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Jaycees Volkslaufe to celebrate America's 250th birthday in style

  Frankenmuth will celebrate America’s 250^th birthday with a long weekend of activities, headlined by the 51^st annual Volkslaufe (People’s Race), organized by the Frankenmuth Jaycees.

  The weekend will begin with a very large fireworks display on Friday evening, July 3, with the road races taking place most of the morning of Saturday, July 4, and capped off Sunday, July 5 at 10am, with St. Lorenz Lutheran Church’s Patriotic Praise service.

  All activities will originate in Heritage Park. As of press time, the Weather Channel has temperatures cooling slightly, with highs near 90 degrees Friday, race morning Saturday will see temps in the mid to upper 60s, and for Sunday’s service in the Harvey Kern Community Pavilion, look for conditions in the upper 70s to low 80s. There is a chance for Friday night and Saturday morning thunderstorms.

  The 2026 Major Sponsors are Bavarian Inn Restaurant, Jaami’s Ice Cream & Treats, Oppenheimer.

  Frankenmuth Jaycee and Volkslaufe Chairman Jeremy Mossner has nearly 1,700 registered runners and walkers, with an expectation it could top 2,000 participants. Runner packet pickup in the Kern Pavilion will take place 5-9pm Friday and 6-9:45am July 4.

  It takes more than just the Jaycee membership to operate this wide-ranging event, with a half-marathon stretching out into Frankenmuth and Birch Run townships. Approximately 200 volunteers put this together, from set up to tear down, to staffing the park as well as the many aid stations strategically located along all the routes. This includes the Frankenmuth Police and Fire departments. Volunteers report to the Kern Pavilion at 4:30pm Friday, a 5:45am Saturday.

  Mossner has a 14-member Volkslaufe Committee and they work almost year round to make it a success.

  “I’m in awe of how amazing this committee worked on bringing this event to life. It is the team that deserves the most recognition,” Mossner stated. “I think it is important to stay active in your local community by helping others and getting involved with organizations like the Jaycees.”

  The 2026 Volkslaufe Committee includes Ruth Eddy, Olivia Howard, Rebecca Kwaiser, Stephanie Dice, Andrew Richard, Paige Hollerback, Julie Dukovich, Sean Manriquez, Kandy Jacobson, Dan Jacobson, Skyler Ley, Melissa Rau, Doyle Webb, and Mossner.

  Friday evening will also have food vendors, including Dairy Firm, Main Squeeze lemonade, and Kernel Benny’s Popcorn as well as beer trailer, all in Heritage Park and the Kern Pavilion. A balloon artist as well as a foam party, slip and slide, and free inflatables will also entertain the youngsters.

  The Frankenmuth Lions Club will also be active in their Lion Haus serving brats and hot dogs on July 3 and breakfast on July 4......

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