We Want to Hear from You!

Tell us about all the memorable moments from the Meadows Celebration. Let us know what you'd like to see again. Submit your favorite event or activity from this year's Meadows Celebration by leaving a comment below.

Winners Announced!

The Meadows Celebration gave attendees the chance to have fun and engage in some friendly competition. Several participants scored Meadows Celebration prizes and bragging rights. Thanks to everyone who participated!


Pie Baking Contest

• 1st place: Mary Crowley
• 2nd place: Susan Simmer

Poker Walk

• 1st place: Deb Blake

Jeff Baumann Cardboard Canoe Race

• 1st place: S.S. Guppy (Duane Fritz, Randy Peters)
• 2nd place: Pond Skimmer (Neil Parsons, Alicia Taylor, Angie Carter)

Dodgeball Tournament

• 1st place: Team of Dylan Morris, Chris Loveatt, Tim Rupert, Jarrad, Shema Ljubic, Kasey Allen

Mini Sailboat Contest

• 3-5 year olds: Sydney McDonald
• 6-8 year olds: Alex Markcum
• 9-11 year olds: Lauren Payne

Guitar Hero Contest

• 8-10 year olds: Devin Miller
• 11-13 year olds: Matt Price
• 14-16 year olds: Ashlee Smith
• 17+: Todd McLouth

Coloring Contest

• 2-3 year olds, 1st place: Tessa Boyle
• 2-3 year olds, 2nd place: Jake Cooper
• 4-5 year olds, 1st place: Jack Trent
• 4-5 year olds, 2nd place: Kaylie Naimy
• 6-7 year olds, 1st place: Brendan Naimy
• 6-7 year olds, 2nd place: Lauren Kruer

Another Successful Meadows Celebration

Even the wet and chilly weather couldn't dampen the spirits of the attendees at the Fifth Annual Meadows Celebration: A Blast in the Moonlight. The event, which took place Friday, July 17, offered free fun for the entire family. This year's celebration brought back some all-time favorite activities, as well as brand new events and attractions.

One of the highlights of the event, as in previous years, was the Jeff Baumann Cardboard Canoe Race. The 2009 race was the most successful ever, with nine teams participating. The competitors had 40 minutes to build their watercraft while sheltering their cardboard from the pouring rain. Brave spectators cheered them on as they built and launched the fleet in timed heats.

Some of the boats took to the water skillfully and held up for the entire race. Others sank quickly and were abandoned by their paddlers. The ingenuity and creativity of the participants certainly made the watercraft an amusing sight to behold as they raced across the pond. The S.S. Guppy team, the winning team from 2007, brought home a repeat victory.

The Guitar Hero Tournament attracted the under 18 crowd. Participants had the chance to test their skill in a qualifying round and single-elimination tournament. Others just played for fun during the open play period. Local celebrity DJ Mojo was on hand to emcee the tournament and present the winners with their prizes.

The Rise Above BMX Stunt Show was a true crowd pleaser. Oohs and aahs could be heard echoing through Granger Meadows Park as the riders flipped, turned and soared high above ramps. Audience members were invited to join the show by acting as a prop. The crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief as a rider cleared the jump over the volunteers with room to spare.

For the little ones, Apples the Clown was present to delight youngsters with balloon shapes. Face painting, candy bar bingo and library story time were ever-popular returning favorites. The inflatables, as always, were popular attractions. This year kids could joust, fly down the inflatable slide, try out the inflatable obstacle course or bounce inside Thomas the Tank Engine.

Another new attraction was SierraRose Farms Miniature Horses. Youngsters had the chance to get up close and personal with these gentle animals. Learning opportunities abounded, with informational booths for 911 and the MSU Cyclotron, as well as fire extinguisher training and the Sparrow Life Net Helicopter. The DeWitt Township Fire Department showed their skill by staging a vehicle extrication demonstration.

For those with a competitive spirit, there were plenty of opportunities, including the Family Dodgeball Tournament, Pie Baking Contest and Watermelon Eating Contest.

The evening wound to a close at the sledding hill in the West Park as cloudy skies began to clear. Entertainment was provided by local band Sea Cruisers. Glow necklaces illuminated the hill as the band belted out familiar oldies tunes. During the band's break, kids were treated to the fun-filled Super Ball Drop. Excited participants scrambled around the inline skating rink, scooping up the bouncing balls. The finale to the event was a fabulous fireworks display.

