The Meadows Celebration Planning Committee Needs Your Input!

Plans are currently being made for the 2012 Meadows Celebration, to be held on Friday, July 20. In previous years, crowds were wowed with the Great Lakes Timber Show and Rise Above BMX Show. We're looking for a headline show to make this year better than ever, but we need your help. Are there any shows you'd like to see at the Meadows Celebration this year? If so, let us know in the comments section of this blog post or post it on our Facebook page. Remember, we're looking for a show that is appropriate for the whole family—something that will have wide appeal and will add excitement to the event.

Please give us your suggestions right away! July is just around the corner.

Meadows Celebration Winners

There was a fair amount of healthy competition at this year's Meadows Celebration. All winners were announced the night of the event at the Sledding Hill Stage, but in case you missed them, here's a quick recap.

Dodgeball Tournament
1st Place—Blue Team (Corey Ergen, Don Swathwood, Anthony Swathwood, Devyn Ordiway, Jacob Lintner)

2nd Place—Lower Power (Bryce Richardson, Emmanuel Richardson, Caleb Lower, Alivia Lower, Allyson Lower, David Fielder)

Jeff Baumann Cardboard Canoe Race
1st Place On-site Build—S.S. Guppy IV (Duane Fritz, Randy Peters, Cletis Richardson)

2nd Place On-site Build—PC Enterprise (Max Calder, Steve Pasikowski, Wesley Pasikowski, Jason Pasikowski)

1st Place Off-site Build—Zurbee's (Chris Pugh, Jamie Pugh, Kennedi Pugh, Avery Pugh)

2nd Place Off-site Build—DARA Double Digit Day Camp (Jack, Kira Horn)

Most Creative—Zurbee's (Chris Pugh, Jamie Pugh, Kennedi Pugh, Avery Pugh)

Watermelon Eating Contest
1st Place 6-9 Years—Trevor Dennis

2nd Place 6-9 Years—Maliya Korte

1st Place 10-15 Years—Domonic Dye

2nd Place 10-15 Years—Leila Fitchett

1st Place 16-19 Years—Karly Fitchett

2nd Place 16-19 Years—Jeremy Braska

1st Place 20+ Years—Sarah Surline

2nd Place 20+ Years—Mike Kluck

Poker Walk
Rachel Hodges

Looking for an Inexpensive, Family-Friendly Evening? Look No Further than the Meadows Celebration!

The Meadows Celebration is upon us! This fun event begins at 4 p.m., tomorrow, July 15. There will be activities for the whole family, including inflatables, the Great Lakes Timber Show, face painting, a watermelon eating contest, a dodgeball tournament, bubble station, SierraRose Farms miniature horses and more!

What makes it even better is that all these activities are free to DeWitt area residents, due to the generous sponsorship of local businesses. In addition, there are free sno-cones and free popcorn while supplies last, as well as hot dog meals with a drink for only $2.50.

And when the sun starts to set, everyone can take their chairs and blankets down to the West Park to enjoy the hula hoop contest, super ball drop and fabulous entertainment from local band The Usual Suspects. The evening concludes with a spectacular fireworks finale.

So, come at 4 and spend the entire evening, come for a couple of hours or just drop in for the fireworks. We'll see you there!

Coloring Contest Winners

Thanks for all the great entries for this year's coloring contest! It made it really difficult to choose the winners.

Preschool 1st Place—Maggie Kromer

Preschool 2nd Place—Stephen Fair

K-1st Grade 1st Place—Cassia Wood

K-1st Grade 2nd Place—Caiden McDonald

2nd-3rd Grade 1st Place—Janiya Williams

2nd-3rd Grade 2nd Place—Tatiana Strong

4th-5th Grade 1st Place—Allana Loyd

4th-5th Grade 2nd Place—Ian Williams

Tips for a Great Meadows Celebration Experience

The Meadows Celebration, coming up this Friday, July 15, is bound to be a good time, with all its family-friendly activites. But following these tips can help make your experience run a little more smoothly.

What to Bring

• Sunscreen


• Insect repellant


• Chairs and/or blankets to enjoy the concert and the Timber Show

What Not to Bring

• Alcoholic beverages


• Glass containers


• Pets

Parking/Transportation Info

• The main parking area is the grass lot at the East Park.


