Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

ROCK -- The community of Rock is about 1,200 people, but one weekend every summer, that number multiplies.

It's the annual Labor Day Rock celebration, and this year it's combined with the all-year Rock and Mid Pen high school class reunion.

For some, it's been years since they've seen these faces.  All the way from the class of 1934, Rock high school students are here this weekend to remember.  Their reunion ties in well with this year's Labor Day celebration theme:  School Days Memories.

"It brought a lot of those people that maybe haven't been able to get to this event to this event and bring the entire community and a lot of families," says parade organizer Kathy Wojda.

They say the economy has made their small community's population decrease, but that won't defeat the attitude these students have for Rock. Today they showed their pride through a float competition, and young and old, the school spirit was high.

They say that's important to encourage Rock's youth to excell in the future.

"Even from a small town, graduates can go on and do good things in this world," says reunion co-chair Sally Weak-Weingartner.  "Education is a part of that."

Saturday's celebration was also the Rock Lion's Club annual fundraiser.  Money raised goes to support groups such as Leader Dogs for the Blind, Bay Cliff, local sports organizations and senior centers.

For a small community, they're boasting some big results.

"I'm guessing we're probably going to get 500 to 600 people here today," Wojda says.  "I would say that might even be on the low side."