By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Blueberry Festival promises to be even bigger and better this year, as the community celebrates the theme “Spirit of Community.”
Festival Vice President Mike Burroughs came up with the idea of honoring the communities that make up Marshall County for this year’s festival.
“Every day there appears to be more bad news regarding job layoffs, unemployment on the rise, violence on the increase, and on and on it goes. Yet we have so much to be thankful for,” he said. “The families, jobs, friends, and community that we have make us blessed. It is this ‘Spirit of Community’ that will allow us to come together to care for each other and make sure that we all make it through these days of trial. It is the ‘Spirit of Community’ that comes together to create the Blueberry Festival each year.”

In keeping with this year’s theme, grand marshals for the annual parade have been chosen from all the communities in Marshall County.
Jon VanDerWeele, of Argos; Bremen’s Charles Schramm; Culver’s Dick Brantingham; Elizabeth Marshall, of Bourbon; Sharon Anderson, of Plymouth; and Don Balka, of LaPaz will lead this year’s parade as well as being honored by the festival in a special ceremony at the “Grand Opening” at 5 p.m. Friday night, Sept. 4, as recipients of the festival’s “Spirit of Community” awards.
The communities will be individually honored during the weekend with Plymouth the highlighted community Friday night; Argos and Bremen taking the spotlight Saturday; Bourbon and Culver on Sunday; and LaPaz Monday.
“It’s these communities that make Marshall County the great place it is to live,” said Connie Holzwart, coordinator of the Marshall County Blueberry Festival.
Holzwart says that in addition to community celebrations, the festival will also bring back the “Blueberry Buddies” area with all sorts of games and activities for kids.
As usual, the entertainment will be top-notch with the country band Shenandoah highlighting the Michigan Street stage, the Navy Band coming in Monday to march in the Blueberry parade and to perform at the fest, and a full line-up of southern gospel acts at the Young Amphitheater.
Watch for the special “Blueberry Festival” publication inserted in Monday’s Pilot News!