and Lansing Street. The parade will wind through many streets, ending at Railroad Street downtown. A large contingent of tractors will be grouped together this year.
Cornhole Tournament – Singles and doubles matches will be held on Saturday, August 14 and Sunday, August 15 in the ball diamond at the north end of the St. Johns City Park. Registration starts there at 9 a.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Worship in the Park on Sunday, August 15 starts at 10:00 a..m with music provided by David Perez. Tyler Barlage, pastor of Community Christian Church will speak from the Performance Shell at 11:00 a.m. Christian music will be provided by The Easton Express at 12:30 and Sweet Crystal at 1:30 p.m. Sunday will also feature the annual Kiwanis Club Peppermint Plop at noon at the north end of the City park, just off Morton Street.
Of course course daily and evening events will also be downtown with their Classic Car Show, various Museums open and Friday and Saturday evening entertainment.
If you have any questions about the Mint Festival, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 989-224-7248 or email ccchamber@4wbi.net.
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While at the 2021 St. Johns Mint Festival this weekend don’t forget to grab a ride at the Carnival. Native Amusements will be bringing a Merry Go Round, Hampton Boat Ride, Mini Jet Ride, Kitty Combo, Castlemania Funhouse, A Tip Top, Swings and Train. The carnival will be located across from the parking lot on Sickles Street just south east of the Arts and Crafts.
The Flags will fly at Mt. Rest Cemetery on Saturday from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Get Your Souvenirs at the 2021 St. Johns Mint Festival
Get some great souvenirs at the 2021 St. Johns Mint Festival, August 13-15.
New items this year include a mug, small bear, plastic candy dish, peppermint taffy, a disposable doggy bag holder and a souvenir t-shirt with the theme “Together Again.”
Of course we will also have Hanover Mints, the best hard mints around, Livingston Farm’s mint oil, mint soaps, mint lip balms and a whole host of other items.
The Souvenir Booth will be located in the Arts and Crafts area at the south end of the city park.
Tell your friends and bring your family to the Paine-Gillam-Scott House Grand Reopening scheduled for August 14 and 15 during the Mint Festival Weekend from 1 to 4 p.m. Thereafter the museum will be open on Wednesdays from 2 to 6 p.m. and Sundays 1 to 4 p.m.
Frendz to performs at the Concert in the Park series on August 18
Frendz, a 6-piece rock group, will present a fast-paced review of AM Gold from the 50s to the 90s of tunes we all know and love. They will be featured on the Wednesday, August 18 Concert in the Park performance. This special concert will start at 7:00 p.m. in the William E. Tennant Performance Shell in the beautiful St. Johns City Park.
“Frendz is made up of mid-Michigan’s top professional musicians,” says Bill Tennant, concert coordinator. “The players bring a long and varied history of performing with the nation’s top entertainers in venues featuring jazz, Broadway shows, and top symphony orchestras. They basically put this special rock program together for our series, creating an unforgettable evening of great music.”
The music being performed will include pop tunes you have heard on your AM radio over the years. Great American Songbook, easy listening as well as light acoustic rock will be featured. You will hear songs by artists such as The Supremes, Carol King, Neil Diamond, Garth Brooks, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Buffet, Everly Brothers, Elvis, The Beatles, ABBA, Elton John, and many other artists.
Band members include: Don Sovey on Nylon String & Acoustic Steel String Guitars and Vocals; Don Sare on Bass and Vocals; Bronnie Brown on Sax and Clarinet; Alexis Start on Vocals; Tim Thelen on Drums; along with special guest, Jeff Kressler on Piano. Each of these musicians has a lengthy biography filled with incredible national and international experiences.
The concert is sponsored by the Clinton County Arts Council and the City of St. Johns. It is open to the public free of charge – donations are graciously accepted.
All concerts are presented rain or shine. The Lion’s Club food trailer will be available this year. Social distancing and safety precautions are strongly encouraged. The CCAC receives funding from the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Two Grammy Award winning musicians are featured on the August 20 Brown Bag Concert
Peter Madcat Ruth, a Grammy Award winning virtuoso harmonica player and John Churchville, a Grammy Award winning tabla player will share their amazing artistry and unique sound on the new ‘Brown Bag Concert Series’ on Friday, August 20 in downtown St Johns. The hour-long concert will start at 12 noon and will be held in the Rotary Park Pavilion next to the Railway Depot.
