It seems every day lately is a social event and a place for photographs. It’s a good thing that on Sunday (the 3rd of August, that is) I mostly cleaned house and cooked, preparing for a guest. At least one day was not photogenic, which is a relief after all the photos taken at a music festival!

Our friend Aki, from Osaka, Japan, came on Monday. He stayed for 3 nights. Brian has known him for 20 years. They met at a bluegrass banjo camp (I think in Tennessee), and have stayed in touch ever since. I think this is the third time Aki has stayed with us since I met Brian about a dozen years ago.

The first night he was here, we went out for sushi and sashimi at Sansu restaurant in East Lansing. Aki loves to explain how things are done in Japan, and why, and show us things we may not know. He enjoyed showing Brian how to use chopsticks the way adults use them in Japan. I never paid much attention to how Brian used them, since they seemed to work fine for him. Lucky for me, Aki did not correct my form. (Sigh of relief.)

The main theme when Aki is here, is that music is played every minute possible. (The second rule is good food, usually at small mom-and-pop restaurants.) On the way home from our dinner, I called several old-time fiddle friends to let them know Aki was here and they were going to play music on the porch. One friend did come, and the three guys spent happy time on the porch playing many tunes.

Tuesday night we decided to show Aki the 1940’s neighborhood tavern, Dagwoods. Those who tune in here regularly know that we go there from time to time on Tuesday nights for the Open Mic night which is hosted by Jen Sygit. It’s a friendly place and all sorts of top-notch musicians hang out and take turns playing.

Brian and Aki did a set of bluegrass tunes. Brian played banjo and Aki was on fiddle. They sure had a good time. I had a hard time photographing them, they were moving so freely to the music! Wonderful.

In one photo here, you can see a blur of people dancing… one of whom is Phil Wintermute. I don’t know the other dancer’s name.

Brian and I also played a set, of course. It was also extra-nice that Rae joined us after her work was done, too. We all had a great time.

Sunny Wilkinson = Class Act

Sunny Wilkinson (Jazz vocalist) finished up our day at JazzFest Lansing 2008. We first met her “backstage” at the green room (place where performers wait before their show). As she entered the room, she greeted us warmly, telling us that she had seen us perform at the Meridian Township 4th of July event and that she liked our work. (I am allowed to be delighted that she said this.)

Backstage there is much to be done… contracts to handle, posters to sign… we had just finished up with the volunteers (hi, Rosy!) and we needed to move on so that others could do the same. But what a kind and generous lady Ms. Wilkinson was, even in a minute or so of greetings.

Later we made our way around Turner Street. First we headed toward the Lansing Symphony Big Band, but it was so crowded we could not get very close. We enjoyed the music and dancing from a distance.

Next we worked our way over to Mama Bear’s Cafe. Part of our JazzFest contract required that we perform something that had never been performed before in front of a live audience. We performed Brian’s tune “Mama Bear Bounce.” (Click link to see Brian’s solo Youtube video of the tune.)

Of course, when we got to Mama Bear’s Cafe that night we just had to go in and play it for Chica (AKA Mama Bear). That was quite fun!

As we made our way back down Turner Street we found ourselves at the stage for Sunny’s show, and there were two open seats in the front row. We grabbed them happily and sat down for the duration.

Again, I was bowled over by the focused grace of Ms. Wilkinson… she acknowledged the sound tech by name and asked the audience to applaud his work. She could easily be a diva, she certainly has the credentials and talent to be tolerated even if difficult. Instead, she exhibited nothing but grace and generosity. Clearly her band is her team, and she acknowledged them all warmly during the show as well (she had a bass player, a drummer and a keyboardist, though the drummer somehow is not quite visible in these photos).

Much has been written about her “pipes” already, by many writers over several decades. I had never heard her live before, though I’ve read about her for a long time and heard a few pieces on the radio.

I was blown away by her vocal agility, her expression, total control over her vocal instrument. Remember, I sing very simple and pure melodies, that’s my own musical niche. Sunny Wilkinson can make it simple if that expresses the point best, but she can really work the notes in great detail if that is what is needed.

At one point she was singing something so complex, both melodically and rhythmically, that I first thought she was improvising. Then I realized that no, her piano player was playing exactly the same thing. Later I talked to Brian about it, how impressed I was. He made it all make sense. He said “Lynn, she knows some chords you do not know.” Yup, there you go.

