The Chesaning Area Historical Society has partnered together with a local group of community-minded volunteers to place a new historical marker in Showboat Park. The new display celebrates eight decades of the beloved Showboat music festival and pays tribute to those who made it a success.
Longtime Chesaning volunteers Dale Tithof and Nancy Krause began brainstorming about the need for a sign a few years ago after realizing many newcomers to the area were not aware why the park is called Showboat Park. The festival, which started in 1937, held its last shows there in 2012
“It’s beautiful park and we all love seeing so many new people using it, but unless you have roots here, you may not know what is so significant about the Showboat name,” Tithof said.
The pair began recruiting other volunteers who would be willing to dedicate their time to bringing the project to completion. The first to commit were the husband and wife team of Tom and Peggy Garikes. Tom had once served as the chairperson of the Showboat committee, while Peggy was chairperson of the Showboat decorating committee.
Longtime pillar of the community Keith Valentine also joined up, as well as Carol Somers, whose years of experience as a contributor to the Tri-County Citizen were essential to telling story of the Showboat’s history.
They also called upon the expertise of the Chesaning Area Historical Society, with the inclusion of board president Bonnie Ruff, and trustee Connie Murdoch (who is also a former chairperson of the decorating committee, and the wife of longtime endmen Jeff Murdoch).
The layout and design for the sign is the work of Chesaning native Mark Agnew, and the sign was built and installed by his company, the Owosso-based Agnew Sign Co.
The Chesaning Area Historical Society provided the funding necessary to build and install the sign, and also paid for the surrounding landscaping.
Tom Garikes, Keith Valentine, Peggy Garikes, and Connie Murdoch.
The dedication ceremony for the sign was held on November 17, 2024, and it now stands along the main parkway, near the entrance to the park.
The new sign reads:
Decades of Historic Entertainment
In 1937, the Chesaning Chamber of Commerce made a bold decision that would change the course of history for the small village of Chesaning. In an effort to boost the local economy, business leaders ambitiously planned what they called a “summer river spectacular,” and on July 15, 1937, the Chesaning Showboat made its debut in what is now Showboat Park. Over the following eight decades, minus a hiatus during World War II, an army of community volunteers spent the second full week in July producing an entertainment festival that, at its height, drew up to 10,000 people a day to Chesaning. Each evening, crowds gathered to watch the beloved Shiawassee Queen riverboat make her half-mile cruise down the Shiawassee River, transporting the chorus, cast, and queen’s court to the riverbank amphitheater. What started as a charming spotlight on homegrown talent evolved into a Hollywood-worthy production featuring internationally renowned entertainers like Willie Nelson, the Beach Boys, and Kenny Rogers. Showboat’s philanthropic impact was felt year-round as proceeds benefited countless community improvement projects and non-profit organizations. Still, the event’s success was measured by more than ticket sales. As the village experienced unprecedented growth as a tourist destination, the Chesaning Showboat remained true to its roots, with the whole town pitching in to put on a show. That spirit carried on through 2012, thanks to the real stars: the generations of volunteers who enjoyed working tirelessly alongside their neighbors to make enduring Showboat memories.