By Genine Hopkins
The community of Falmouth might be easy to dismiss as it is small in area and without any stoplights, but its heart is as big as New York as the community comes together on July 4 to provide a community meal, excellent music, and one of the best fireworks displays in Northern Michigan.
The evening began with a splendid meal of sloppy joes and the fixins’ and is free to the public. The meal was donated through several local people/businesses and Ebels staff volunteered their labor to prepare and serve the meal and was served near the music stage at the Clam River Chapel. The church partners with numerous area churches to help provide the desserts after the meal and help host the event.
What promised to be a spectacular, family-oriented event that evening took a fantastic notch up as Hark Up Music group, from Grand Rapids, took to the stage to perform a splendid night of mixed songs from country and pop to some rock and gospel. The large group includes a complete brass section, and every musician in the band was beyond exceptional. They seamlessly moved between secular and non-secular music, with an energy that would make Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band envious. Several beach balls bounced continually during the show to the delight of the many children in attendance. The group played into the late evening hours as the sun set along the tree line at the Clam River Dam. S’mores were made for the kids as they began to settle in for the fireworks, which would not disappoint.
As darkness fell, everyone settled into their spot and the fireworks display began. Oohs and Ahhs were continual for the entire, 45 minute show that never let up and was hard to gauge when the final finale occurred. This show is as good as any big city!
For those seeking to feel that small town connection, making a stop in Falmouth next July 4th would be the way to go!
This is my town. Lived here 22 years and would never live anywhere else.