An opening ceremony was held at 5 p.m. at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village.

The Fort Dodge Choral Society got things started with “America the Beautiful.”

After welcoming comments from Jen Fitzgerald, executive director of the Fort Museum, and Jeana Becker, leader of the Frontier Days committee, the audience learned a bit about Ron Newsum, who is being honored posthumously as the marshal.

Those memories came from Mike Ewing, commander of the Farnhamville American Legion Post, who also volunteered to help with the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight. The Honor Flight was started by Ron Newsum in 2010 as a way to get area veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the nation’s war memorials. Newsum was inspired by his father, Clem Hentges, a World War II Navy veteran.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Members of the Fort Dodge Choral Society sing “America the Beautiful” during Friday’s opening ceremonies for Frontier Days 2026.

“Ron and I hit it off right away,” Ewing said. “He liked my dumb jokes.”

He said that he and Newsum had a contest to see who could get to Fort Dodge Regional Airport first on the mornings when an Honor Flight was departing. He said when the last flight under Newsum’s leadership departed in May 2025, he sat in his truck in the airport parking lot and let Newsum get into the airport first.

Newsum, who died Jan. 5, will be represented in today’s parade by a riderless horse.

A handful of dancers from Vicki’s Power Stars capped off the opening ceremony with a routine combining dance and gymnastics moves.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Dancers from Vicki’s Power Stars perform a routine during the opening ceremony for Frontier Days held Friday evening at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village.