LAKE ORION, Mich. — On the days of Thursday, June 20 through Sunday, June 23, 2024m the Lake Orion Chapter of the Lions Club threw their annual Summer Jubilee celebration. This celebration primarily acts as a fundraiser for the Lake Orion Lions Club, proceeds from the fundraising go to charitable organizations and causes throughout the community.
The Lions Club International Foundation is a charitable and humanitarian organization that gives back to their chapters’ communities through fundraising, volunteering and more. The Lake Orion Chapter started in 1938, according to their website, lakeorionlions.org.
The Lions Club have hosted this event for more than 50 years throughout Lake Orion’s history, with each event seemingly getting bigger than the last.
ONTV intern Lexi McKinney spoke to Roger Brodeur, a member of the Lake Orion Lions Club, at the event about the impact of the Club on the local community.
“It’s one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, between this and our auction in November, we raise a lot of money to help our community… ,” Brodeur said.
Photo by Joe Johnson
According to Brodeur, the proceeds from the auction and the jubilee events go towards buying mass quantities of food in order to pack it all up and deliver about “2-3 weeks” worth of food to needy families.
“You’ll see me at some point, just standing there, looking around and I’m just grinning from ear to ear every year that the number of people that are just having fun… it just makes me feel good because I know we’re raising a lot of money to help others,” Brodeur said.
The main form of activities in the Jubilee are the carnival, with rides, games and tons of fun for kids, and the beer tent, with live music, drinks, and dancing for adults.
Many in the community also take this opportunity to reunite with distant and close relatives and simply have a good time.
ONTV asked festival-goers what they thought of the festivities going on during the weekend.
“I think it is a really great way to connect with the community and hang out with your friends while also donating to the Lions Club,” a community member, Paige Wied said.
Another member of the community Charlie Ghazal, said that the jubilee is “one of the best traditions here in Lake Orion.”
Finally, ONTV spoke to Lake Orion resident Cheryl Tront about what the jubilee means to the community.
“It’s very family-oriented, always something to do, always something different…” Tront said. “It’s a great place for kids growing up.”
For more information about events like these hosted by the Lake Orion Lions Club, visit their website at lakeorionlions.org.