Petunia Pandemonium participants from a previous year eagerly pitch in to get the flowers planted along South Front Street in Marquette. This year's version is this coming weekend. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — Flowers will be red, white and blue to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary for the upcoming Petunia Pandemonium, which is held annually by the Marquette Beautification and Restoration Committee Inc. The 39th annual event will be Friday and Saturday along both sides of Front Street from Furnace Street to Father Marquette Park.

Bothwell Middle School seventh-graders and their teachers will plant flowers on Friday on the east side of Front Street, and by community volunteers on Saturday on the west side. The students will receive planting instructions and then receive a snack and beverage at the end of their shift.

The community is invited to plant flowers beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. A picnic lunch consisting of Vango’s pizza, dessert and a beverage will be offered to volunteers beginning at 10:45. Trowels and safety vests will be available for all volunteers.

The city of Marquette will close the traffic lane closest to the planting beginning at 7 a.m. both days.

The project costs over $30,000 — $6,000 just for water, with two irrigation systems having been installed. The roundabout on Front Street will be planted later to give the daffodils time to die back and replenish the bulbs for 2027.

Many merchants support the plantings and volunteers, including Mares-Z-Doats, Pepsico Beverage, Huron Mountain Bakery, Vango’s Pizza, Gerber’s Collision and Glass, Donckers, the Marquette Holiday Inn and Nagelkirks.

Tax-deductible donations may be sent to the MBRC, P.O. Box 334, Marquette, MI 49855.