By Dennis Volkert
“Sturgis Fest” 2025 takes place June 24-28.
This year’s theme is “Traveling Through Time.”
It opens with the kickoff dinner, a tradition that includes honoring Citizens of the Year. Recipients for 2025 are Harlan Blood and Mary Haylett. Sturgis Historical Society will provide the keynote presentation.
The signature feature of Sturgis Fest, “Electric Night Parade,” takes place June 27.
Other popular attractions are Family Night and Bike Night.
It is the 13th year for “Sturgis Fest,” an event that has roots in “Michigan Week,” in which Sturgis was known as “Kickoff City,” with a parade that included an appearance by the governor and marching bands from Sturgis High School and surrounding communities.
The statewide celebration ran from 1960 to 2009, and typically took place the third week of May.
A transitional festival, called “Dam Days,” was held in Sturgis in 2010 and 2011. Several events included in Dam Days have endured to present-day.
COY
Sturgis Citizens of the Year, Mary Haylett and Harland Blood, have a significant tie to education and community service in the community.
Haylett dedicated 35 years as a high school social studies teacher.
Her passion for education extended beyond the classroom.
She was instrumental in mentoring and guiding students through Michigan Youth in Government.
In 2001, Haylett received the John Oster Award, honoring her commitment to shaping young lives and her impact on local youth.
Haylett was the first female city commissioner in Sturgis, in 1977.
She spent eight years mentoring middle school students in life skills through Five Star Life after-school program, served as a literacy instructor with St. Joseph County Literacy Council for five years and currently services on Sherman Township Board of Review.
Blood’s impact on the lives of local residents, especially its youth, spans generations.
For 35 years, Blood taught at the middle school level. His coaching résumé includes flag football, seventh grade basketball, junior high wrestling and track.
For many years, he was a chaperone for annual spring break eighth-graders’ trip to Washington, D.C.
Blood continues involvement with Sturgis and Glen Oaks Community College volleyball programs by keeping scorebook, and contributes as the spotter at SHS football games.
He also oversees the scorebook for boys’ and girls’ basketball and wrestling.
Blood is a longtime member of several civic organizations, including Exchange Club, Lions Club, Audubon Society and Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel.
Recent Citizens of the Year:
2014: Kerri Millett, Skip Sisson
2015: P. Joseph Haas, LeeAnn McConnell
2016: Ann W. Bird, John Wiedlea
2017: Anne Cook, Ned Haylett
2018: Eric Eishen, Jan Wiley
2019: Bruce Gosling, Monica Smith
2021: Kim Bontrager, Don Eaton
2022: Cathi Abbs, Mike Stiles
2023: Debbie Mathis, Ken Mills
2024: Mary Kay Schultz, Doug Van Meter
No formal award was given in 2020
Source: Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce
Roundup of notable events for Sturgis Fest ’25
June 24
Kickoff dinner, Sturges-Young Center for the Arts, doors open at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m.
June 25
Family Night, 4-8 p.m., Sturgis High School. Features amusement rides and carnival games. Biscuits vintage baseball game at 6 p.m. “Back to the Future” showing at 8 p.m. “Mix@Six, 6-9 p.m., Free Church Park, features live music by SoulTone.
June 26
Bike Night, 5-10 p.m., Free Church Park. Live music by HairMania and Sweet Jonny Knox. Downtown sidewalk sales noon-9 p.m. Cornhole tournament at 6 p.m., U.S. 12.
June 27
Car cruise-in, 4-8 p.m., downtown Sturgis. Downtown sidewalk sales noon-9 p.m. Hispanic Heritage Celebration 4-9 p.m., Free Church Park, music provided by Son de Mexico Mariachi & Los Electros. “Electric Parade” at dusk, U.S 12 from Lakeview Avenue to Memorial Park. Grand marshal is Mike Mort of Equity Studios.
June 28
All Sports Day. Features “Pepper’s Hope Dog Rescue 5K,” begins at 8 a.m. at Sturgis Middle School. “Electric City 3-on-3,” 9 a.m., Sturgis High School. Pickleball tournament, noon, Doyle Community Center. Fireworks display begins at dusk, Kirsch Municipal Airport. (Rain date for fireworks, June 29).
Online:vimeo.com/1093738794
sturgischamber.com
www.sturgismuseum.org
