64th Annual Waseca Sleigh & Cutter Festival kicks off Jan. 31
By KEN BORGMANN
Coordinator, Waseca County Sleigh & Cutter Festival
Are you ready for some winter fun? Are you ready for a Friday night party? The 64th Waseca Sleigh & Cutter Festival has that and a lot more.
This year we have 27 events scheduled over 12 days from Jan. 31 to Feb. 22. There are events for all ages and interests. Check out our website events page for a complete schedule: www.sleighandcutter.org.
What’s new? Chris Brooks and the Silver City Boys will play from 8:30 p.m. to close at the VFW Club after our dinner. The $12 dinner of a 12-ounce Lau’s stuffed pork chop, mashed potatoes and gravy, mixed vegetables, salad and dinner roll will start at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7.
We are excited to have our four reigning queens and princesses open the dance at 8:30. Miss Minnesota’s Outstanding Teen, Corrina Swiggum, will perform her self-defense routine.
We added another western entertainment group, Elm Creek Cowboys. This new group and the Cannon Old West Society will ‘rob’ the First Prairie Bank in the old theatre building downtown Waseca before the noon parade starts on Saturday, Feb. 8. SIMO will broadcast a narrative of the event. So, gather around to see the robbery.
The 17th Frosty and Medallion Hunt prizes have each increased by $250 to $1,500. We are very happy to see this event grow. Please thank all the sponsors for their generosity. Watch and listen for clues.
Another new entry is the Law Enforcement Memorial Association. This group provides memorial services to fallen officers with a horse drawn caisson and color guard. They will lead our parade with their truck and enclosed trailer. At noon Saturday, Feb. 8 the parade is our main attraction. What small town can say they have 200 horses parading through town? Waseca can!
Ice Sculpting is returning for the third year. Come to Gallagher Square to see the sculptors work their chainsaw magic starting on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
Other activities: squirts hockey tournament; bridge, cribbage, pfeffer and euchre card tournaments; ice plunge; ice harvest; ice sculpting; 15th annual children’s coloring contest; ice curling; family movie night; ice golf; Kruger Memorial vintage snowmobile race; snowmobile trail rides and more events. Who will be Mr. Waseca?
On Saturday, March 22, we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of our Children’s Dream Catcher Fund with bingo, meat raffles, live and silent auctions starting at 2 p.m. at Katie O’Leary’s. Youth under 18 can play if accompanied by an adult.
The 2013 Waseca Sleigh & Cutter royalty is as follows: Miss South Central — Lauren Fellows; Miss Waseca County Sleigh & Cutter — Katie Schroeder; Miss Waseca County Sleigh & Cutter’s Outstanding Teen — Sadie Odenbrett; and Miss South Central’s Outstanding Teen — Alyssa Crum.
Thanks are extended to all sponsors, festival members, and individuals who support our community festival.