MARSHALL — History, community and fun will all be part of events planned this weekend in area communities. The city of Ghent’s Belgian American Days festival, the annual threshing show at Hanley Falls, and the Upper Sioux Community’s Traditional Wacipi all start off on Friday evening.

While Belgian American Days celebrates Belgian culture with events like rolle bolle tournaments, there are plenty of opportunities to just get together and have fun with neighbors. This year, organizers said the festival will kick off with a “.05K race,” followed by a picnic and swing dance party. The super-short race – at just 164 feet long – is more of a chance to dress up and have fun. This year, participants are being encouraged to dress in Belgian farmer attire. At the finish line, the community picnic will include games, swing dancing and music by Mario Callens.

On Saturday, events continue with rolle bolle, a vendor fair, kids’ activities and the 17th annual Belgian American Days car show. The annual grand parade and a street dance featuring IV Play will help close out the day. This year, long-time Ghent supporter Jack Hennen will be honored as the parade grand marshal, said Chassidy DeRoode.

“We pick our grand marshal based off of their support of our community,” DeRoode said.

A peek into the past at Hanley Falls

Whether it’s antique tractors, gas engines, or freshly-made ice cream, there should be something to catch everyone’s interest at the Pioneer Power Good Old Days and Threshing Show event at Hanley Falls. This weekend’s event will feature both events like tractor parades and farm demonstrations, as well as a flea market and craft show.

Each year, the show has a different theme, said Mark Antony, one of the event organizers. “We usually try and rotate to different manufacturers,” Anthony said. This year’s featured equipment manufacturers are Oliver and Minneapolis Moline, and United/Associated Engines.

“There will be a variety of equipment and activities there,” Antony said.

Visitors can see a wide range of farm demonstrations, like threshing, blacksmithing and shingle-making. There will be some competitions, too. An antique tractor pull is planned on Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday morning kids ages 5-12 can compete in a pedal tractor pull. “We hope to have a good show,” Antony said.

Dance and community at Traditional Wacipi

This Friday is also the start of the Pezihutazizi Oyate Traditional Wacipi at the Upper Sioux Community, near Granite Falls. A wacipi, or powwow, is a Native American cultural tradition that brings people together to celebrate, dance and sing.

Grand entries will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the wacipi. This year, additional events are planned on Saturday including all-ages activities like beadworking, and learning about foraging and edible plants. Demonstrations of flint knapping – the process of shaping stone tools – are also planned on Saturday afternoon.

Schedules of events:

Belgian American Days, Ghent

Friday

6 p.m. – Bean bag tournament at KB’s Bar & Grill ballroom

6 p.m. – Little Miss Ghent coronation on main stage

6:30 p.m. – Belgian cookie making demonstration

7 p.m. – Softball tournament

7 p.m. – “Life Is Better On the Farm” .05K race. Dress in farm attire.

7:05-9 p.m. – Music by Mario Callens, swing dancing demonstrations, line dancing and games

8 p.m – Rolle bolle: draw format

8 p.m. – Kids’ pedal tractor pull, followed by adult tractor pull

9 p.m. – Movie at the ice rink

Saturday

8 a.m. – Softball tournament

10 a.m.-2 p.m. – Inflatables and Jessica’s Petting Zoo at Legion Park

10:30 a.m. – Rolle bolle: Calcutta format

11 a.m. – Rolle bolle tournament: A&B division format

11 a.m.-3 p.m. – Vendor fair on Chapman Street

11 a.m. – 17th annual car show

1 p.m. – Rolle bolle: novice format

2:30 p.m. – Car show awards

4:30 p.m. – Grand parade

5 p.m. – Fire department feed at fire hall

5:30 p.m. – Presentation of grand marshal Jack Hennen

9 p.m. – Street dance featuring IV Play

Sunday

9 a.m. – KB’s open for breakfast

10:30 a.m. – Mass at St. Eloi Church

11 a.m. – Services at Iglesia Cristiana Rayo De Luz

Good Old Days and Threshing Show, Hanley Falls

Friday

10 a.m.-4 p.m. – Minnesota Machinery Museum open

5 p.m. – Tractor drive

Saturday

Expo building with displays

Craft show and flea market

10 am.-4 p.m. – Minnesota Machinery Museum open

1:30 p.m. – Parade

4 p.m. – Antique tractor pull featuring pre-1960 tractors

Sunday

Expo building with displays

Craft show and flea market

8:30 a.m. – Sunday worship service

10 a.m. – Kids’ pedal tractor pull

1-4:30 p.m. – Minnesota Machinery Museum open

1:30 p.m. – Parade

Upper Sioux Community Traditional Wacipi

Friday

7 p.m. – Grand entry

Saturday

9 a.m. – Flag raising by Sisseton-Wahpeton Kit Fox Color Guard

9:30 a.m. – Beadworking with Alena at wacipi grounds shelter

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Meal served

Noon and 3 p.m. – Flint knapping demonstrations near registration stand

1 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Grand entry

4 p.m. – Foraging with Adam at wacipi grounds shelter

Sunday

9 a.m. – Flag raising by Sisseton-Wahpeton Kit Fox Color Guard

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Meal served

1 p.m. – Grand entry