COTTONWOOD — This weekend, area residents will have a chance to be part of some unique celebrations.

At Cottonwood’s Coming Home Days, the focus will be on the community, including a special anniversary. And at the Murray County Classic draft horse show, horse teams from around the country will be gathering in Slayton.

After a year off due to COVID-19, Cottonwood community members are looking forward to celebrating Coming Home Days this weekend, said Cottonwood Clerk-Administrator Teather Bliss.

“I think everyone is going to be excited,” Bliss said. “We’ve gotten a lot of people interested in being in the parade this year too.”

The lineup of events at Coming Home Days includes a Dueling Pianos performance this evening.

“It will be the second time we’ve had them in Cottonwood,” Bliss said.

Fireworks over Cottonwood Lake are also planned tonight, and on Saturday a wide range of family-friendly events like a medallion hunt, face painting, bean bag tournaments and a splash dance are planned at Central Park.

At the same time, a major Cottonwood business will be marking a milestone. North Star Mutual Insurance Company will hold an open house in Cottonwood on Saturday to celebrate their 100th anniversary.

“Our actual 100th anniversary was last year. Of course, with a pandemic we weren’t really able to celebrate it,” said Sarah Hansen of North Star Mutual. Now that they’ve got the opportunity to celebrate, North Star Mutual Insurance is inviting the public to come visit. “It will be great to get everyone together.”

‘A lot of smiles’ at

Draft Horse Show

A unique competition returns to Slayton this weekend with teams of Percheron, Belgian, and Clydesdale horses competing in the Murray County Classic draft horse show. After a year off because of COVID, “The exhibitors are definitely wanting to get back out there,” as are spectators, said Joe Biren, one of the organizers of the show. “We’re going to see a lot of smiles here this weekend.”

Biren said 12 six-horse hitches will be competing on Saturday and Sunday. The draft horse show draws competitors from across the country, including Michigan, Colorado and Oklahoma.

“These are some very athletic horses,” Biren said.

In addition to the draft horse events, the show will feature old-time farming demonstrations, good food and malts at the Murray County fairgrounds.

Slayton has held the draft horse show since 2007, and over the past 14 years, the fairgrounds have continued to improve, Biren said.

“It puts a very proud spotlight on Murray County,” he said.

Schedules of events

Cottonwood Coming Home Days

Today

1 p.m. Country Club four-person golf scramble

8 p.m. Dueling Pianos at the fire hall, with cash bar

8 p.m. Livin Rich Entertainment at LeRoy’s

9:30 p.m. Fireworks over Cottonwood Lake

Saturday

7:30 a.m. 5K walk/run fundraiser at Lake Park

8 a.m. Cottonwood Community Market

9 a.m. Medallion hunt

9 a.m. Free 4 All garage sale at Swan Lake Church

10 a.m. Bean bag tournament starts

10 a.m. Volleyball tournament at Lake Park

11 a.m. Booster Club kiddie pedal pull

11 a.m. North Star Mutual Insurance 100th anniversary open house

11 a.m. Ambulance burger feed

Noon R.C. planes at the golf course

1 p.m. Splash dance

2 p.m. Face and hair painting

4 p.m. Coming Home Days parade

4:30 p.m. Fire Department pork feed

8 p.m. Street dance at LeRoy’s

Murray County Classic Draft Horse Show

(All events at Murray County fairgrounds, Slayton)

Friday

7:30 p.m. Classic Cart Series, Junior Cart and Junior Team Show

Saturday

9 a.m. Gates open

10 a.m. Old time farming demonstrations

2 p.m. Draft Horse Show

Sunday

9 a.m. Gates open

12:30 p.m. Draft Horse Show