Their community festival celebrates Danish heritage. But organizers say some of this year’s Aebleskiver Days events are also looking back to Tyler’s local culture.

The festival kicks off Friday with a chance for area residents to cruise around Tyler’s Main Street.

“We’re having an old-fashioned Friday night,” said Diane Borresen, chairwoman of the Aebleskiver Days committee. The event is new for this year’s festival, and Borresen said it calls back to the days when young people would take their cars downtown and “beat the street,” she said. There will also be root beer floats and music by The Frogs at Tyler’s bandshell park.

Borresen said the concert was also a nod to Tyler’s past, as well as being fun.

“It used to be the high school band always had a concert on Friday night,” she said.

On Saturday, there will be something for everyone as Aebleskiver Days continues. In addition to kid-friendly events like a barnyard petting zoo, there will also be music and entertainment. The Apple Annies singing group from La Crescent will be performing Saturday afternoon. Borresen said one of the Annies, Gwynne Mishler, is originally from Tyler. Magician Travis Nye will also be performing at the Tyler bandshell on Saturday, and there will be pølse — Danish-style hot dogs – available, Borresen said.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Aebleskiver Days without the ball-shaped Danish pancakes the festival is named after. Borresen said aebleskivers remain a popular treat for visitors during the celebration.

The community festival is one that brings people together in Tyler, Borresen said. “People come from everywhere. It’s amazing.”

Yellow Medicine County Fair time in Canby

County fair season is in full swing in southwest Minnesota, and this weekend it’s Yellow Medicine County’s turn for a few days of fun. The Yellow Medicine County Fair kicks off in Canby today, with kids’ day events in addition to vendors, entertainment, 4-H events and lots more.

Some of the events planned for the fair are open for visitors to take part in. On Friday afternoon, the FFA Ag Olympics invites participants to test their skills and speed in a farming relay race. And on Saturday, youth can show off their pets in the small animal show.

Daily live music is planned for the fair, with a variety of styles for fair visitors to enjoy. Polka fans can check out the Larry Olsen Band on Thursday evening. On Friday, Street Talk will be playing classic rock tunes, and on Saturday the Red Letter Band will be bringing bluegrass and country into the mix.

Grandstand events at the fair are bringing back crowd-pleasers like racers from the Casino Speedway in Watertown, a demolition derby and Baja races.

More information on the fair and event schedules can be found online at www.ymcfair.org.

Schedule of events:

Aebleskiver Days in Tyler

Friday

9 a.m. Aebleskiver Days golf tournament

5-7 p.m. Picnic supper and Chalk the Walk at Tyler swimming pool.

6 p.m. Old-fashioned Friday night at Bandshell Park. Root beer floats served. Entertainment by The Frogs at 7 p.m.

6:30-8 p.m. Pool games and open swim at Tyler pool. Free admission.

Saturday

7:45 a.m. Registration begins for Aebleskiver Amble 5K and 8 mile bike at Lincoln County Fairgrounds

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

9 a.m.-2 p.m. Aebleskiver served at 4-H fairgrounds building.

9 a.m.-11 p.m. RTR barnyard at the cattle barn

9 a.m.-noon Danebod Sweet Shop at the fairgrounds pavilion, with Danish coffee cake strips, butter cookies and leverpostej

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

10 a.m Kiddie Junior Olympics at the ballfields. Ages 1-8.

10 a.m. Kickball tournament at the ballfields

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mural painting at the fairgrounds

10 a.m Tae kwon do demonstration at the fairgrounds

11 a.m. Talent contest under the fairgrounds tent

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Trolley rides at the fairgrounds

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Jessica’s Little Ponies at the cattle barn

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Beer garden at the fairgrounds

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Car show at the fairgrounds

11 a.m. Bouncy house at the fairgrounds

Noon Bingo at the fairgrounds

1 p.m. The Singing Apple Annies under the fairgrounds tent

3-4:30 p.m. Danebod campus tours

3-5 p.m. RTR School tours

4 p.m. Magician Travis Nye at the bandshell

4-6 p.m. Danebod Polser “Danish style” hot dogs

6 p.m. Grand parade

9 p.m.-1 a.m. Free dance featuring October Road band

Sunday

9:30 a.m. Community church service with the Hallelujah Hooligans

Yellow Medicine County Fair in Canby

(More information and 4-H events schedule at www.ymcfair.org)

Today

Kids’ day

1-7 p.m. Balloon artistry by Mandana

2-6 p.m. Jessica’s Little Ponies & Rascals petting zoo

5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Blue Barn Art Studio youth painting classes at the Conservation Building

5 p.m. Kids’ watermelon eating contest at the Exhibit Building

5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Free polka music by the Larry Olsen Band at the Pavilion

5:30 p.m. Gates open for races by Casino Speedway of Watertown at the grandstand

6 p.m. Hypnotist Freddie Justice at the Pavilion

Friday

2 p.m. FFA Ag Olympics near the 4-H building

3 p.m. Bramble Park Zoo show

4-5 p.m. Bramble Park Zoo meet and greet

4 p.m. Root beer floats at the Exhibit Building

7 p.m. Demolition derby and kids’ Power Wheels derby at the grandstand

8 p.m. Classic rock music by Street Talk

Saturday

9:30 a.m. Registration opens for Little Scrappers pedal pull

11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. All American lumberjack show and camp

1-3 p.m. Car show

1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Blue Barn Art Studio adult painting classes at the Conservation Building

2:30 p.m. Small animal/pet show. Open to all youth.

3:30 p.m. Lego building contest at the 4-H building

6 p.m. Free bluegrass music by Red Letter Band at the Pavilion

7 p.m. Baja Racing at the grandstand

9 p.m. Free live music by Red Letter Band