Blissfield flooding moves river festival to campus

7/8/2008

BLISSFIELD Flooding has forced the upcoming Blissfield River Raisin Festival to be moved from two riverfront parks to the Blissfield Community Schools campus, event organizers announced yesterday.

Most activities for the festival, scheduled for Friday-Sunday and normally held in Bachmayer and Ellis parks, will take place in the high school area between South Street and Walnut Street on Blissfield s southern edge. The festival entrance will be off Walnut Street.

The only event canceled is the tractor pull, which requires use of a special facility. The parade route also has been changed: It will begin at Depot Street and Veterans Avenue and continue north on Depot Street to U.S. 223, two blocks west on U.S. 223, and south on South Lane Street to Sugar Street without continuing on to Walnut Street.

Barring any additional flooding this week, the volleyball and three-on-three basketball tournaments will be held as planned in Ellis Park. The softball tournament will be held on the junior varsity softball field at the school.

Admission is free to the festival entrance and all entertainment venues. Parking will be offered on a donation basis at the schools new tennis courts, with proceeds to benefit the Blissfield High School football team and Zion United Brethren Church.