Egg hunt, Sumpter Country Festival are canceled

Two popular Sumpter Township events have succumbed to the effects of the coronavirus.
Officials have cancelled both the annual Easter Egg Hunt and the Sumpter Country Festival for this year in response to the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Both long-time events are organized by the township Parks and Recreation Commission, a volunteer group.
The Easter Egg Hunt, which was planned for April 4 usually attracts more than 40 youngsters up to age 12 who search in age groups for plastic eggs which can be redeemed for bags containing candy and a stuffed animal.

“It really is too bad, the kids always enjoyed it,” said Sharon Pokerwinski, who along with her husband, Richard, has been active with the parks and recreation commission for more than 22 years.
As the secretary of the parks and recreation department, Pokerwinski, along with festival chairman Kim Toms, said the cancellation of the Sumpter Festival set for May 22 through 25, is a regrettable and disappointing situation.
They agreed, however, the cancellation was unavoidable in light of the pandemic and threat of the coronavirus, but said that nearly 20,000 to 25,000 people who usually attend the event will be disappointed this year. The Sumpter Country Festival has been part of the community for 36 years.
“It really is an annual tradition and part of the community,” Pokerwinski said. “We will reorganize and bring it back next year, but we can't endanger lives.”  The festival usually includes food vendors, crafters and commercial sales, a carnival, the Michigan Pedal Pullers, a car show and the most popular event, the Demolition Derby, along with holiday fireworks.
The members of the various Sumpter Country Festival committees began working on the event in December, contacting vendors and making the myriad arrangements for the event.
Toms also expressed his disappointment with the cancelling of the traditional event.