Weekend festivals bring summer to a close
HopFest, Boxelder Bug Days, Hot Iron Days all kick off Friday
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MARSHALL -- As the summer comes to an end, it's a good time to get outdoors and enjoy yourself, organizers of area festivals said this week. In Marshall, preparations were underway Wednesday for HopFest, the annual music and craft beer event outside the Brau Brothers brewery.
"We've got some great bands coming," including some performers new to HopFest, said Dustin Brau. "It's fun to get bands we've never had before."
This weekend will bring one last group of summer festivals to the area, including HopFest, Boxelder Bug Days in Minneota, and Hot Iron Days in Lamberton.
Brau said HopFest will kick off on Friday night, with performances by two different bands. The festivities will continue throughout the day Saturday.
"We've got quite a bit going on," Brau said. The morning will start out with both craft brews and yoga at the "Bend and Brew" event; as well as the return of the Beer Mile race. The Beer Mile is an event where participants drink a beer before every quarter mile of the run.
This year, the HopFest Beer Mile will be a certified event. "All times will be official," Brau said.
Other activities throughout Saturday include the annual beanbag tournament and more live music. New this year will be bingo on Saturday morning, with the proceeds going to support the Tracy Area Animal Rescue, Brau said.
Partnerships with local organizations have become a fun part of the HopFest event, Brau said.
Celebrating community at Boxelder Bug Days
Minneota's community celebration is another big event kicking off Friday.
"It's a great way to end the summer festivals in the area," said Boxelder Bug Days committee member Scott Josephson. "We like to make it just a family weekend."
Josephson said there's a mix of events planned, from returning favorites to some new and expanded activities.
This year, some Bug Days events will pay tribute to the late Minneota poet Bill Holm, who would have been 80 this year. Holm's writings about boxelder bugs helped give Minneota's community festival its current name.
"Bill was very modest about that," Josephson said. Holm always emphasized that Bug Days was about the community, and not himself.
On Friday night, a special performance of "Playing Haydn For the Angel of Death" will be held at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Minneota. The musical composition features Holm's poetry, set to music and sung by baritone Ryan Hugh Ross. Josephson said a tribute to Holm will also be held on Saturday morning at the Opera Hall above the Minneota public library.
Josephson said this year's festival also features the 25th annual Johnny Tillemans Memorial Chili Cookoff, and events like the grand parade and live music. Two new groups will be performing this year, Up South and local group Kindred Spirits. Performers Kayla Daniels, Ali Gray and Avenger Joe will be back by popular demand.
Josephson said the Family Fun Run will be back this year on Saturday morning.
"It was very well received," Josephson said. "A lot of people had a lot of fun with that." This year, he said, the event has been expanded somewhat with activity stops along the way.
Hot Iron Days are back in Lamberton
Hot Iron Days gets its name from the annual iron pour held in Lamberton. But even if you're not a metalworker, there's plenty to do and see. The festival kicks off on Friday afternoon with the "Sand Shop" at the Lamberton city park. People of all ages and abilities can make their own iron molds, and also see blacksmithing professionals at work. Then on Friday night, there will be a performance of the "Church of Cash" Johnny Cash tribute show at the Lamberton Legion, and a glow-in-the-dark kickball event for teens.
Events on Saturday include sand volleyball and beanbag tournaments, an open market and free kids activities at City Park. A historic Lamberton building, the Main Street Peddler building, will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Saturday. A short program will be held at 1 p.m.
When the sun goes down on Saturday, sparks will fly at the iron pour, which will be held at 7 p.m. behind the blacksmith shop. Molten iron will be poured into sand molds to create metal artwork or other items.
The weekend will wrap up with a mother/son bowling event at the Lamberton Lanes on Sunday afternoon.
