×

‘How the West Was One’

2024 Frontier Days to offer family-friendly fun

-Messenger file photo
Retired teacher Cheryl Trunnell leads the spelling bee at the Border Plains School at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village in June 2022. The spelling bee is one of the returning activities at Frontier Days this year.

Music, lots of food, historical reenactors and the crowd-pleasing big parade will all be part of this year’s Frontier Days celebration in Fort Dodge.

Frontier Days will begin Friday evening and continue through Sunday afternoon. Except for the Saturday morning parade down Central Avenue, all events will be held at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village.

“We just want everyone to come out and have some fun,” said Jeana Becker, the Frontier Days coordinator.

She said nearly every element of Frontier Days is “kid-friendly.”

The theme for the 2024 Frontier Days is “How the West Was One.” Becker said that theme was chosen because there seems to be so much division in the nation and world recently.

“We want everyone to just feel accepted,” she said.

New to Frontier Days this year is a Western-themed escape room. Becker said participants will be told that they are newcomers to a frontier town where the bank has just been robbed and they are accused of the crime.They will have about an hour to figure out all the clues and determine who actually robbed the bank so they can get out of the jail.

Participating in the escape room will cost $30 for adults and $20 for children. That cost will include admission to all events at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village.

Becker said Frontier Days will have “a lot more music going on this year.”

At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Riddled With Class will take the stage in the Opera House. That band will be followed at 8:30 p.m. by Jesse Kinch.

Out in a tent on the museum grounds, The Brits will perform beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday.

A Battle of the Bands is planned for noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, with the winner getting a basketful of music accessories.

Audi Crooks, a basketball standout who graduated from Bishop Garrigan High School in Algona and now plays for Iowa State University, will hold a meet-and-greet beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Trading Post.

There will be about 10 food trucks on site. Okoboji Soda Co., which makes soft drinks with no corn syrup, will be a new addition to the food and beverage options.

2024 Frontier Days admission

$10 for adults

$5 for kids 12 and under. They will receive $5 worth of tickets for playing kids carnival games.

Admission wristbands will be for sale at the Trading Post.

2024 Frontier Days Schedule Highlights

Friday

5:30 p.m.: Opening ceremony

5:45 p.m.: Ventriloquist

6 p.m.: Poppin Penelope’s Family Magic Show

6:30 p.m.: Nick’s Kids Show

6:45 p.m.: Fantastic Foam Party

7 p.m.: Stadium Drive (under the tent)

7:30 p.m.: Hypnotist

7:45 p.m.: Peter’s One-Man Danger Circus Spectacular

8:30 p.m.: Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show

9:30 p.m.: Glow Foam Party

Saturday

10 a.m.: Parade on Central Avenue

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: First Responders Day

11 a.m.: Cowboy Shoot ‘Em Up

11:30 a.m.: Army of the Southwest cannon demonstration

11:45 a.m.: Ventriloquist

Noon: Fantastic Foam Party

12:30 p.m.: Poppin Penelope’s Family Magic Show

12:30 p.m.: Army of the Southwest Infantry drill

12:45 p.m.: Hypnotist

1 p.m.: Peter’s One-Man Danger Circus Spectacular

1 p.m.: Spelling Bee

1:30 p.m.: Nick’s Kids Show

1:30 p.m.: Powerstars and Gymnastics

1:30 p.m.: Army of the Southwest Rifle Demonstration

2 p.m.: Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show

2 p.m.: Audi Crooks Meet and Greet

2:30 p.m.: Army of the Southwest Skirmish

3 p.m.: Beer Garden opens

5 p.m.: Don’t Try This At Home Show

6:30 p.m.: Riddled With Class band

7 p.m.: The Brits band

8:30 p.m.: Jesse Kinch performs

Sunday

9:30 a.m.: Church service

10:15 a.m.: Poppin Penelope’s Family Magic Show

10:30 a.m.: Nick’s Kids Show

11 a.m.: Jesse Kinch Meet and Greet

11 a.m.: Don’t Try This At Home Show

11 a.m.: Army of the Southwest Cannon Demonstration

11:15 a.m.: Hypnotist

11:45 a.m.: Peter’s One Man Danger Circus Spectacular

Noon: Battle of the Bands

12: 30 p.m.: Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show

12:30 p.m.: Army of the Southwest Infantry Drill

1:30 p.m.: Army of the Southwest Rifle Demonstration

2:30 p.m.: Army of the Southwest Skirmish

3 p.m.: Fantastic Foam Party

3 p.m.: Cowboy Shoot ‘Em Up

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today