Photo by Deb Gau Fog machine vapor fills the outdoor stage before Jett Skrien’s show Friday night, as Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes speaks to the crowd. Byrnes welcomed the community, and recognized some of the many organizers who worked to make the sesquicentennial a reality.

Celebrations for Marshall’s 150th anniversary, and the Sounds of Summer festival, were in full swing this week.

On Thursday, Marshall residents came downtown for the first of this year’s Sounds of Summer concerts, featuring the band Sweet Siren. On Friday, a community celebration for the sesquicentennial was held. The event was a little like a birthday party for the city — there were free cupcakes and ice cream bars for everyone, plus a variety of games and crafts for kids. It all culminated in a performance by illusionist and Marshall native Jett Skrien.

It was rainy for a good part of the day on Friday, but cleared up by the evening. Show organizers made the call early on to keep getting the stage ready in spite of the weather, said Amanda Beckler, of Marshall Community Services. “We kept the roof down, and just kept moving forward,” she said.

The festivities continue today with events like the Sounds of Summer grand parade, inflatables and activities for kids, and outdoor concerts featuring Roxbury Drive and Time Machine.