It is interesting, I love the human voice so much that I have a hard time listening to music without vocals. I do not need to understand the words (Ms. Wilkinson performed a lot of Brazilian music in Portugese that night). However, somehow my ear needs a voice to follow in order to make sense of a piece. A lot of modern jazz is purely instrumental and I have never been good at understanding it, no matter how talented the instrumentalists.

So there I sat listening to a sort of music that I don’t know much about, and I observed this woman who is really beautiful to look at: graceful, tall and performing with full passion. I drank in her vocal work with her three spectacular band members, putting together a wonderful show.

I was mesmerized. Wow.

Class act. Total. Class. Act. She has a new album out, for the record. She’s a fine talent and clearly a fine person. Maybe you would like to check out her website?

Mostly photos today… what a busy life I lead… I’m writing about last weekend’s JazzFest and spending my time at this weekend’s Folk Fest. Taking pictures, I promise. I’m still catching up on last Saturday.

Here is the Lansing Symphony Big Band with very happy dancers:

The rest of these are from my Flickr account where I’ll set up a slide show when all my photos are uploaded. Meanwhile, a few of the crowd in front of Sunny Wilkenson’s stage. What a show that was… and Old Town was totally alive. Will share too many shots of her (she’s really photogenic) in my next post. Meanwhile, these:

Here is Sunny Wilkinson before sundown, surrounded by fans.

I’m grateful to friends and even “strangers” on the sidewalk who were willing to take photos of us at JazzFest. We can’t take our own photos, of course. We’re dependent on the friendly help of folks who are on our team. We appreciate that help.

The first photo of JazzFest is supplied by my friend Arlyn who is one of my dance friends. She had the amazing fortune of finding this silk and hand-applied sequin dress for me and getting it to me just in time for the JazzFest performance. I’m delighted, not only with the dress but also her enthusiastic assistance.

Thanks for the photo and the dress, Arlyn!

Next is a photo taken by a friendly bystander on the sidewalk, just outside the area where the Lansing Symphony Big Band was entertaining a dancing, clapping, enthusiastic crowd. Thank you for taking on the camera-clicking task, neighbor!

The last photo was taken by a photographer we see around musical events, and whose name I did ask. (I think I even have his business card buried somewhere). I did not write this entry soon enough after asking, to retain his name, but his assistance is none the less appreciated.

The photo was taken right outside Mama Bear’s Cafe on Turner Street. We love Chica (Mama Bear)! The food is good, the people friendly, the tea extra-ordinary. If you have not tried this spot yet and you live in Lansing, make a point to get down there sometime.

Our experience at Jazzfest Lansing was wonderful in every way. We had so many of you friends out there! It is days like this which make me understand how I stay in Lansing despite the white/cold winters. The community and the joy of summer in Lansing is really wonderful. There may be nowhere as friendly and beautiful as my city can be in the middle of the summertime. I loved every second.

Several dance friends and their families were there; knitters Sharon P and Kristi with two boys and hubby Noel came out; Mom and her entourage of the day and all the zillion friends she knows; a spectacular classically-trained tenor I’ve known since childhood; a knitting child from Foster Center; one of my bosses from Foster Center; Tom S who I met at the Sierra Club retreat and his wife; computer students; and last but absolutely not least, music friends. I can’t even remember all the musicians but we did see Joe B with his son in a stroller and Andy Wilson who I wish had brought his trumpet. When we are lucky, Andy will sit in with us on Paper Moon, and his contribution really makes it a memorable number.

The volunteers, sound and other workers, and everyone else involved really made it a smooth and pleasant experience for us. Particularly big thanks to Mike Skory (of Skoryoke.com, check it out if you are in Lansing) in particular, for everything he had to do with our appearance at this wonderful event.

Unforgettable, as Natalie Cole might sing. I have not had this much fun on stage since New York City!

Here are some photos of me and dancer Maia dancing at New Aladdin’s restaurant with our beloved toddler friend, Isabel. This was August 1 at New Aladdins’ restaurant at Frandor in Lansing, Michigan. No surprise, I’m the one in turquoise!

(There are dancers there the 1st and 3rd weeks of every month, with approximately half-hour shows at 6:30 and again at 8:00. We Habibi Dancers take turns dancing there, each show is different.)

