“We’re bringing in things from the past,” said event chairman Terry Cook. “We have a Civil War reenactment group coming in and they’re actually bringing a cannon with them.”

The crown jewel of the weekend, Cook said, will be the Globe of Death — a death-defying motorcycle stunt show from Texas where three riders on motorcycles race in a large metal sphere suspended 15 to 20 feet in the air.

“We’re trying to make things bigger and better,” Cook said. “It’s something I think a lot of kids will get interest out of seeing that.”

The celebration will kick off at 5 p.m. on June 2, with the opening ceremony at the Avenue of Flags on the Fort Museum grounds. Gates open at 4 p.m. Ames band Burning Sensation will perform music from the 1970s and ’80s outside at 7 p.m. and there will be DJ Bingo in the Frontier Opera House from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Admission wristbands for the whole weekend are $6. The wristband admission also gives visitors access to the entire Fort Museum, including the area’s tallest tale — a replica of the Cardiff Giant.

The annual Frontier Days Parade will kick off at 10 a.m. June 2 on Central Avenue. This year’s grand marshals are Deb and Casey Johnson, co-owners of Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota.

Back at the museum grounds, the Buckskinner Camp will return with live demonstrations on June 3. Polkadot Entertainment will also have a series of shows all weekend with comedy, stilt-walking, juggling, magic and more. The Hole in the Sock Gang will return this year as well.

“People love to watch them shoot it up on Main Street,” Cook said.

New this year will be a silent auction all weekend inside the Opera House. Auction items include ticket packages to the Omaha and Kansas City zoos, as well as VIP casino packages. Funds raised through the silent auction will go to supporting the Fort Museum, Cook said.

The Frontier Marketplace will feature more than 30 vendors selling one-of-a-kind specialty items, decor and gifts all weekend. A series of food vendors will also be offering snacks including root beer, kettle corn, Indian tacos, funnel cakes, ice cream, cotton candy, corndogs and more.

Though Cook does most of the organizing of the event, he said he couldn’t make this celebration happen without the help of community sponsors. The Iowa Central Community College rugby team will be putting up the fencing to surround the Fort Museum grounds on May 31 and taking it down on June 4. Banners for the sponsors will be hung on the fence for the weekend.

“We’re spending a ton of money to put this event on, and I have a ton of sponsors this year,” Cook said. “We couldn’t put it on without all the sponsors and I am very grateful.”

From strolling entertainment to historical reenactments to live music and more, Frontier Days will offer something for everyone, Cook said.

“We just want families to enjoy and take part in what we’ve worked hard to bring to this community,” he said.