Special thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of the Fifth Annual Meadows Celebration, including the sponsors and volunteers. And thanks to all of you who braved the weather to take part in this outstanding community event.

Meadows Celebration Coloring Contest Winners Announced!

We had a lot of great entries for the coloring contest. Here are the first and second place winners for each age group. Prizes will be awarded at the Meadows Celebration. If you are not able to join us, you'll be contacted to make arrangements to receive your prize after the event. Thanks to everyone who participated!

2-3 Year Olds

1st place Tessa Boyle

2nd place Jake Cooper

4-5 Year Olds

1st place Jack Trent

2nd place Kaylie Naimy

6-7 Year Olds

1st place Brendan Naimy

2nd place Lauren Kreuer

Meadows Celebration Right Around the Corner

DeWitt Township, Granger and DeWitt Area Recreation Authority are working hard to wrap up details for the fifth annual Meadows Celebration, to be held this Friday, July 17. The event, which takes place at Granger Meadows Park in DeWitt Township, will begin at 4 p.m. and conclude around 11 p.m., following a spectacular fireworks display. As we complete last minute planning, we wanted to share a few reminders to make sure you have the best experience possible.

You May Want to Bring

• Chairs or blankets for seating during the concert and fireworks
• Insect Repellant
• Sunscreen

What Not to Bring

• Alcoholic beverages
• Glass containers
• Pets

Other Reminders

• Consult the event brochure.
• Note the location of the first aid tent.
• Take note of events that may require pre-registration (e.g., Jeff Baumann Cardboard Canoe Race, Family Dodgeball Tournament).
• Plan your time appropriately to enjoy the entire experience and fit in activities that have a more limited time period.
• Through traffic on Granger Meadows Lane will be restricted from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. for fireworks.
• Parking is limited to the main parking area on the south side of Granger Meadows Lane.
• Handicap parking is available in the West Park.
• Be sure to register to win 4 tickets to Michigan's Adventure. Sign up at the Headquarters tent.

Meadows Celebration to Wrap Up with Live Entertainment and Spectacular Fireworks

As the evening winds down at the Meadows Celebration, attendees will gather near the sledding hill in the West Park to enjoy the music of popular local band Sea Cruisers. Sea Cruisers will hit the stage at 8 p.m. With music from the 50s, 60s and 70s, they'll have the young and young at heart dancing into the night.

The Sea Cruisers include the Dove brothers, Don on drums and Kenny on lead guitar; Rick Hansel on bass; and John Campbell on guitar.

When the band breaks at 9:30 p.m., children will be entertained by the ever-popular Super Ball Drop. The kids will gather in two separate groups in the inline skating rink and wait for the balls to be dropped. When the balls rain down from above, the youngsters will have fun scrambling to contain them and collect as many as they can.

After the conclusion of Sea Cruisers' second set, the evening wraps up with an amazing fireworks display. Adults and children alike will enjoy a fantastic view from the sledding hill as they gaze up at the fabulous show.

Meadows Celebration Offers Fun for All Ages

This year's Meadows Celebration will feature a wide range of activities and events for the whole family. The chart below indicates which attractions may be suitable for each age group. For more information on a specific activity and for times and locations, download a copy of the event brochure.

	Under 5	5-7 years	8-12 years	13-17 years	Adults
Coloring Contest (entry forms available from DeWitt Township Hall or DeWitt Public Library, must be submitted by July 9)	X	X
Face Painting	X	X
Bubble Station	X	X
SierraRose Farms Miniature Horses	X	X	X	X
Library Story Time	X	X
Super Ball Drop	X	X	X
Live Entertainment by Sea Cruisers	X	X	X	X	X
Fireworks	X	X	X	X	X
Candy Bar Bingo	X	X	X	X
Oreo Eating Contest	X	X	X	X
Mini Sailboat Race	X	X	X	X
Watermelon Eating Contest	X	X	X	X	X
Safe Kids Information Booth	X	X	X	X	X
Rise Above BMX Show	X	X	X	X	X
Sparrow Life Net Helicopter	X	X	X	X	X
YMCA Obstacle Course		X	X	X
Family Dodgeball Tournament		X	X	X	X
Inflatables		X	X
Vehicle Extrication Demonstration		X	X	X	X
Pie Baking Contest					X
Poker Walk			X	X	X
Fire Extinguisher Training					X
Cardboard Canoe Race (registration form)					X
MSU Cyclotron		X	X	X	X
Guitar Hero Contest			X	X	X