Photo by Deb Gau A bubble machine set up by the Cottonwood Fire Department created a big pile of suds for kids to play in at the splash dance during Coming Home Days in Cottonwood

COTTONWOOD — There was a little something for everyone in Cottonwood over the weekend, from the hillside water slides at the kids’ splash party, to music and a street dance for adults. But no matter what was going on, there was a common thread of bringing community members together.

Area residents said Cottonwood’s Coming Home Days lives up to its name as people with connections to the town return for the celebration. The festival’s parade included reunion floats from the Cottonwood class of 1992 and the Lakeview class of 2007.

Members of the Bundy family, who were watching the parade on East Main Street, said they also hold their family reunions during Coming Home Days.

“It’s fun, because the family can come and there’s a bunch of activities,” said Jenna Myrvik. The timing of the festival also falls near her grandmother Lola Bundy’s birthday, she said.

“It’s really fun to see people you haven’t seen for a while,” Cottonwood resident Sue Morton said of Coming Home Days. “Everyone just comes together as a community.”

Lots of events during Coming Home Days were geared toward visiting and bringing people together. One new event, a garden tour, featured different stops around Cottonwood.

“It’s fun to see people, and visit with other gardeners,” said Cindy Harris. Cindy and Dave Harris’ back garden was one of the stops on the tour. Cindy said she’s been working on the garden since about 1990. Now it has features like fountains, a shade garden and 38 hydrangea plants.

“I was just blown away,” by seeing the garden, said tour attendee Marge Reishus.

People at Coming Home Days also showed up to support local community organizations. On Saturday, lines for the burger and pork supper fundraisers for the Cottonwood Fire Department and Ambulance stretched across the fire hall parking lot. This year, there was also a for a new community project: a splash pad and other proposed updates at Cottonwood’s C.W. Reishus Park.

“This is basically our kick-off,” said Tam French. French was one of the area residents selling “walking desserts” in Central Park to help raise money for the splash pad. French said the city of Cottonwood and the Cottonwood Area Community Foundation were also partners in the project.

Organizers said the full project, which would include the splash pad, a new bath house at Reishus park, and construction of a new park shelter and other improvements, is projected to be about $600,000. Because of the cost, the park improvements will likely need to be built in phases. The first phase would be the splash pad and bath house.

The city and supporters of the project had received a lot of interest, although the fundraising had just started, French said.

Jasmine Hurt, who was at Saturday’s splash dance with her children, said her family would enjoy having a splash pad in Cottonwod.

“The nearest one around here would be like in Willmar, which is an hour away,” she said.