Schedules of Events
HopFest (Brau Brothers Brewing, Marshall)
Friday
6-8 p.m. – Music by Corpse Reviver
9-Midnight - Music by Dam Jammers
Saturday
Beer samples by SMASH and Bavarian Pretzels all day
9 a.m. – Marshall YMCA Bend & Brew Yoga
9 a.m. – Beer Mile
10 a.m. – Tracy Area Pet Rescue Bingo
Noon - Beanbag tournament
Noon-2:30 p.m. – Music by The Way Back Yard
1-5 p.m. – United Way beer dunk tank
3-6 p.m. – Axe throwing
3-5:30 p.m. – Music by Loser Magnet
6-8:30 p.m. – Music by 13 Arrows
9-Midnight - Music by Show Me Your Hits
Minneota Boxelder Bug Days
Friday
7 p.m. – Football vs. YME
7 p.m. – Bill Holm tribute at St. Paul's Lutheran Church
8-Midnight - Dance featuring the Wapsi River Ramblers
Saturday
8:30 a.m. – Family Fun Run begins
9 a.m. – Golf tournament at Countryside Golf Club
9 a.m.-3 p.m. – Craft/vendor sale, Veterans Park
9 a.m.-3 p.m. – Opera Hall open
10 a.m.-6 p.m. – Vietnam Memorial & History Center open
11 a.m. – Bill Holm tribute, Opera Hall
11 a.m. – Kiddie Parade
11 a.m. – Chili cookoff judging
11 a.m.-4 p.m - Caricaturist
11:30 a.m. – Pedal tractor pull
11:30 a.m. – Chili cookoff tasting
Noon - Boxelder bug races
Noon-6 p.m. – Free inflatables on Jefferson Street
12:30 p.m. – Music by Kayla Daniels
1 p.m. – Minneota barrel racing series
1:15 p.m. – Music by Kindred Spirits
2 p.m. – Beanbag tournament
2 p.m. – Music by Kayla Daniels
2:45 p.m. – Music by Kindred Spirits
3:30 p.m. – Ali Gray's Country Jamboree
4:30 p.m - Music by Up South
5:30 p.m. – Music by Ali Gray
6:30 p.m. – Music by Up South
7:30 p.m. – Queen coronation
8 p.m. – Shove the Bug/Adult pedal pull
8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. – Street dance featuring Avenger Joe
Sunday
8-11 a.m. – Firemen's pancake breakfast
10 a.m. – Community worship service
10 a.m.-5 p.m. – Vietnam Memorial & History Center open
11 a.m. – Ali Gray's Country Jamboree
11 a.m. – Minneota Area Mission Trip meal
11 a.m. – Friends of the Library pie sale
1 p.m. – Grand parade
2:30 p.m. – Ali Gray's Country Jamboree
2:30 p.m. – Sharon Cartway wagon rides
3 p.m. – Golf Ball Roll
Lamberton Hot Iron Days
Friday
Noon-7 p.m. – "Sand Shop" make your own iron mold, City Park
5-7 p.m. – Blacksmithing professionals at work
5-7 p.m. – Pizza from Lamberton Lanes, City Park
6 p.m. – Social hour
7 p.m. – "Church of Cash" Johnny Cash tribute show, Lamberton Legion
9-10:30 p.m. – Teen glow-in-the-dark kickball, RRC gym
Saturday
"Ageless Iron" display, Douglas Street
8 a.m.-3 p.m. – "Sand Shop" make your own iron mold, City Park
9 a.m. – Sand volleyball tournament, City Park
9 a.m.-3 p.m. – Open market, Douglas Street and 4th Avenue
9 a.m.-5 p.m. – 100th Anniversary Celebration at Lamberton Main Street Peddler Building. Short program at 1 p.m., reception to follow.
9 a.m.-7 p.m. – Blacksmithing professionals at work
10 a.m. – Open play pickleball, City Park
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Music with Dean Fishel, City Park
1-3 p.m. – Kids activities, City Park
1 p.m. – Beanbag tournament, City Park
7 p.m. – Iron pour
8:30 p.m. – DJ Bob at LJ's on Main
Sunday
3:30-5 p.m. – Mother/son bowling, Lamberton Lanes