Clinton Summerfest, Antique Tractor Show this weekend

Vendor booths at the 2025 Summerfest

By BRAD HEINEMAN

Clinton Local

A sure sign that summer is almost here is the return of Clinton’s Summerfest and Antique Tractor Show on the second Saturday of June.

This year’s edition of the one-day summer festival is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at Tate Park.

As usual, there is no admission to attend the festivities but close to 40 vendors will be involved with Summerfest this weekend selling their goods and wares. Vendors include local artisans, nonprofit organizations, information booths and various food trucks, Summerfest committee member and vendor chairperson Kim Scott said.

When it comes to the food vendors, there should be a good selection of choices to please every tastebud, Scott said. Among the attending food vendors are Bearclaw Coffee, Bestie Bites Mini Donuts, Kona Shaved Ice, McCoy’s Outlaw BBQ and Monahan’s Crispy Cluckin’ Chicken.

Some new attractions and musical acts are making their Clinton Summerfest debut this weekend.

After being a participating attraction in September during the Clinton Fall Festival, Asam Acres’ Cows & Coffee will bring some of their dairy farm animals to Tate Park for the day.

The Clinton Township Public Library will be on hand, as well. After utilizing a foam cannon at the library’s summer reading kickoff party, that same cannon will make its way to Tate Park for Summerfest, Scott said. In the same general area of the park in which the library’s foam cannon will be stationed, SRM Materials — a Summerfest diamond sponsor contributor — will provide a cement truck for people to check out and for kids to climb on and explore.

Teen rock band The Special Guests are one of the new entertainment acts who will perform at the west pavilion, Scott said, and Iron Cowgirl — the stage name of Michigan native Missy Covill — is the last musical entertainment act of the day.

Of course, Clinton Summerfest wouldn’t be Summerfest without antique tractors on display. When it comes to those tractors, at least 70 are expected, if not more.

“We’ve gone up close to 100 (tractors),” Scott said of past Summerfest festivals. “It’s supposed to be nice (weather), so we could get a lot more this year.”

Last year’s tractor show featured nearly 90 restored antique tractors, said Summerfest committee chairperson Walter Murphy, who is in his first year as chair. Basil Greenleaf, who remains involved on the planning committee, had helmed Summerfest for many of its past festivals.

“We do have some good help,” Murphy said.

The Clinton Summerfest and Antique Tractor Show volunteer committee consists of Murphy, Greenleaf, Scott, Tonya Couture, Barb and Don Merritt, Barb Pope, John and Tuesdee Schiel, and Dennis Scott.

One of the biggest attractions at each Summerfest is the tractor parade, the official last entertainment piece of the day. All of the participating antique tractors and their owners are welcome to join in the parade, starting with lineup at 3:15 p.m., with the parade proceeding onto U.S. 12 (West Michigan Avenue) and heading toward South River Street, east onto Clark Street, north onto Tecumseh Road and then west back onto Michigan Avenue heading back to Tate Park.

Proceeds support scholarships

If it wasn’t for donations, sponsorships or any of the money raised on behalf of the Summerfest committee, Clinton Summerfest and Antique Tractor Show would not have been able to award 11 scholarships to Clinton High School graduating seniors last month, each scholarship totaling $2,500.

In 2025, eight $2,500 scholarships were awarded to high school seniors.

“From our sponsors, every penny goes to the scholarships,” Scott said. “The only thing that pays for everything else is the vendors.”

The 2026 Clinton Summerfest and Antique Tractor Show scholarship recipients from Clinton High School included Aurelia Bennett, Brenna Broman, Finnley Faulkner, Brian Ferree, Lacey Gerten, Cora Harsh, Robert McDonald, Emma Neff, Gabrielle Pearce, Jaren Settles and Isabella Szubielak.

A platinum sponsor contributes $500 or more to Summerfest scholarships, gold sponsors contribute $250-$499, silver sponsors contribute $100-$249 and bronze sponsors contribute $50-$99.

There are more than 40 sponsors listed for this year’s edition of Summerfest, according to a flyer provided by Clinton Township.

Schedule of events

Summerfest activities are scheduled throughout the day and across Tate Park including free wagon rides all day. Here’s a list:

• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Free kid’s crafts, face painting, carnival-style games and bounce houses.

• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Asam Acres’ Cows and Coffee petting zoo.

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Money pit.

• 11:30 a.m. — Kiddie tractor pulls with trophies.

• 1:30 p.m. — Large auction.

• 3:15 p.m. — Tractor parade.

West Pavilion entertainment — Host: Tonya Couture

• 9 to 9:15 a.m. — Opening ceremony with Isabella Szubielak singing the National Anthem.

• 9:15 a.m. — Young at Heart line dancers.

• 10:15 a.m. — John Valenti and Band.

• 11:15 a.m. — Wear House Cloggers.

• 12:15 p.m. — The Special Guests.

• 1:15 p.m. — Macon Highway Pickers.

• 2:15 p.m. — Iron Cowgirl.