One of the skills involved in this sort of dance, is keeping one’s head still while the rest of the body executes the dance move. Here you see Maia walking with her beaded hip belt moving as a blur, and yet her head is steady. This is a very important skill to master if one is to balance a cane, basket, jug or other object on one’s head while dancing.

Toddler Isabel is very important to both Maia and me. We have both spent much time with her and miss her deeply when we can’t see her for a while. It was great for all of us that she could come.

There were other children there who seemed interested in dancing, too. In the end, they were too shy to dance with us (kids are always encouraged to participate if they wish).

Here April and Isabel are saying goodbye. Can you see that “our kid” is wearing a beaded hip wrap? Too cute. Kids fully appreciate the “dress-up” aspect of this sort of dancing.

Yes, Isabel danced the entire half hour we did. I am sure she slept well that night!

I will not talk candidates or parties… but it is voting day at least in my corner of the world.

I will say that in Lansing, we are voting on whether to support our library system. The current funding system doesn’t support the buildings. In Williamston they had a leaky roof, as only one example of the need out there. Too much water coming in and we have no books or computers, you know?

If you can say you do not need a library, because you can buy a computer and books for yourself… please consider how lucky you are. (Never mind out of print items available only at a library.)

The kidz I work with at Foster Center, and some of the Seniors I teach, use the computers and other services at local library locations. There are free computer classes used by folks who worked at a time when computers were not part of everyday living. There are story hours and other programs to make summer go by more peacefully (I always spent my summers in the Hope Borbas library, in their reading programs… I even had Hope Borbas read me stories back in the ’60s).

For about the cost of one latte’ a month (or less) you can support this vital part of our community. Please get out there and vote on behalf of the big picture, even if you do not cast a single candidate vote.

Thank you for your consideration.

I have had a few people ask me about our Fabulous Heftones music gig this weekend. Here are details:

First, on Friday morning, AM talk radio 1320 at 8:30am we will be playing maybe 2-3 numbers spread out between other news. Whatever they want!

We have to show up at 8:30 (WILS AM, we’re very grateful for airplay). It’s a show called amLansing. I’m usually asleep at that time of day, but I’m all about singing any time I can! Thanks to Mike Skory who does the music/entertainment update on that show, for inviting us.

Then about the show:

Old Town’s
JazzFest Lansing
5p-6:15p Saturday August 2
The Fabulous Heftones
River Stage (near fish ladder, in parking lot where Turner Street dead ends into Grand River, just east of bridge).

It’s a big deal, at least to me! Some shows (other stages) get an hour, we get an hour and 15 minutes. Lots of the acts are not from Lansing. We get dinner hour on Saturday, perfect for bringing kids. There are also street vendors for food if you want to skip cooking.

If you have not heard us before, we mostly do the romantic and novelty tunes from 1900-1930. Brian plays ukulele, I play bass, we both sing and whistle, and Brian does a little vocalizing as if he’s a trumpet (this is called eefin’ and was common in the 20s).

Want to hear? here are some Youtube videos recorded with visiting ukulele friends, all of whom played at least one New York Ukefest (first one recorded early this year, 2nd was September ‘07):

Row Row Row, with Bosko and Honey

Shake that Thing, with Lil’ Rev

For a few songs without video, our MySpace Page:
The Fabulous Heftones, on MySpace (will play without an MP3 player on your computer)

or our own web page (click the MP3 link below song title):
http://heftone.com/fabulous

I sure hope some of you can come. I totally understand if you can’t… but you sure couldn’t come if you didn’t know about it in the first place!!!

On Saturday around noon, I danced with the Habibi Dancers at Hunter Park in Lansing. This park is on the East Side, between Foster Center/Rae’s Yarn Boutique and my home, maybe 2 miles from my front step. These are “my stomping grounds,” as Brian would say.

The event was sponsored by the Lansing City Parks and Recreation department. These are the same folks who manage the Foster Community Center where we rehearse (and where I teach kids to knit during the school year).

We were in the area which was both entertainment and exercise. We gave a dance show/concert and then we invited the crowd to join us. It was much fun.

Of course, I took these photos which means I am not in any of them. I put together a Flickr photo set with more shots, if anyone would like a peek.

(Added later: Another dancer’s mother took a big collection of photos that day which include me dancing in the group numbers. No surprise, I’m the one wearing the most bright colors in one costume! Turquoise beaded dress, magenta hip wrap, etc.)

