New Richland’s Farm & City Days this weekend
CROWD PLEASER — The Top 25 Antique Car Show will again be part of Farm and City Days, which runs Friday through Sunday in New Richland. Other old favorites are back and a new event, “Minute to Win It,” has been added. The parade is set for 5 p.m. Saturday. (File photo by Jim Lutgens)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
Are you ready for some good old-fashioned family fun? After dark, are you ready to party?
If so, you won’t have to look far this weekend. It will be right in your backyard.
New Richland’s Farm and City Days 2013 is July 12-14 and, as usual, it has something to offer for all ages, including old favorites and something new.
“We’re ready,” said Farm and City Days committee member Amy Ihrke. “We’re really excited to celebrate New Richland.”
Ihrke said there’s still time to sign up for events and volunteers are welcome. Anyone wishing to help can call her or the other committee members Kelly Martens, Pam and Larry Goehring, Susie Koziolek or Angela Gehrke.
“We all just love living here,” said Ihrke. “We’re just happy to pull something together. We’re lucky to still have a community celebration and have people support us.”
The action starts at 4:30 p.m. Friday with a potato bake and root beer floats served by the NR Lions until 6:30 at City Hall. The dunk tank will run from 5 to 7 p.m. next to the bank. At 7 p.m., NR Liquor Co. will sponsor a beanbag tournament, sign-up starting at 6:30.
The new event this year is “Minute to Win It,” set for 7 p.m. Friday on Broadway Ave. in the street dance area in front of the Star Eagle. Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs. Admission is a free-will donation. Refreshments and dessert will be served. Participants are still needed, according to Ihrke. Registration forms are available online at www.farmandcitydays.com or at NR City Hall.
From 8 p.m. to midnight, “Crazy Boyd” will entertain at NR Liquor.
At 9:45, the movie, “Honey I Shrunk the Kids,” will be presented at NR City Park. Bring your own lawn chairs and mosquito repellent. Concessions will be available. Donations will be accepted.
The action starts bright and early Saturday with the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church bake sale at 7 a.m. at NR Fire Hall and, from 7 to 10, a Dad’s Belgian Waffles breakfast at NR Fire Hall; admission is $5 with a Farm and City Days button, $7 without, kids 5-and-under free. Jim Kozan will entertain.
At 9 a.m., the Farm vs. City 3-Person Scramble starts at Riverview Golf Course. Pre-register at Riverview.
The always-popular Top 25 Antique Car Show is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday near City Hall on main street. Registration starts at 8 a.m. Awards will be presented at 1.
A horseshoe tournament is set for 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the pits near NR Care Center. Sign up at 9 am. on site.
Another old favorite, the NR Town and Country Garden Club’s Public Showing of Flowers, is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at City Hall. Registration is from 8-10 a.m. Public vote will decide the winner. Coffee and bars will be served.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the New Richland Area Historical Society will have a display set up in the restored Odd Fellows building honoring NRHEG athletics.
The annual Kiddie Parade on Wheels starts at 11 a.m. at City Hall, ending at City Park. Kids of all ages are invited to decorate their choice of wheels: bike, go-cart, tricycle, motorized car or wagon. Entry is one non-perishable item or cash donation for the NR Area Food Shelf. Hot dogs and chips will be provided for participants in the City Park after the parade.
NRHEG FFA presents a Farm Animal Petting Zoo in the City Park from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
From noon to 4 p.m., the Kids Fun Zone will be set up in City Park, with inflatables and face painting. Admission is $10 in advance, $15 Saturday. Tickets are available at local businesses.
The dunk tank will operate from noon to 9 p.m.
Another popular event, the Kids Amazing Race, starts at 1 p.m. for children age 10-15. Two-person teams, limit 14 teams. Sign up at City Hall.
Check-in for the 28th annual parade starts at 3 p.m. on 1st St. near Morgan’s Meat Market. The parade starts at 5 p.m.
“Stix of Fury,” a drum corps from Blooming Prairie, will perform at City Park at 7 p.m.
The fun for adults is from 8:30 to 12:30 a.m. with a street dance featuring the band “IV Play.” Admission is $8 or free with a Farm and City Days button.
Activities continue Sunday with a softball tournament at 10 a.m. at Legion Field. Entry is $100 per team with eight teams maximum. To sign up, call Taylor Holland at 456-4972.
The annual Community Worship Service is at 10:30 a.m. at City Park.
Winning numbers for Farm and City Days buttons will be drawn at 11:30 a.m. at City Park.
The NRAHS’s display continues from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The final scheduled event is the annual Ice Cream Social at St. Peter’s Lutheran, Otisco, starting at 4 p.m.
Farm and City Days buttons cost $5 and can be purchased at many local businesses. The button not only allows discounted breakfast and free admission to the street dance, but a chance to win cash prizes.
This year’s Farm and City Days button was designed by NRHEG fourth-grader Josh Martin.
The Farm and City Days medallion was found Tuesday, July 2 by Dustin Arndt of New Richland. It was hidden behind a no parking sign in front of the new library.
Small town celebrations are Americana at its finest. Take some time during 2013 Farm and City Days to say hello to old friends and relatives and maybe even make a few new friends along the way.
Farm & City Days Parade Grand Marshals
• 2013 — 2012-13 NRHEG Girls’ Basketball Team
• 2012 — Gail Schmidt
• 2011 — Pastor Paul Andree
• 2010 — Pam and Larry Goehring
• 2009 — Myron Schumacher
• 2008 — Gene and Sylvia Dodge
• 2007 — Mary Ann Schlaak
• 2006 — Vince Peterson
• 2005 — Don and Audrinne Smith
• 2004 — Pastor Phil Lewison
• 2003 — Gene and Mildred Budach
• 2002 — Orrin Ribbe (Honorary Gary Billing)
• 2001 — Bernie Anderson
• 2000 — Dale and Dawn Halgren
• 1999 — Beth Wesselhoeft
• 1998 — Jim Jessen
• 1997 — Margaret Engesser
• 1996 — Pastor Charles Espe
• 1995 — Lee Mendenhall
• 1994 — Gene Amley
• 1993 — Elmer and Marilyn Quiram
• 1992 — Jean Horn
• 1991 — Bill Robinson
• 1990 — Edna and Vince Erdmann
• 1989 — Herb Prescher
• 1988 — Abraham Family
• 1987 — Dr. Albert Flor
• 1986 — Harry Anderson
• 1985 — Leo Eckart
• 1984 — Dr. George H. Olds