“Bringing both Madcat and Churchville, two Grammy Award winning musicians to St Johns is a real coup for our first Brown Bag series,” says Bill Tennant, series coordinator. “I was so excited that they were available and willing to drive up from Ann Arbor to share their music with our community. Their unique program of blues, folk, Americana and much more is sure to please everyone able to attend this amazing program!”
Madcat has established an international reputation through his exhilarating, riveting virtuosity on the harmonica. His expertise on this instrument has amazed audiences world-wide. Performance Magazine refers to him as “A harmonica virtuoso who is rapidly approaching legend status.” But Madcat doesn’t just play harmonica, he also sings and plays ukulele, guitar, high-hat, jaw-harp, penny-whistle, kalimba, and other folk instruments from around the world. His repertoire of styles includes Blues, American Roots Music, Folk Music, Jazz and World Music.
Churchville is a Grammy Award winning tabla player. A tabla is a pair of twin hand drums which were developed in the 18th century in North India. Originally from Marquette, John moved to California to attend the esteemed California Institute of the Arts where he earned a degree in World Music Performance and began a decades long journey with the Indian tabla drums. Moving to Ann Arbor in 2006, he forged a unique path in both the music scene and in music education. At the same time, he was also recording, performing and developing his unique style of tabla drumming with award winning Indian fusion group, Sumkali.
This concert is being presented by the Clinton County Arts Council and is made possible by a grant from the St Johns Area Community Fund using gifts received from The Forest and Doris Swatman Trust.
The concert is open to the public free of charge and will be held rain or shine. Some picnic tables are available for the lunchtime concert, but it’s advisable to bring your favorite lawn chair. Social distancing and safety precautions are strongly encouraged.
Don’t forget to check out and support the Brown Bag Specials from the following downtown businesses below.
Bruno’s Bar, Main Street Café, Swany’s Pub & Grub, St Johns Brewing Co, Dershey’s Café, Domino’s Pizza, Global Coffee Co, Waypoint Coffee Company, Mazz’s Endzone Party Store, Oh Mi Organics, Cupcakes and Kisses
Meals and Activities back at the Clinton County Senior Center
Beginning Monday, August 23 the Clinton County Senior Center will be fully open with meals and daily activities on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.
On Mondays the general public is invited to come for a home cooked meal. This fundraising meal is made by volunteers and is available for $6, $8 with homemade pie, or $4 for a sandwich and chips. On the 23 they will serve Meatballs, Potatoes, Corn and Butterscotch Pudding. Tuna sandwiches will be available.
On Monday, August 30 a variety of salads will be available such as taco, potato, German potato and tuna. A total of 8-9 salads will be made and each person selects 5 different salad servings.
Monday meals are served between 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Take outs are also available by calling 989-224-4257 that morning. After the meal from 1-3 p.m. a Euchre Tournament will be held each Monday. The cost to participate will be $2 per person. The tournament will start promptly at 1:00.
On Tuesdays and Fridays meals with be available for senior citizens for a $3.50 donation. These meals will be served at Noon. Bingo will follow at 12:30, and will cost $1.50 per person. Each person is guaranteed to win four prizes.
The Center will open at 9:00 a.m. each of these days and will close at 3:00 p.m. Seniors are welcome to come in during these hours to play other games, work on puzzles or just to socialize.
Individuals fully vaccinated will not be required to wear a face mask. Those individuals that have not been vaccinated will need to wear a face mask, except while they are eating.
If you have any questions about the Clinton County Senior Center, please call 989-224-4257.
RBW Class of 1960 to meet August 26, 27
The class of 1960 from Rodney B. Wilson High School will be having their 61st reunion, due to the cancellation of the 60th reunion for Class of 1960 last year, on August 26 and 27.
The classmates will be gathering at the Main Street Cafe for lunch at 1:30 PM on the 26. Cost is $15 which includes tax and gratuity.
On August 27 they will be joining the Class of 1959 at Motz Park for an all-day picnic and get together.
So fa 43 signed up for the lunch and 40 for the picnic.
If you are interested in joining them and have not already signed up, please contact Phyllis Mayers Thornburg at: pdthornbg@aol.com or send a note for more information to the following address: 19660 Old Ridge Road, South Bend, IN 46614