City’s Sesquicentennial event set for Aug. 13-14
IMLAY CITY — Imlay City Area Chamber of Commerce Board members agreed on Monday, Nov. 23, to forgo plans for a 2021 Busker Fest and instead throw their support behind the City’s Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) celebration on August 13-14.
Chamber President Barbara Yockey said the Chamber will remain active in the planning of the Sesquicentennial.
Yockey said the Chamber will partner with the City of Imlay City and be part of an oversight committee comprised of three representatives from both the Chamber and the city.
She noted that Chamber Director Shannon Hamel and Imlay City DDA Director, Lorrelei Natke, will serve as co-chairs of the event.
“There will be subcommittees formed to handle various aspects of the festival,” said Yockey, “including but not limited to the parade, children’s area, the Saloon, fireworks and other activities.”
Yockey said each subcommittee will be assigned a specific budget to be overseen by Hamel, who will sign all vendors’ and entertainers’ contracts.
She noted that the specific budget for the Sesquicentennial remains unknown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and existing uncertainties regarding fundraising and sponsorships for the event.
“Given our Executive Director’s ongoing current contacts with the business community,” Yockey said, “the Chamber is confident we will be able to secure significant sponsorship funds.
“The Chamber has determined that we will not have our own separate festival in 2021, and will contribute our efforts to make the Sesquicentennial celebration a great community event in 2021.”
The Sesquicentennial was due to take place in August 2020 but those plans were postponed due to the pandemic.
Preparations for the event had already begun in 2019 and were being headed by then-City Manager Tom Youatt who has since retired from his post.
Tom Wearing started at the Tri-City Times in 1989, covering the Village of Capac as a beat reporter. He later served stints as assistant editor and editor. Today, he covers Imlay City and Almont as a staff writer. He enjoys music and plays drums and sings with various musical groups in the Detroit Metropolitan area.
