Highland parade to cruise down street on May 21

Get ready to spot some classic cars and horses as Highland Township’s lone parade of the year is just around the corner.

The community’s annual parade will be held on Saturday, May 21.

“It’s a very, very hometown type of parade,” said Highland Township Supervisor Triscia Pilchowski, who is always either in the parade or in the crowd. “It’s got a real small-town feel.”

The parade is co-sponsored by the Huron Valley Youth Association and the Highland Fire Department.

The parade will line up at 9 a.m. at the Church of the Nazarene on West Livingston Street. The marching bands from Huron Valley Milford and Lakeland high schools and Highland Middle School will meet at Highland United Methodist Church, also on Livingston. The parade is set to start at 10 a.m.

This year will mark the last year Highland Middle School will be marching in the parade because the school will be closing at the end of the school year.

“For many, many years they have always marched in the parade,” said Pat Hamlin, co-chair of the parade. “They’re going to go all out this year. They plan to play ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’ and another number. They’re also hoping to have a couple of bag pipers because they are the Scots.”

“Take Me Out to the Ball Game” will be fitting in this parade, as it was originally started to kick off the Hi-White Youth Athletic Association’s baseball season back in the late 1940s.

In fact, the parade marshal will be Jerry Blakeley, the son of the Hi-White founders Gerald and Ruth Blakeley. Jerry Blakeley also was a Detroit Tigers catcher in the 1960s.

Also honored in the parade will be Citizen of the Year Denise Sanborn of Milford; Senior King and Queen Guenter and Anita Loepertz, as chosen by the Highland Adult Activity Center; and Michigan Homemaker of the Year Charlene Jolly of Holly.

The Highland Business Association will also include their Business of the Year and Business Person of the Year.

Horses, fire trucks, classic cars, Highland Historical Society farm tractors, youth ball teams, and floats will also be included in the parade.

The parade will end at Highland Middle School.

Other special events on the day include a craft sale, trunk sale, and plant sale at the Adult Activity Center on John Street. The Historical Society will be serving coffee and donuts in front of the fire station before the start of the parade.

Anyone interested in joining the parade with their group, classic car, or horse can call Hamlin at 248-887-2811.