Chairman of the Lion’s Jubilee Joe Hildebrand said that for every year the carnival is held downtown, an even larger crowd flocks to the fair.
‘It’s just night and day.?
Hildebrand estimated that around 10,000 people attended the annual fair last weekend, which the Lake Orion Lion’s Club has hosted since the early 1980s.
‘It’s amazing how many more people are coming out because it’s downtown,? he said. ‘The crowds seemed bigger than ever, the turnout from the community was fantastic.?
Last year was the first year in four the carnival was brought back to downtown Lake Orion. For the summers of 2010 to 2013 patrons went to Canterbury Village for the summer tradition.
Although the fireworks were pushed from Saturday night to Sunday night due to high winds, Hildebrand said they could be seen from as far as the well-attended beer tent.
‘The cooperation with the businesses, village staff, with everybody really, helped transition the fireworks from Saturday to Sunday as smoothly as possible. It wasn’t an easy thing to do, but the show was better than last year. Anybody away from the lake and especially down by the beer tent could see everything that went off.?
Police Chief Jerry Narsh said everyone seemed to be having a blast.
‘The Lake Orion Lion’s Jubilee was a safe and successful family event once again. There was a smaller public crowd for the fireworks display, with most people due for work the next day, but the show was fantastic,? he said. ‘The Lake Orion Lion’s Jubilee is truly the Orion family reunion.? ‘M. Peters