Saturday evening, Brian and I performed as The Fabulous Heftones at my friend Altu’s Ethiopian restaurant. It was an extra special evening because the crowd included my mother and my brother, Eric Oscar. I don’t see Eric enough. It was his birthday just after the 4th of July but this was the first I had seen him since then.

Mom invited everyone she knows, or something like that. She knows many loyal friends and three of them came out. Also, Regina (friend from Working Women Artists among other places) came and sat with my family and the friends. Not only that, we had other folks come out just to hear us who we know just because we play this music. Fans. Imagine that!

It was too bad that Eric’s wife, my friend/knitter Diana, couldn’t make it. We missed her but sent food home so she could enjoy that part, anyway.

It was a hot day so it was perfect for wearing the Ethiopian dress brought to me by Altu’s sister a year or two back. It’s so lovely and so cool in this weather, and I especially love wearing it at the Ethiopian restaurant.

For the textile lovers out there who read this blog, the fabric is a very fine semi-transparent gauze which is handspun and handwoven cotton. The bodice is shirred with elastic thread (a modern style) and the full gathered skirt has a built in slip. The wrap is one loom-width of fabric with synthetic colored woven trim on both ends. They use synthetics where there is color, to avoid dyes running.

In Ethiopia most people do not have a washer and dryer. If you are well established, you typically will have a maid/cook who will hand wash your clothing for you. Therefore, easy upkeep is valued highly. Synthetics have been embraced to avoid dye-migration problems in otherwise lovely woven items. I noticed much embroidery was also done in synthetics, no doubt for the same reason.

So here we are, the three of us who grew up together so to speak. Mom was widowed at age 38, I was 14 and Eric was nearly 13. At the time we had zero relatives in Michigan. It was the three of us, a team, for better or worse. There were difficult years but we have all come out strong and happy. There is nothing like a good ending, don’t you think?

(Thanks to Regina for taking second photo: Mom’s longterm friend Fred, Mom, Eric, Me, Brian.)

My mom made the front page of the Local section of the Lansing State Journal today. Thanks to Priscilla for spotting it right away. They do not mention her name but the photo says it all. Dance is very big in Mom and Fred’s social schedule. They get out quite often.

You can read the article online (time to again mention how much I appreciate the LSJ.com website). It’s about a “senior prom” which raises funds for senior programs (supported by a team of police agencies in the area).

Mom and Fred are dancing front and left, you can recognize mom by her beautiful long white/silver hair and her bright blue dress. I still say she has the prettiest hair I know.

And I wonder where I get my ColorJoy gene from? Hmmm…

Aaah. We were on the road 4 days last week and 4 days this week (we’d planned on 5 but came home half a day early). It was fun, but I missed home.

I am not very happy sleeping in a tent, but we do not want the hassle and cost of a trailer or RV. We are also committed to attending music festivals. That means, at least for now, it’s all about figuring out how to make a tent liveable.

We have a small Eureka tent that is great against rain. Also, when it’s really cold our body heat keeps it warm enough to sleep (last year we slept in it just above freezing temperatures, and we were warm enough).

We also love how easy our current tent is to put up. I can do it alone without any struggle, though Brian tends to be the one doing all the work.

However, we are considering perhaps a move to a tent just large enough to stand up in for changing clothes, maybe even some sort of portable bed. If anyone out there has any experience with this, I’d love to hear what you know.

We had a LOT of rain this week on the road, inches and inches on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. There was standing water after several of the storms. Fortunately, we could take shelter while the sky broke loose, and we did have more time without rain than with it; the storms were short but mean.

We got home after dark last night, and awoke to a perfect summer day. Such a treat!

So today is a little breezy, a lot sunny, and hot, but bearable (this is Michigan, not Arizona). My kind of day. While others are sitting around miserable, I am absolutely bursting with happy energy.

It was 90F/32C today when I looked this afternoon. I do complain all winter, but right now I am so delighted I can barely hold it in!

I worked in the garden for a while. The weeds are prolific this year, between good rain and sunny days. I can not keep up in the few days I’m home. I gave it the good old college try, anyway!

I made bubble/boba tea for myself. I make it just with tapioca flavored with brown sugar syrup, and black unflavored tea. No milk or “stuff,” just simple tea and fun large tapioca bubbles. Great summer entertainment.

Right now I am typing this on the porch, my absolute favorite place in Lansing. I’m in my Mexican hammock, watching my colorful hand wash dry in the breeze. I have the laptop out here, using wireless internet. There is perhaps not a better way to spend the day.

