In June 1964, the Durand Commercial Club sponsored the very first Durand FunFest, which took place June 25 - 28. Eight different committees were established, including parade, carnival, food, retail promotion, children’s activities, soapbox derby, queen, and municipal and highway. Although FunFest's management has changed throughout the years, it continues to be a staple family event to this day.
Durand Commercial Club would continue hosting Durand FunFest until the 1990's when Durand Festivals, Inc. took over the event in 1996. Community groups such as Knights of Columbus, Durand Sportsmen's Club, Durand Area Optimist Club and Band Parents created this organization to continue the magic that is FunFest when Durand Commercial Club could no longer sponsor. Eventually, Durand Festivals, Inc. would dissolve and the future of FunFest was uncertain. In 2005, Herb Schneider created the 4 The Kids organization, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, that took over sponsoring FunFest and continued to do so until 2009 when Durand Improvement Group, the successor of Durand Commercial Club, took the event back over. Since then, DIG has continued sponsoring the event and is proud to carry on such a rich legacy for Durand.
