The Annual Richmond Area Good Old Days Festival is the highlight of summer for many people. Our festival is known for offering a wide variety of events throughout each of the four days. It was voted MICHIGAN’S BEST Small Town Festival. The festival falls on the weekend after Labor Day and runs Thursday through Sunday. 2016 marks the 53rd anniversary of the festival. There is no general admission charge for the festival grounds.
Opening ceremonies kick off the festival on Thursday evening with our “Little Miss Richmond” pageant at the Festival Stage in Beebe Street Park. Other highlights during the four days include: Figure 8, Demolition Derby, and Bump & Run motor sports, musical entertainment both in the beverage tent and on the festival stage, Mid America Shows carnival midway, and fireworks.
Our parades travel down Main Street starting on Saturday with the Children’s parade. Following the parade is a huge ping pong blow-out for children 10 and under. Thousands of ping pong balls are fired from a hopper built by U.S. Pattern. Child size prizes are listed on each ball and may be redeemed at the festival grounds, or the business listed on the ball.
On Sunday we have “The Great Michigan Parade” which has been voted MICHIGAN’S BEST Small Town Parade by the Detroit News and is the LARGEST musical marching parade in Michigan. The parade has a wonderful reputation for its unique entries, upwards of 25 marching bands, and fabulous floats. We estimate between 75,000 and 80,000 people view our parade.
Other uptown events include Outhouse Races, Antique Car Show, and Pancake Breakfast.