LAPEER, Mich. — Thousands of people packed the streets of downtown Lapeer for the 2016 Lapeer Days Festival. Most of those who attended said they were having a blast. Danielle Bradbery, winner from the fourth season of NBC’s “The Voice”, headlined Friday night on the main stage.
The festival began in August 1901 when Alonzo A. Bostick celebrated the grand opening of Bostick Stove Works. Since then, it has grown by leaps and bounds.
Lapeer Days includes everything from barbecue food to a full-sized carnival area to vendors like cowboy hats and other accessories.
“It’s definitely getting bigger every year,” said attendee Skyler Cameron. “The music is good. I have some friends who performed on stage. It’s pretty awesome. It gets everybody in the community together. I like the deep-fried Oreo’s.”
One of the big surprises were two giant sandboxes provided by The Home Depot and Lapeer Landscape Supply. Kids had a blast playing in the sand on this hot, muggy day.
There was even a kid’s science tent, sponsored by Lapeer Robotics.
Artist Robyn Ritondale introduced me to her solar-powered light flowers. “You can leave them out year round and they just illuminate from the sun’s light,” she explained. “See the lights.”
“I like the music,” said attendee Abby Johnson. Her friend, Cheyenne Prince, added: “I like the food.” Avery Morgan, the third friend of the group said, “I like the rides.”
Rising country star Danielle Bradbery performed on Friday evening at 10:30 p.m. She sang her hits “The Heart of Dixie,” “Young in America” and introduced her new single “Friend Zone.”
“They have a lot of great music all weekend long,” said attendee Lori Skosich. “They’ve had Darryl Worley, James Otto, all kinds of country acts and other genres of music.”
For more information about the Lapeer Days festival, visit www.lapeerdays.com
