The purpose of the festival is "To show the area's appreciation to the sugar industry which has purchased sugar beet crops from farmers and processed sugar here with local employees since 1902."
History
During a Chamber of Commerce meeting in early February 1965, then President Herb Gettel opened a discussion about having a sugar festival in Sebewaing, one of the four towns in which the Michigan Sugar Company had a factory. The town's newspaper editor Walt Rummel, Norman Schroeder, and Carl Hess went to the company's headquarters in Saginaw, Michigan to propose the idea. The idea was a hit, and on March 4, 1965, the Sebewaing Chamber of Commerce voted to hold a Sebewaing Sugar Festival on July 2 and 3. It was the first major community celebration since the Sebewaing Centennial in 1953. 2020 saw officials cite the COVID-19 pandemic as grounds for cancellation. The 56th was deferred to 2021.
Events
The village park is the location for the midway, which has local vendors selling goods, along with carnival games and rides for all ages. There is also an entertainment tent, where bands perform and a dance is held on the first night of the festival. The main events are the crowning of the Sugar Queen Friday night, the Grand Parade on Saturday morning, and the Fireworks showSaturday night. In addition, there are tractor pulls and softball tournaments, among other events.
Sugar Queen
The Sugar Queen was once called "the sweetest girl in the world." She, along with a first and second runner up, are determined in June. To run for Sugar Queen you must be ages 18–23 and live for at least one year in one of the "21 counties in the state of Michigan in which sugar beets are grown." A general knowledge of sugar beets is recommended. Previous Queens include:
Year
Queen
1965
Marry Ann Lacourse
1966
Judy Bollstetter
1969
Karen Rummel
1972
Laura Witczak
1977
Sharon Rase
1980
Lori Rase
1983
Deann Balash
1984
Debbie Smith
1988
Shelly Sieman
1991
Vickie Parrish
1992
Kristy Williamson
1993
Janna Gatton
1994
Nicole Longhini
1996
Leslie Donovan
1997
Sarah Zagata
2001
Amanda Kohl
2006
Erica Hoffman
2007
Samantha Bishop
2009
Elizabeth Krhovsky
2010
Dana Davidson
2011
Kelsey Prohaska
2012
Taylor Janicek
2013
Victoria Hudgins
Fund-raising
Many local businesses give donations to put on the festival, and the Sebewaing Fire Department takes donations year round for their Fireworks show. Donation boxes can be found all around the area at local businesses.
