MARSHALL — Food, fun and community traditions are all on the calendar this weekend. The Yellow Medicine County Fair starts up Thursday in Canby, and in the community of Tyler, people will be celebrating Danish heritage at Aebleskiver Days.

Aebleskiver Days organizers said this week that their celebration will include events aimed at both kids and adults.

“It’s something you can do with your family,” said Diane Borresen. Some of the new events at this year’s festival include a baseball tournament, and a visit by the Great Plains ZooMobile. There will also be a variety of entertainment, both from local performers and special guests. Mona Christianson said seniors from Sunrise Manor in Tyler will be joining in on Saturday.

“They’re going to be performing,” she said.

“That should be really cool,” Borresen said.

Saturday’s entertainment also includes performances by comedian and ventriloquist James Wedgewood, and illusionist Max Fleet.

Borresen said this year’s Aebleskiver Days parade has a theme, “Candy Land.” Organizers are offering cash prizes for the best themed floats in the parade. “And if you want to decorate a golf cart, you can do that too,” she said.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Aebleskiver Days without the ball-shaped Danish pancakes that give the festival its name. Aebleskiver will be served starting Saturday morning, and a variety of Danish baked goodies will also be on sale. Later in the day, visitors can also try polser, hot dogs served with Danish-style toppings and remoulade sauce, Borresen said.

Christianson said it’s always fun to meet people who visit Tyler for Aebleskiver Days. “We draw a crowd from all over,” she said.

Cars, art and fun at the Yellow Medicine County Fair

The Yellow Medicine County Fair kicks off on Thursday in Canby, and the schedule has a little something for everyone. Grandstand events all three nights of the fair will be exciting for fans of both fast cars and demolition derby. On Thursday, the grandstand will host dirt track racing from Casino Speedway of Watertown, S.D. Friday night will feature a demolition derby and a Power Wheels demo derby for kids. On Saturday, it’s back to racing action with Baja races.

The fair will also feature a variety of kid- and family-friendly events. Thursday is kids’ day at the fair, with a petting zoo, balloon art and crafts. Attractions like inflatables and games will be available throughout the fair.

On Saturday, there will be a variety of fun competitions fairgoers can take part in. Youth can enter their pets in the small animal show, and there will be contests ranging from the Ag Olympics, to a pie-eating competition.

Wilder Pageant, family festival in Walnut Grove

The final weekend of performances is coming up for the “Fragments of a Dream” pageant in Walnut Grove. This year’s show, part of a new three-episode series, chronicles the events of the Ingalls family as they settled in Walnut Grove in the 1870s. A newly re-written script expands the story to include more of the historical events of the Ingalls’ lives.

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

Aebleskiver Days, Tyler

Friday

8 a.m. – Registration begins for Aebleskiver Days golf tournament

5-7 p.m. – Picnic supper at Tyler Swimming Pool. Free will donation.

5-7 p.m. – Chalk the Walk

6:30-8:30 p.m. – Pool party and games

Saturday

Baseball tournament

7:45 a.m. – Registration begins for Aebleskiver Amble 5K run and 8 mile bike

9 a.m.-2 p.m. – Aebleskiver served at Lincoln County Fairgrounds 4-H building

9 a.m.-11 p.m. – Danebod Sweet Shop at fairgrounds pavilion

9 a.m.-3 p.m. – Vendors and crafters

9 a.m-1 p.m. – RTR Barnyard at the cattle barn

9 a.m. – Taekwondo demonstration

10 a.m. – Aebleskiver eating contest

10:30 a.m. – Sunrise Manor performers

10 a.m. – Kiddie Olympics

10 a.m.-3 p.m. – Mural painting

10 a.m. – Model planes at Tyler airport

11 a.m. – Prairie Girl Melodies

11 a.m. – Library story and crafts

11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Great Plains Zoo Mobile

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

11 a.m.-2 p.m. – Trolley rides

11 a.m.-3 p.m. – Bounce house

11 a.m.-3 p.m. – Beer garden and pulled pork sandwich meal

11 a.m.-2 p.m. – Car show

Noon – Bingo

1 p.m. – Comedian and ventriloquist James Wedgewood

3-4:30 p.m. – Danebod campus tours

4 p.m. – Just For Kix dance teams at Bandshell Park, illusionist Max Fleet

4-6 p.m. – Danebod Polser (“Danish style” hot dogs) served

6 p.m – Grand Parade

Aebleskiver afterparty at fairgrounds following the parade. Free dance featuring October Road Band from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Sunday

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

Yellow Medicine County Fair, Canby

Thursday

Kids Day at the fairgrounds

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

3-10 p.m. – Bounce Around inflatables

4-6 p.m. – Balloon art by Lizzy the Clown

5 p.m. – Mario Callens and the Midwest Cowboys

5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – Kids’ crafts with Blue Barn Art Studio

7 p.m. – Casino Speedway of Watertown dirt race central

Friday

1-10 p.m. – Bounce Around inflatables

3 p.m. – Buried treasure hunt for ages 2-6

4-7 p.m. – Face painting

5 and 7 p.m. – The Windinger Band

5:30-7 p.m. – Steak sandwiches by the Midwest Cattlemen’s Association

7 p.m. – Demolition derby and kids’ Power Wheels derby

Saturday

11 a.m.-10 p.m. – Bounce Around inflatables

10 a.m. – Little Scrappers pedal pull

12:30 p.m. – Youth small animal show

1 and 4 p.m. – Blue Barn Art Studio adult class

2 p.m. – FFA Ag Olympics

3 p.m. – Pie eating contest

3:30 p.m. – Lego building contest

7 p.m. – Baja Races

9 p.m. – Roxbury Band

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

12:30 – Presentation by author Robynne Elizabeth Miller

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

2:30 – Presentation by author Robynne Elizabeth Miller

7 p.m. Pageant