Freedom, flights and fun lined up this weekend
Another busy weekend is coming up in southwest Minnesota, with community events celebrating freedom, flight, and lots of fun.
Events for Canby’s Hat Daze and Lake Benton’s Saddle Horse Holiday are kicking off today. The Ray Fagen Memorial Air Show, featuring World War II aircraft from the Pacific theater, is Saturday at the Granite Falls airport. And on Sunday, Marshall community members will be celebrating Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S.
Hat Daze/Father’s Day Air Show
A weekend of fun kicks off in Canby this afternoon, with a pork supper and kids’ events, followed by a full day of activities on Saturday. Canby’s Hat Daze festival includes everything from a downtown sidewalk art gallery, to a fun run with inflatable obstacles, a parade and other family-friendly events.
On Sunday, the free Father’s Day Air Show will bring a variety of aerobatic and formation fliers to the Canby airport, said airport manager Matt Wagner.
“It’s a great family outing for Father’s Day,” Wagner said. Over the past 16 years, he said, “We’ve had a very loyal following.”
In addition to the air show, Wagner said there will be a performance by the Neon Gypsy band, and bounce houses for the kids. Some bounce houses will have a water feature, to help beat the heat forecast for Sunday, he said.
Lake Benton Saddle Horse Holiday
Trail riders will be returning to the Lake Benton area this weekend, but there’s also lots to do even if you don’t have a horse. Saddle Horse Holiday events start today, with the announcement of the Lake Benton Citizen of the Year, kids’ events, and a fireworks display at dusk.
Family fun events continue on Saturday, plus a 5K walk/run, a car cruise-in and more. A talent contest will be held at the Lake Benton Opera House on Saturday night, followed by a dance featuring Hicktown Mafia at the Lake Benton Fire Hall.
The Dakota-Minnesota Trail Ride will be held Sunday morning, followed by the 76th annual Saddle Horse Holiday Parade, and Dakota-Minnesota saddle horse riding events.
Ray Fagen Memorial
Air Show
Saturday will be a big day for fans of historic airplanes as the Ray Fagen Memorial Air Show starts at the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum near Granite Falls. The theme for this year’s show is “Pride of the Pacific,” and the show will include former Navy aircraft from the Fagen Fightersas well as guest warbirds and air show performers Tora, Tora, Tora and Younkin Airshows.
The show begins at 3 p.m., but there’s a lot more on the schedule, including a panel discussion featuring World War II veterans, and a parachute demonstration. Later in the evening, there will be a concert by Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry.
Juneteenth comes
to Marshall
Area residents are welcome to enjoy a day of food, music and community during Juneteenth celebrations at Independence Park Sunday.
“It’s going to be great,” said Joyce Tofte, one of the organizers of Sunday’s event.
Juneteenth is also known as Black Freedom Day, Tofte said. Although the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery in the U.S. in 1863, it couldn’t be enforced in parts of the country that were still under Confederate control. It wasn’t until June 19, 1865, when troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, to announce that enslaved Black people in the state were now free.
Traditionally, Juneteenth is the kind of holiday celebrated with food like barbecue, music and community get-togethers, Tofte said. “We wanted to honor that,” she said.
Juneteenth celebrations will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Independence Park. There will be food vendors, live music including a performance by Titambe West African Dance Ensemble of Minnesota, and a red velvet cake competition judged by Mainstay Cafe.
“We’re excited for the amount of partnership,” with community members and businesses, she said.
Canby Hat Daze
Events at Central Park unless otherwise specified.
Friday
1 p.m. – Lancer Open 9-hole golf scramble
3-6 p.m. – Free bowling for kids at Lancer Lanes
4 p.m. – Kids’ read aloud and art project
5-7 p.m. – Pork supper
6 p.m. – Kids’ pedal pull
Saturday
8 a.m. – Disc golf tournament at Swimming Pool Park
8-10 a.m. – Pancake and sausage breakfast at Canby Depot
9 a.m. – Noon – Independent Oil Hat Daze Golf Scramble
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Free gnome painting
9 a.m. – Fun run with inflatables
9 a.m. – Vendor fair at Central Park
10:30 a.m. – Free movie showing of “Clifford” at Canby Theater
11 .m. – Co-ed volleyball tournament
Noon – Beanbag tournament at Heroes Sports Bar & Grill
3 p.m. – Hat Daze Parade
4-6 p.m. – Beef supper
5:30 p.m. – Canby Fire Department water fights
9 p.m. – 1 a.m. – “Uncle Chunk” live band at Heroes Sports Bar & Grill
Sunday
Free Father’s Day Air Show at Canby airport. Pancakes and waffles will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Burger feed from 11-2. Airshow begins at 1 p.m.
Lake Benton Saddle Horse Holiday
Lake Benton Saddle Horse Holiday
Friday
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – First Security Bank hot dog feed
11:30 a.m. – 2022 Citizen of the Year and Organization of the Year presentation
1 p.m. – Iron Man Jr. competition at School Park
2 p.m. – Kids’ Party at School Park
5-7 p.m. – American Legion baked chicken/pork chop fundraiser
6-9 p.m. – Softball tournament
Fireworks display at dusk
Saturday
Softball tournament all day
8:30 a.m. – Kids’ 1-mile walk/run at Hole-In-the-Mountain Park
9 a.m. – 5K walk/run
9 a.m. – Youth 3-on-3 basketball tournament
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Family Fun Day activities at School Park
12-3 p.m. – Car Cruise-In at Lake Benton Resort
Noon – Relay For Life beanbag tournament
1-3 p.m. – Opera House ice cream social
2-3:30 p.m. – Legion bingo
4-6:30 p.m. – Live band, music by Rockin’ Woody at Lake Benton resort
7 p.m. – Talent Contest at Lake Benton Opera House
9 p.m. – Firemen’s dance featuring Hicktown Mafia
Sunday
10 a.m. – Dakota-Minnesota trail ride
Noon – Saddle Horse Holiday parade
1 p.m. – Dakota-Minnesota Saddle Horse Events on Horse Hill, and kids’ saddle horse events
Ray Fagen Memorial Air Show
10:30 a.m. – Gates open
12:30 p.m. – WWII veterans panel discussion, featuring Navy ace Donald M. McPherson, P-38 pilot Jim Tyler, and Lt. Col. Huie Lamb, with moderator retired Brig. Gen. Edward McIlhenny.
1:55 p.m. — 101 Airborne Reenactor Group parachute demonstration
2:05 p.m. – Vehicle parade
2:25 p.m. – Chord-Ayres choral group, presentation of colors, opening prayer
3 p.m. – Air show begins
7 p.m. – Concert featuring Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry. Night air show featuring Younkin Airshows after the concert.
Juneteenth celebrations
at Independence Park
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. — Food vendors and music, story walk
11 a.m. – Red Velvet Cake competition
1 p.m. – Story hour by the Marshall-Lyon County Library