• The West Park parking lot is restricted to special use permit and handicap parking only.


• Parking is also available at the DeWitt Township Community Center. The evening activities at the West Park are easily accessible from the Community Center lot with a short walk on the Walking Trail. This is probably the easiest way to get in and out if you are only coming for the band and/or fireworks.


• A handicap shuttle will be available to transport those with special needs.


• Buses will run from the East Park to the West Park from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and will provide transportation back to the East Park parking lot at the conclusion of the fireworks.


• Due to safety concerns, Granger Meadows Lane will be closed at 10 p.m. until the fireworks conclude. Buses will resume service at the end of the fireworks and quickly transport attendees back to the East Park lot.

Be Prepared

• Download a brochure containing a map and complete schedule of activities so you are sure not to miss anything.


• Since space is limited for many of the activities, plan to arrive early, and pay special attention to any early registration that may be required.

Fun Activities in Store for Meadows Celebration Attendees

A variety of activities will provide fun for the entire family at the Meadows Celebration on July 15.

• From 4 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., attendees can take part in the Walking Trail Poker Walk, which gives participants a chance to explore the park by visiting locations on the walking trail and recording their numbers. When the player has all the numbers, he or she can return to the Welcome Tent to draw a poker hand. (Sponsored by Advanced Dust Control, Mega Mall Antiques and Collectibles, Meijer, Mohre Soft Water and EGI)


• Also from 4 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., contestants can challenge themselves in thge DARA Minute to Win It Contest, based on the popular t.v. program. Minute to Win It takes place in the Basketball Court Area. (Challenge #1 sponsored by Airway Oxygen; challenge #2 sponsored by Priority Auto Body, Inc.; challenge #3 sponsored by McDaniels Kitchen and Bath, challenge #4 sponsored by Meijer)


• From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., families can make bubbles at the Bubble Station (sponsored by Northsidetowing.net) in Pavilion #3, visit SierraRose Farms Miniature Horses (Pavilion #3 area), show their creative side at the Craft/Art Area (sponsored by MSUFCU) in the East Park Parking Lot or check out the four Inflatables (sponsored by Arctic Glacier, Carl Schlegel, Delta Electrical Contractors and Redline Auto Service) in the Pavilion #3 area and near the Welcome Tent.


• From 5 p.m. - 6 p.m., the DeWitt Library hosts Story Time at Pavilion #3.


• Face Painting is available from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. in Pavilion #3. (Sponsored by LAFCU)


• A Dodgeball Tournament starts at 6 p.m. at the Softball Field. (Participants should register by 5:30 p.m.)


• Apples the Clown will delight children from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Look for her at various locations throughout the East Park and West Park.

Click here for a brochure which includes a full schedule of events and a map of the park.

Get Your Team Together for the Cardboard Canoe Race!

The Jeff Baumann Cardboard Canoe Race is always one of the Meadows Celebration's most popular activities, and this year will be no exception. Seeing the creativity and innovation of the participants in their eclectic designs is almost as much fun as watching them race across the Koi Pond. The race brings lots of excitement, as inevitably some boats make it to the finish line intact, while others are towed behind swimmers, having fallen apart along the way.

Again this year, teams are encouraged to build their crafts ahead of time or on-site the day of the event.

Off-site teams who wish to build their boats in advance can pick up two sheets of cardboard and a roll of packing tape at the DeWitt Township Hall. (Please call the Township at 517-668-0270 before picking up your supplies to ensure they are ready when you arrive.)

Racing will be conducted in timed heats with the winners determined by the best time. Off-site builds and on-site builds will race in separate heats. The fun begins at 6 p.m., Friday, July 15, at the east park parking lot. After on-site building, all teams will transport their boats to the Koi Pond for the races at 6:30 p.m.

Creativity will also win the contestants some points. The team with the most creative canoe will win a prize.

Participation in the Cardboard Canoe Race is limited to the first 20 teams and registration by July 8 is strongly recommended.

The Cardboard Canoe Race is made possible by sponsorship from Loretta Spinrad, Coldwell Banker Hubbell Briarwood.

Click here for a complete list of rules and a registration form.

View videos from last year's competition:

Video #1

Video #2

Video #3

Video #4

Video #5

Video #6