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Eagle Grove to host Summerfest celebration Saturday

Music, food, fun and more are offered at this annual event

By CHAD THOMPSON

cthompson

@messengernews.net

EAGLE GROVE — Bath tub races, mud volleyball, and a bags tournament, are just a few of the events that will be offered during Eagle Grove’s 2017 Summerfest.

The fun will start on Friday, but the majority of events take place Saturday, according to Lisa Knigge, executive director of the Eagle Grove Area Chamber of Commerce.

On June 23, a free movie will be shown at 8:45 p.m. at the Wright County Fairgrounds Show Arena. The movie is called Sing.

Also on June 23, the Eagle Grove Greenhouse will be celebrating 100 years in business. A ribbon cutting and open house will be held at 10 a.m.

A shop local poker run will be held Friday and Saturday.

“That’s where you pick out a scorecard at any of our listed businesses and you draw a card from that business,” Knigge said.

The cards are to be turned in before the street dance Saturday night, she said.

“Whoever has the best hand wins more than $200 worth of prizes,” Knigge said. “The more businesses you visit, the more chances you have to improve your five card poker hand.”

The following events will all be held on June 24.

A 5k/10k run will be held at the Robert Blue Middle School starting at 8 a.m. on June 24.

A Farmer’s Market with a bake sale and vendor show will be offered from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A pancake breakfast will be offered from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Free stage performances will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Ron Mohr, Eagle Grove historian, will be offering a historical downtown walk down Broadway Street, the town’s main street at 10 a.m. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Eagle Grove Museum will be open.

Also at 10 a.m. will be a bike parade.

“Kids can bring their bike and decorate it and there will be a parade of kids on their bikes,” Knigge said. “We will have eight new bikes and nine helmets to give away.”

A host of free kids games will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Games include: bingo, inflatables, sidewalk chalk, kerplunk, hungry hippo, spray tattoos, face paint, Eagle Grove police and Emergency Medical Services dunk tank, and bowling.

“That’s what I love about summerfest,” Knigge said. “There is something for everyone to do. It’s just a time where the community really comes together.”

A hamburger feed and fire truck rides will be offered at the Eagle Grove Fire Station from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The bag tournament and yard games start at

10:30 a.m.

Bath rub races are at noon.

For the bathtub race, competitors will race bathtubs equipped with wheels and steering wheels. The teams, made of up of a driver and two pushers, will race to the finish as they navigate through an obstacle course while evading the water balloons being thrown at them.

Sarah Jensen, a past summerfest organizer, said the bathtub races have been going on for at least 15 years.

“About five years ago we added a second tub and it’s been much more fun to race them,” Jensen said.

At 12:30 p.m., mud volleyball will be offered at Greenwood Park.

“It gets pretty dirty and gross, but everybody loves it,” Jensen said.

June 24 will wrap up with a street concert starting at 8 p.m. GI Jam will be performing.

The leader of the band is Kent Wesselink, a native of Eagle Grove, according to Jensen.

Jensen said the band plays a variety of old and new music.

“It’s an army band that is now doing it on the civilian side, so that’s very cool,” she said.

She said all of the band members are currently serving in the United States Army.

On June 25, Eagle Grove Emergency Medical Services will host breakfast at Memorial Hall.

At 2:30 p.m. on June 25, the Paddle Wheel Players will be performing Music Man at Robert Blue Middle School.

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