Firework sponsor, new carnival, Spring Fling fundraiser launch 2015 River Raisin Festival

While the 32nd Annual River Raisin Festival is still four months away, plenty of action has been taking place preparing for the big event that will draw several thousand people to the banks of the River Raisin and be a venue for local non-profit organizations to raise money for their own endeavors. A theme, a new carnival and the fireworks sponsor have all been secured in the past week.
Festival organizers have also designed a new spring event, the Spring Fling, to help kickstart both fundraising for favorite charities as well as for the River Raisin Festival on April 4.
Commemorating Blissfield’s long association with the railroad, spanning over three centuries and nearly 180 years, this year’s festival’s “All Aboard” theme will be pay homage to the village’s rail history. As in years past each festival has its own theme. The Adrian and Blissfield Rail Road Co., and its Old Road Dinner Train have agreed to sponsor the fireworks. This year there will be one big show on Friday night. Another event yet to be announced will take place on Saturday evening.
Another huge accomplishment that has happened this month is a new carnival for this year’s festival that will open on Wednesday and have longer Thursday and Friday hours.
The festival recently signed a contract with Maple Leaf Amusements, a Michigan-based carnival.
To help gear up for this year’s festival and also raise money for charity the festival has organized their yearly fundraising event that will take place April 4 in Ellis and Bachmayer parks. An Easter Egg Hunt is planned just for a little fun as well.
The annual spring 5K fundraiser done on behalf of the Miss River Raisin Scholarship Program takes place as the Spring Fling on the River 5K run.
There is also the Ice-Bucket Dump an event that can raise money for charity and has an entry fee to raise money for the festival.
The Ice Bucket Dump is an opportunity for individuals to raise money for the non-profit of their choice, Audra Paulaski, festival treasurer said.
Paulaski compared the challenge to a walk-a-thon where participants get pledges to participate.
“The person collects their pledges and in turn we send them to whatever organization they designate,” Paulaski said.
Participants will then get into the Spring Fling Dump which results in buckets of ice water being poured onto them at the footbridge in the parks over the river.
The winner of the Baby Blissfield Contest will also be announced at the Spring Fling. Anyone can vote for who they think should be Baby Blissfield with monetary donations at TLC Community Credit Union’s Blissfield location for Scarlett Wells, Justin Kirchner, Thomas Brown, Evalynn Casper, Bailey Young, Carter Borchardt, Wyatt Nieman, Casen Coopshaw, Nolan Salsbury and Amethyst AnnaLeigh Helvoigt.
The festival’s annual golf outing is tentatively planned for May 17, with loccation information to follow.
For entry forms and instructions, please refer to the Spring Fling ad in the March 4 and 11 edition of The Advance or visit www.blissfield.net. The complete story on the festival’s recent announcements is in the March 11 edition of the paper.