Fourth of July in Clawson has been a tradition since 1933 with the exception of one year during wartime. Our signature events celebrate a week of activities prior to the parade, fair and fireworks held on the 4th (unless the 4th falls on a Sunday, the parade, fair and fireworks are held on July 5th). Music in the park, an ice cream social (sponsored by the Lions Club), Kiddie Parade (sponsored by the GFWC), Free Fun Run and 5K Run are held in July before the grand celebration on the 4th.
Early celebrations in the 1930's included a day of baseball games, family picnics, shoe race, 100 yard dash, 3 legged race, greased pole climb, cracker eating contest for women, fire cracker race, slipper kicking contest, pie eating contest a fat mans' race (200 lbs and over) and a prize for the largest family in the park. In the 1970's we added a candy scramble, backward race, wheelbarrow race, shoe scramble, water balloon toss, donkey baseball, hot potato game and an egg toss. Othert past festivities in the park included Bobo the Clown, Keystone Cops, Miss Clawson Pageant, Bandshell on the football field with Variety Shows and spectators in the stands, Coney Day (sponsored by the Optimist Club , Big Wheel Race and Bingo and the Beautiful Baby contest . The Keystone Cops were known to "arrest" anyone found not wearing a 4th of July button.
The button contest is held each year, a theme is chosen and a grand marshall to lead the parade is picked. The day begins with a Pancake Breakfast held at Clawson United Methodist Church (sponsored by the Rotary Club),. The Flag Raising Ceremony is at the library at 8.30 am(sponsored by the American Legion) and the Freedom Run starts the parade at 9 am at the corner of 14 Mile and Crooks, heads to Main Street, north on Main to Elmwood, left on Elmwood and ends at the Clawson Park. You will hear the sounds of the fire trucks before you see the parade moving down the street.
Arts and crafts and the fair begin at 10 am at the park. The admission fee charged at the fair gates pays for the fabulous fireworks each year. Donations are also accepted to pay for fireworks. Last year a Hot Dog Eating Contest (sponsored by General Dogs) was a success and this year Monster Truck rides are coming to Clawson. The traditional dime toss game (sponsored by the Lions Club) is a popular event.
