Pickerel tournament attracts crowds to Algonac – The Voice

The Algonac Lions Club’s 86th annual Pickerel Tournament was held July 3-7. (Emily Pauling – MediaNews Group)

The Algonac Lions Club’s 86th annual Pickerel Tournament was “very, very successful,” said Dwayne Hrynyk, marketing director and social media chairman for the Algonac Lions Club.

The Pickerel Tournament ran July 3-7 and featured activities and events for all ages, including a fair and beer tent, parades, contests, entertainment, fireworks and more.

Hrynyk said the weather for the tournament couldn’t have been better and the crowds were good this year.

“Last year we had 36,000 visitors; I think we exceeded that this year,” he said, estimating that there were about 40,000 visitors. “The carnival was well attended, we had really good bands in the beer tent this year, the beer tent was well attended.”

He said the amount of money raised by the club for charity had not yet been calculated.

“We’re not keeping the money,” he said. “I think we’re going to make a big contribution to local charities this year.”

PHOTOS: Algonacs Pickerel Tournament Parade 2024, Carnival

Grace Mann was crowned Pickerel Tournament Queen on July 4. The rest of the court consists of Avery Baker, Audrey Beindit, Kileigh Bell and Sarah Valdivia.

Billy Gouin of Algonac won the Whooper Fish Contest sponsored by O’Reilly Auto Parts with a 5-pound, 2-ounce walleye, and Jackie Mifflin of Yale won the raffle all-terrain vehicle sponsored by Four Seasons Insulation.

Jessica Carl and her family won the 86th Annual Algonac Lions Tilt Boat Ride raffle sponsored by Ed Tirakian, President and CEO of Ebbco Inc. She took her boat ride over the weekend.

Hrynyk said Great Lakes Fireworks LLC’s July 5 fireworks display received a lot of praise. He said the fireworks company typically uses the Pickerel Tournament to introduce new products, such as new colors and new shapes.

“Fireworks are getting pretty complicated now,” Hrynyk said. “They can take all kinds of shapes, they can have new colors that have never been seen before, and Facebook has exploded because people love fireworks.”

The parade, which lasted over an hour on July 6, drew crowds and featured the Keystone Kops, Shriners, Detroit Fire Department Clown Team, fife and drum groups, Rosie Riveters and more.

“I drove up and down the parade in a golf cart, and there were a lot of people and everyone was just having a good time,” Hrynyk said. “The day of the parade, the weather was perfect again.”

He said he found the parade very entertaining.

“I think it was – my personal opinion – the beginning of all future parades getting bigger and better and bigger and better, because the more participants like it, the more other participants want to be there,” he said.

Immediately following the parade, a family fun day took place, which Hrynyk said was a “huge success.”

“This was our first ever free family fun day,” he said. “We had at least 300 kids. Algonac Little Caesars donated all the pizza. Rosco the clown was amazing. He keeps everyone happy and entertained.”

He added that some of the parade’s other acts, including the stilt walkers and jugglers, stayed for the event and that there was free face painting for children.

“We received a lot of compliments on the free Family Fun Day,” he said.

Hrynyk also noted that the car show and bingo fundraiser hosted by the Marine City Maritime Days committee on July 7 was also a success.

“The auto show was the biggest auto show ever,” he said. “There were probably about 240 cars at the auto show on Sunday.”

Organizers had received requests to bring back bingo and many people came to enjoy the event’s return this year. Hrynyk said the Marine City Maritime Days committee did a “fantastic job” in hosting the event.

Hrynyk said the carnival, which took place from July 3 to 6, was also well attended.

“Basically, we work with people,” he said. “We work with the carnival, we work with Marine City Maritime Days to try to make our event the best event for everyone.”

Hrynyk said everyone had a great time at the Pickerel Tournament. He said he heard very few complaints and there were no incidents.

He said the Algonac Lions Club thanks the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Algonac, the Algonac Fire Department and the Algonac Building Department, who all worked hard to make this event possible.

“We thank everyone who came and had a good time and look forward to bigger and better things in the years to come,” he said.

Read more at The Voice