Two more community celebrations will be returning this weekend with a little something for everyone. The Yellow Medicine County Fair will be kicking off in Canby today with a carnival, demolition derby and more. And starting on Friday, Tyler will be celebrating both Danish heritage and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Schools during Aebleskiver Days.

“We’re really looking forward to having a good turnout this year,” said Yellow Medicine County Fair board member Gabby Nemitz. “We’ve had a lot of support from the communities.”

Nemitz said there are already some signs of good participation at the fair.

“There’s a larger number of open-class exhibits being entered this year,” she said.

There’s also a new carnival, and a variety of music and grandstand events. A demolition derby will be held tonight at the grandstand, followed by a tractor pull Friday night and Baja races on Saturday. There will also be musical performances by the Wendinger polka band, Hicktown Mafia and the Red Letter Band.

“Sunday is our Kids’ Day,” Nemitz said. There will be plenty of activities like a pedal pull and kids’ crafts, as well as two performances by Bob and the Beachcombers. “They will be doing a kids’ show and an adult concert. That’s a really interactive show.”

Celebrating

RTR Schools

Aebleskiver, the traditional ball-shaped Danish pancakes, are always a part of Aebleskiver Days in Tyler. But in addition to celebrating the community’s Danish heritage, this year the festival will be highlighting the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Schools as well.

“We’re excited. We’ve got a lot going on,” said Diane Borresen, one of the organizers of this year’s festival. In addition to a craft and vendor fair, talent show and other activities, many RTR class reunions are planned for the weekend, she said.

The theme of RTR Schools will carry through Saturday’s Grand Parade as well. Borresen said this year’s grand marshal will be RTR Superintendent David Marlette, and many of the floats in the parade will also have ties to the schools.

“Even the lunch ladies are having a float,” she said. Special parade participants will include the Minnesota Vikings Skol Line drumline, and former Viking and RTR alumnusTodd Bouman.

During Aebleskiver Days, there will also be an open house at the old RTR High School in Tyler, and two opportunities to take a guided tour of the new K-12 RTR School which is scheduled to open this fall.

“We thought, since it’s that close to opening, it would be a good time for tours,” Borresen said.

One part of Aebleskiver Days tradition has changed a little this year. Borresen said treats like Danish coffee cake will be on sale at the Lincoln County fairgrounds instead of the Danebod Folk School campus, as the campus is closed due to COVID-19 precautions.

Schedules of events

Aebleskiver Days

(All events at Lincoln County fairgrounds in Tyler unless otherwise specified)

Friday

8 a.m. Registration opens for Aebleskiver Days Golf Tournament

5-7 p.m. Picnic supper and Chalk the Walk at Tyler swimming pool. Pool games and open swim with free admission from 6:30-8.

Saturday

7:45 a.m. Registration opens for Aebleskiver Amble run/bike 5K and 8 miles

9 a.m.-noon Danebod Sweet Shop at 4-H pavilion

9 a.m-3 p.m. Vendors and crafters, concessions

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Aebleskiver (round Danish pancakes) served at 4-H building. Gluten free options available.

10 a.m.-noon Library book sale in front of the library

10 a.m.-2 p.m Trolley rides

10 a.m. Model airplane demonstrations at the Tyler Municipal Airport

10 a.m.-3 p.m. FFA petting zoo

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mural painting

10 a.m. Taekwondo demonstrations

10 a.m. Kickball tournament at fairground fields

10 a.m. Kiddie junior Olympics for children ages 1-8

10:30 a.m.Talent contest at fairgrounds stage

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Jessica’s Little Ponies & Rascals

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Car show

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Open house at RTR High School

11 a.m. Bouncy house

11 a.m. Tour of new RTR School

Noon Bingo

12:30-3 p.m. 2nd Opinion band at fairgrounds stage

1 p.m. Aebleskiver eating contest at 4-H building

1-3 p.m. Kids’ crayon candles at The Rock. Open to kids in grade 2-5.

2 p.m. Tour of new RTR School

4-6 p.m. First English burger feed at Bandshell Park. Bring a lawn chair.

6 p.m. Grand Parade on Main Street.

Sunday

9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Chris Cakes pancake feed for RTR Athletics at 4-H pavilion

9:30 a.m. Community church service. Bring lawn chairs. In case of rain, services will be held in the fairgrounds commercial building.

Yellow Medicine County Fair

All day Thursday-Sunday: Midwest Rides & Concessions

Today

Buffalo Ridge 2-Cylinder Club tractors

2-6 p.m. Virtual reality in the Exhibit Building

3-7 p.m. Old School House open to visitors

4-9 p.m. Canby Lions Club Bingo

5 p.m. Wendinger Band polka music at the Pavilion Building

7 p.m. Demolition derby at the grandstand

7 p.m. Wendinger Band polka music at the Pavilion Building

Friday

Buffalo Ridge 2-Cylinder Club tractors

11 a.m. FFA tractor driving demonstration at the grandstand

11 a.m.-6 p.m. Crafters market

3-7 pm. Old School House open for visitors

3 p.m. Ole & Lena Show at the Pavilion Building

4-9 p.m. Canby Lions Club Bingo

4 p.m. Crochet with Steph at the Conservation Building

4-6 p.m. Farmers market

5-7 p.m. Bramble Park Zoo at the Heritage Center

5-7:30 p.m. Midwest Cattlemen’s Supper at 4-H food stand

7 p.m. Great Plains Tractor Pull at the grandstand

9 p.m. Hicktown Mafia at the Heritage Center

Saturday

Corn pile dig at the Exhibit Building

Noon Show Your Ride car show west of Exhibit Building

1:30 p.m. Buried treasure hunt at Heritage Center

2-6 p.m. Virtual reality at the Exhibit Building

2 p.m. Ag Olympics sponsored by Canby FFA

2:30 p.m. Don B. Juggling/Magic/Comedy at Heritage Center

3-7 p.m. Old School House open for visitors

3:30 p.m. Lego building contest

4 p.m. Small animal show

4-9 p.m. Canby Lions Club Bingo

5 p.m. Don B. Juggling/Magic/Comedy at Heritage Center

6 p.m. Red Letter Band at the Pavilion Building

7 p.m. Baja Races at the grandstand

9 p.m. Red Letter Band at the Pavilion Building

Sunday (Kids’ Day)

10:30 a.m. Community church service at the Pavilion Building

Noon-6 p.m. Mandana balloon artist

1 p.m. Kids’ pedal pull

2 p.m. Bob & the Beachcombers kids’ show at the Heritage Center

2-6 p.m. Virtual reality at the Exhibit Building

3 p.m. Kids’ craft by Blue Barn Art Studio at the Conservation Building

3:30 p.m. Sandbox dig at the Exhibit Building

4 p.m. Bob & the Beachcombers concert at the Heritage Center

5 p.m. Exhibit release and cleanup