The Curwood Festival is a celebration of the American novelist James Oliver Curwood

James Oliver Curwood

James Oliver Curwood was an American novelist and conservationist. His writing studio, Curwood Castle, is now a museum in Owosso, Michigan.-Biography and career:Curwood was born in Owosso, the youngest of four children...

 in Owosso, Michigan

Owosso, Michigan

Owosso is a city in Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,713 at the 2000 census. The city is located on the eastern side of Owosso Township, but is politically independent...

. Many of his novels were written in Curwood Castle

Curwood Castle

Curwood Castle is a small castle, now a museum, located in Owosso, Michigan. It was built in 1922 and was home to author James Oliver Curwood, who used one of the turrets as a writing studio....

 on the banks of the Shiawassee River

Shiawassee River

The Shiawassee River in the U.S. state of Michigan is long and generally flows in a northerly direction. It merges together with the Flint River, the Cass River and the Tittabawassee River to form the Saginaw River, which drains into the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron.-Description:Supporting...

.

History

James Oliver Curwood wrote over 30 nature adventure books and out of those about 18 were created into movies. Some of the movies premiered in Owosso. Most of his books were based in Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. He created Curwood Castle for his writing studio and left it as a gift to Owosso. The festival started about 40 years ago to celebrate Curwood's contribution to the community.

Dates

The Curwood opening ceremony is held outside Curwood Castle. The Curwood Festival takes place outside the Owosso City Hall and the Owosso fire and police departments. The Curwood Heritage Parade takes place on main street M-21. The Kids in Curwood Parade takes place right outside of Emerson Elementary school. The 3 on 3 tournament takes place right outside the Owosso Middle School which is located across for them main rides and attraction.

The festival is the first full weekend in June. The Opening Ceremonies occur that Thursday. There is a Curwood royal court there along with many key people for creating the festival including the Owosso High School Trojan Marching Band. On that Friday is a Kids in Curwood Parade. That Saturday there is the Curwood Heritage Parade. Friday and Saturday there is a 3 on 3 basketball tournament for boys and girls.

Events

There are several other events that happen during the Curwood Festival. One is the Curwood writing contest. Every year the contest has a theme to do with nature like all of James Oliver Curwood books. They have carnival rides and games along with vendors selling assortment of crafts. Some events brought back from earlier festivals is the River Daze wherein contestants race downriver.