I hope you have a wonderful summer weekend, too!

I had much fun on the 4th of July! It started in Downtown Lansing (Michigan) with a parade. I danced with Habibi Dancers. Mom came out, all by her self with a little US flag and waved it and called to me when I passed. I stopped the parade to hug her, of course.

In the middle of the day I went home. I had to change personas from Eudora (my dance name) to “Lynn Heftone” (my singing alias). So I got a nice bath, and did my sort of Clark Kent transformation. I baked a rhubarb crisp dessert and took it over to Rae’s Yarn Boutique. I could not stay for the barbecue but at least I was there in spirit, and in dessert!

I do love costuming as an artform and as a joyful part of my life. Those who know me, know I have almost nothing in my closet either red or white, and maybe a small handful of blue items.

Therefore, I went to Goodwill on Thursday and found myself a blue skirt to dance in, and a blue gown to sing in (topped with a red sequined tunic I already had in the closet). I made it work out quite well.

It’s a good thing I did not yet dye the baby alpaca circular Peace Shawl that Alison Hyde knit for me. She suggested I dye it and I’ve intended to do so, but have not done it yet. Last night I wore it white for my holiday singing engagement. It was beautiful, AND it was a protection against a few mosquitos as well.

I was done with mosquitos when we finished singing at 10pm, and it was very dark. We headed back to the car and I watched the fireworks from there. Much better!

Luckily my camera has a setting for fireworks. If you can hold the camera steady, it works well. In the car I could lean against the frame, and that did the trick. I’m going to give you six photos that I am happy with.

It was really cool, driving to a good vantage point in the car just before the fireworks started. This town turned out in force! You can see the fireworks from the parking lots of a whole lot of stores, including the Meridian Mall, Central Park Place shopping area, Wal-Mart, Meijer (huge Michigan discount store/grocery), and many places between.

Everywhere you looked, people had set up their folding chairs on the sidewalks or front yards, just everywhere. They had policemen on bicycles patrolling, and it all looked quite civilized, but the amount of people I saw all at once? I haven’t seen that on the streets since I was in Africa.

Only at concerts or sporting events do you see this sort of density around my corner of the world. It was quite the scene. It made me remember the two years I was in Boston and the one I was in Chicago, several when I was a child… just the whole gathering-together thing that happens on this holiday. It’s a lovely thing, really, the coming together… whether there are fireworks or not, no matter what your political ideals might be.

Boom! Happy 4th to those in the US. How nice it gave us a 3 day weekend this time!

(Photos: 1) Me as Eudora. 2,3,4) The Fabulous Heftones at Meridian Historical Village… thanks to Sharon’s SO, Lynn, for taking photos yet again. I owe him many favors back! 5-10) Meridian Township fireworks, taken from Meijer parking lot.)

Fun: Knitting with Beth

Last weekend I took a two-day workshop with Beth Brown-Reinsel. We learned about the Norwegian Fana Cardigan, a historical sweater type which is still worn today. It is knit in two colors, from the bottom up as a tube. Then you cut open holes for arms and the front opening. Yes, cut. It’s called steeking (though steek is apparently a Scottish word, not Norwegian).

After you cut openings for the neck, front and arms, you pick up stitches around the cut openings and you knit down for the sleeves (and up from the bottom ribbing for the buttonhole bands and neckband). You even knit built-in facings to cover up the rough cut edges. Brilliant.

The Goal

We made a tiny version of the sweater in two days. That is, some of us finished and all of us got a good part of the way. The first day I was able to finish the body of the sweater after dinner. The second day I sewed reinforcement and cut my openings, knit one sleeve , sewed in most of that sleeve, and knit one front band/facing.

I have other deadlines, so I could not go home and just finish (as I did when I took Beth’s Gansey sweater 2-day workshop, and her Norwegian mitten class). I have hope I will return to it and finish that up at some point this summer.

A Plug for Beth B-R

I really love being in Beth’s classes. She is very knowledgeable, focused, and a calming presence. This is particularly good for a class where people cut their knitting.

Many people really have a hard time with that one. I don’t know if they think it won’t work or if it’s just about “breaking” something they made. I know that one of the things I love about knitting is that I can unravel and rebuild it without losing anything but time.

