MARSHALL — There’s going to be plenty to do in southwest Minnesota this weekend — and organizers of local festivals like Balaton’s Fun Fest and Cottonwood’s Coming Home Days are making sure there’s something for everyone. Both community celebrations are featuring a variety of events geared toward kids, youth and adults.

This weekend, spectators can also see some real “horse power” at the Murray County Classic Draft Horse Show in Slayton, and experience a new, expanded version of the Laura Ingalls Wilder story at the Wilder Pageant in Walnut Grove.

Fun without a paddle in Balaton

This year, Balaton Fun Fest will be bringing back some popular events — including one that will take participants out on Lake Yankton for a unique race.

On Saturday morning, teams will be competing in the “oarless canoe race,” organizers said. Each team of canoers will need to paddle from the Lake Yankton swimming beach out to a buoy and back.

“You paddle with your arms, and that’s all you get to use,” said Jared Hively.

“We have a traveling paddle as a trophy,” said Brita Fricke.

Fricke and Hively said another event that will be returning this year is the BBQ rib cook-off at Legion-Lion Park. The number of competitors has gone up this year, and organizers said they’ve added cook-off events. In addition to ribs, teams will also be judged on chicken thighs and side dishes.

“It’s been a very good thing to add to our Fun Fest,” Hively said.

Spectators can also enjoy a new Bloody Mary bar at the park on Saturday morning, organizers said.

A wide variety of events at Fun Fest will also include fireworks tonight, a parade on Saturday, and the firemen’s street dance on Saturday night.

‘Coming Home’ to Cottonwood

Cottonwood’s annual community festival, Coming Home Days also kicks off with a bang tonight. In addition to events like karaoke and bingo, there will be a fireworks display over Cottonwood Lake.

Saturday will be a big day to catch a variety of events geared toward people of all ages. The day will start out with a 5K walk/run, and also feature both volleyball and bean bag tournaments. Classic events like a splash dance, parade and street dance will all happen Saturday as well. The Cottonwood Fire Department and Ambulance will also have their annual pork and burger feeds.

On Sunday, Coming Home Days will include a unique way for people to help support a Cottonwood community project. A total of 300 tickets for “cow pie bingo” will be sold with proceeds going to the Laker Island Splash Pad. Sunday afternoon, a cow will be let loose into a field marked with 300 numbered squares. The square that ends up with a cow pie on it will win a $1,000 prize.

Draft Horse Show in Slayton

The Murray County fairgrounds will be the place to be to watch hitches of massive draft horses compete this weekend. The Murray County Classic Draft Horse Show will feature three days of events, with shows tonight, and Saturday and Sunday afternoon. While the Saturday and Sunday shows are at 2 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. respectively, the gates will open earlier. That way, visitors will have a chance to see the horses in the barns as they gear up for the show.

Fragments of a Dream, family festival in Walnut Grove

Walnut Grove’s annual “Fragments of a Dream” pageant starts this weekend, with a newly re-written script that expands on the story of the Ingalls family in Walnut Grove. This year’s show, “Chasing the Dream,” is part of a three-episode series that will continue in 2024 and 2025. “Chasing the Dream” includes events like the Ingalls’ struggles with blizzards and grasshoppers in 1870s Minnesota, as well as the birth of Laura’s baby brother Freddy.

“Fragments of a Dream” performances begin at 7 p.m. today and Saturday, and continue the weekends of July 14-15, and July 21-22.

Visitors to Walnut Grove can also check out the Family Festival at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. The event includes family activities, entertainment, demonstrations and more on Saturday. A Laura and Nellie look-alike contest will be held at 3 p.m, with registration starting at 1:30 p.m.

Schedules

Balaton Fun Fest

Today

10 a.m. – Two-person best ball 18-hole golf tournament

1-5 p.m. – Balaton History Center open

3-5:30 p.m. – The Borchert Challenge at Balaton Bay Golf Course putting green

5-8 p.m. – Touch the Truck, inflatables, coin dig at Legion-Lion Park

5-8:30 p.m. – Mobile Heart Beats, Legion-Lion Park

5-8:30 p.m. – Balaton Area Community Foundation burger feed, Legion-Lion Park

6:30 p.m. – Junior bean bag tournament

7 p.m. – Meet Little Miss and Mister Balaton candidates

7:15 p.m. – “Let’s Make a Deal” by Balaton Chamber

10 p.m. – Fireworks at Eastbay

Saturday

7:30 a.m. – Rib cook-off, Legion-Lion Park

8-10 a.m. – Bloody Mary bar and eggs, Legion-Lion Park

8 a.m. – Fun run

8:30 a.m. – Three-on-three basketball registration, Main Street

8:30 a.m. – Sand volleyball tournament, Knudson-Bosley Park

9 a.m. – Two-person nine-hole golf tournament

9 a.m.-Noon – Balaton History Center open

9:30 a.m. – “Oarless canoe races,” Knudson-Bosley Park

10:30 a.m. – Kiddie parade, Legion-Lion Park

11 a.m.-6 p.m. – Food vendors

11 a.m.-2 p.m. – Inflatables, Legion-Lion Park

2 p.m. – Grand parade

3-5 p.m. – Balaton History Center open

3-6 p.m. – Inflatables, Legion-Lion Park

3-6 p.m. – Balaton High School Reunion, Community Center

3-6 p.m. – Mobile Heart Beats, Legion-Lion Park

3-6 p.m. – Mechanical bull rides, Legion-Lion Park

3:30 p.m. – Pedal pull, Main Street

4 p.m. – Rib cook-off judging

4:30 p.m. – Cow bingo, bank parking lot

8-Midnight – Street dance featuring Hicktown Mafia

Sunday

10 a.m. – Ecumencial service, Victory Christian Church

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Trinity Lutheran Church dinner, Community Center

11 a.m.-3 p.m. – Inflatables, Legion-Lion Park

Noon-2 p.m. – Balaton History Center open

12:30 p.m. – Adult bean bag tournament, Legion-Lion Park

12:30 p.m. – Pickleball tournament, Legion-Lion Park

Coming Home Days in Cottonwood

Today

1 p.m. – Country Club Golf Scramble

6:30 p.m. – Lakeview Booster Bingo at Community Center

9 p.m.-1 a.m. – Livin Rich Karaoke at Leroy’s

Dusk – Fireworks over the lake

Saturday

7:30 a.m. – 5K walk/run

10 a.m. – Garden tours

10 a.m. – Volleyball tournament at CW Reishus Park

10 a.m. – Beanbag tournament at Central Park

11 a.m. – Ambulance burger feed

Noon – RC aircraft demonstration

1 p.m. – Splash Dance

2 p.m. – Pedal pull

4 p.m. – Parade

4:30 p.m. – Firemen’s pork feed

9 p.m.-1 a.m. – Street dance featuring Good For Gary

Sunday

1 p.m. – Cow pie bingo at CW Reishus Park

Murray County Classic Draft Horse Show

Today

7:30 p.m. showtime

Saturday

2 p.m. showtime, gates open at 9 a.m.

Sunday

12:30 p.m. showtime, gates open at 9 a.m.

Fragments of a Dream in Walnut Grove

Friday

7 p.m. Pageant

Saturday

11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. – Family Festival at Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

1:30 – Registration for Laura and Nellie lookalike contest. Contest begins at 3 p.m.

7 p.m. Pageant