FLUSHING — Concerts, cornhole and a family carnival are all on the docket for Flushing’s annual Summer Festival this June.
Summerfest, proudly presented by the Flushing Area Chamber of Commerce, will be held June 7 to 11 in downtown Flushing. The festival will kick off with the annual Summerfest parade at 7 p.m. June 7, featuring a Back Through the Decades theme that will celebrate music and pop culture from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
The chamber is also ramping up its entertainment offerings with free concert nights at the Riverview Park Bandshell. Sunset Blvd, a hit ‘80s rock cover band based from Detroit, will take the stage at 7 p.m. on June 9, while Beatles tribute band Toppermost will perform at 7 p.m. June 10.
Lesly Foreman, executive assistant director for the Flushing chamber, said she expects both bands to draw big crowds and tie in nicely with the festival theme.
“We’re super excited to have these two well-known bands that are a great fit for our event,” she said. “Music is something we’re trying to bring back as a big focus for Summerfest, and these concerts are a great way to bring spectators in and generate more excitement around the festival.”
Summerfest will also bring back a cornhole tournament to Riverview Park at noon June 10. The tournament will be open entry for amateurs and professional cornhole players alike, with registration beginning at 11 a.m.
Foreman said the chamber will use proceeds from the cornhole tournament to help purchase a synthetic ice rink for kids and adults to skate in during the Candlewalk in December.
For the first time since 2018, Summerfest will provide a beer tent at Riverview Park near the bandshell. The tent, hosted by the Flint West Optimist Club, will be open 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on June 9 and noon to 9 p.m. on June 10. Patrons will be able to enjoy their beverages while watching the bands play on stage in the evenings.
All proceeds from the beer tent will benefit charities supported by the Flint West Optimist Club.
Youngsters will have plenty of fun activities to choose from on Kids Day, which will be held 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. June 8 at Riverview Park. Events will include barrel rides and hayrides, princesses, face painting, cardio drumming, arts and crafts, Kidsight Vision Screening provided by the Flushing Lions Club, Touch a Truck hosted by the Flushing Department of Public Works and book giveaways sponsored by the Rotary Club of Flushing and the GFWC Flushing Women’s Club.
Riverview Park will also be the site for amusement rides at the Skerbeck Carnival each festival day.
Additional Summerfest events will include the Flushing evening road race prior to the parade at 6 p.m. on June 7, performances at the Bandshell on June 8 by the Gym for Her at 6 p.m. and Judy’s School of Dance at 6:30 p.m., and the EAA 77 annual pancake breakfast at Dalton Airport from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on June 11. The festival week will wrap up at 10:30 a.m. on June 11 with Church at the Park hosted by Mayfair Bible Church at the Bandshell, followed by a Christian concert given by 1 Fifty.
Over the past two years, Summerfest has seen record attendance, drawing an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people to the carnival alone in 2022. Foreman said the festival has become a favorite with residents all over the county, thanks to the support of event sponsors and the chamber’s efforts to advertise via billboards, brochures and social media.
“Having the festival and carnival in town signifies the end of the school year and gets people really geared up for the summer,” she said. “Plus, it doesn’t interfere with vacations and allows families to take advantage of Flushing and everything we have to offer.”
To see carnival hours and more Summerfest information, visit flushingchamber.com.