However, I spent many years sewing as my primary artform. I can imagine my knitting as fabric that needs a shape cut into it. I also did my first cutting of knitting on a small tube I knit of some not-that-great yarn I had sitting around. I made the tube, reinforced on either side, and cut. And nothing bad happened. Knitting likes to run down, not sideways, it’s the nature of the fabric. And that test cut convinced me that the piece would not unravel.

Beth made a comfortable and supportive environment for those who had never cut their knitting before. It is interesting how many responses to the same activity can inspire. Even thinking about cutting handknits can be difficult at times, depending on the person.

There were a few who had a hard time starting to cut. Some knew they liked projects with this technique in it, and wanted the support of the group to get through that unfamiliar moment of the first cut. I want to pat all of those on the back, who took the challenge and got through it. We all have different challenges, but some run away. Good for you!

Meeting Gwynn

The best part about the weekend, though, may have been the fact that I got to meet Gwynn. She lives in Kentucky and came north for the weekend class. It turns out she reads this blog, and she was kind enough to start right away by introducing herself and letting me know she was a reader here.

We sat very near one another during class, and we got to take a walk one day to buy water on a break. I think we could chat a long time before running out of things to discuss. It was really a delight and an honor to meet her and make friends.

What a bonus, on top of the excellent class we both got to take.

Photos? 1) My sweater after the first cut (up the front, where button bands will go). At the bottom it looks funny, but we had made extra ribbing to attach to the button bands and put those few stitches on waste yarn to hold them until later. There is no sideways-raveling going on, no matter what it looks like.

2) The inside of my sweater, showing what the yarn does when it is not being knitted. We call that “stranding,” where the strands of the unused yarn float across the back of the fabric.

3) Gwynn cutting her sweater’s armholes.

4) My sweater, flat, with both armholes cut.

5) My sweater as it stands now, with sleeve partly sewn in and one button band complete.

6) My new friend, Gwynn (notice Beth teaching a few students in the background. I only got one shot of Gwynn that she might find acceptable (I blur everything when I’m distracted)… and trust me she’s usually even prettier than in this photo. You should have also seen the striped tee sweater she wore Saturday! she combined features from two different sweaters when knitting, and it fit her really well.

I have three things going on for the 4th. If you are in the Lansing, Michigan area, maybe you will want to join me for some of the fun.

1. First, the City of Lansing 4th of July Parade. I’ll be dancing with the Habibi Dancers (photos are of 2006, dancers before the 4th parade, I’m third from left in front with cane, in the 2nd photo). There is a press release page with details on the parade on the City web page. This is the text that matters most:

Sponsored by the City of Lansing (Parks and Recreation Department) this family friendly parade will take place in downtown Lansing on Friday, July 4, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. - Parade will step off at the State Parking Lots on Allegan Street and travel east on Allegan Street to Capitol Avenue, north on Capitol Avenue to Ottawa Street then travel west on Ottawa Street to return to the State Parking Lot.

2. Rae’s Yarn Boutique is having a potluck, barbecue (she provides chicken and hot dogs) and the first day of her 3-day summer clearance sale. (I’ll be there for some of the knit in but probably not the barbecue) She sent out a notice and wrote it up on her blog, Extravayarnza. Basically, this is the important part:

Join us at Rae’s Yarn Boutique July 4th!
Knit-in All Day
Grill starts up at 5pm
Bring a dish to pass or a small donation towards the main dish
Remember your knitting & a folding chair.
We’ll head down to the riverfront for Fireworks in the evening!

3. Brian and I/The Fabulous Heftones will sing at Meridian Historical Village from 7:30 to 10pm (fireworks start at 10:15). The address I have finally figured out, it’s Central Park in Okemos, 5151 Marsh Road. That should help fans of online driving instructions/maps.

We are not the only thing going at this large gala… Meridian Township issued a press release/fact sheet (in Adobe Acrobat PDF format) if you want all details. Here is an excerpt:

• Children’s Area with giant inflatable games
• Live Music by the “Fruitflies” near Central Park Pavilion and the “Fabulous Heftones” in the Historical Village
• U.S Marine Corp Color Guard Flag Ceremony (dusk)
• Mascots from local businesses
• Food from Little Caesar’s Pizza, Ice Cream from Melting Moments, Tony’s Hot Dogs, Culver’s Frozen Custard, and Subs from Guido’s
• Meridian Historical Village Tours
• Fire and Police Department Demonstration Area
• FIREWORKS AT 10:15 PM