Area communities are gearing up for celebrations this weekend, with events including Ghent’s Belgian American Days, the Lincoln County Fair in Tyler, the Traditional Wacipi at the Upper Sioux Community and the Threshing Show in Hanley Falls.

Fair time tends to bring families together in Lincoln County, said Curt Madsen, Lincoln County Fair Board secretary. The county fair starts today, but some 4-H events were already underway.

“We’re a small county, but we’re very strong in 4-H,” Madsen said Wednesday. “Some of our kids have multiple events that they do.”

Fair visitors can also get creative, with a variety of make and take projects. “We have a lot of hands-on stuff,” Madsen said. The craft sessions, spread out on Friday and Saturday, are led by area residents.

Music and entertainment are “one of the bigger draws” at the fair, Madsen said. A variety of live musical performances are lined up, with some new additions. Two new performers this year are the trio Skipping Stones, and the Irish Blues Drifters.

“We’re looking forward to hearing their music,” Madsen said.

On Saturday night, hypnotist Freddie Justice will perform, and the fair will come to a close with a demolition derby on Sunday afternoon.

Belgian American Days in Ghent

Fans of the Belgian sport of rolle bolle will have plenty of chances to compete or cheer this weekend, as Belgian American Days returns in Ghent. Several different rolle bolle competitions are planned over the course of the weekend, with registration for the first event starting Thursday night.

In addition to celebrating Belgian culture, Belgian American Days features fun events geared toward all age groups. On Friday, people can take part in a hot dog eating contest, a kids’ pedal pull, or check out the Dueling Pianos show at KB’s ballroom. The fun continues on Saturday with events like a kiddie carnival, vendor fair, and the annual Belgian American Days car show.

The grand parade will be Saturday afternoon, and Saturday night culminates in a street dance featuring the band IV Play.

Wacipi in Upper Sioux Community

A celebration of Native American culture and community returns this weekend to the Upper Sioux Community near Granite Falls. The Pezihutazizi Oyate Traditional Wacipi starts Friday evening and continues through Sunday.

The wacipi, or powwow, is an event that brings people together to dance, sing and celebrate. Grand entry events will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the wacipi.

Threshing Show in Hanley Falls

A tractor drive will be held at 5 p.m. on Friday to kick off the weekend. The Antique tractor pull pre-1960 will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The parade will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Schedule of events

Belgian-American Days, Ghent

TODAY

7:30 p.m. Registration begins for rolle bolle: team format

FRIDAY

5:30 p.m. DJ Keith Petermeier

5:45 p.m. Introduction of royalty

5:45 p.m. Hot dog eating contest, dance party and games

6 p.m. Registration begins for pedal tractor pull

7 p.m. Softball tournament

7:30 p.m. Registration begins for rolle bolle: draw format

8:30 p.m. Ted Oliver’s Dueling Piano Show at KB’s ballroom

9 p.m. Movie at the ice rink

SATURDAY

8 a.m. Softball tournament continues

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Kiddie carnival, petting zoo and inflatables in Legion Park

10 a.m. Registration begins for beanbag tournamentj

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

11 a.m. 18th annual car show

1 p.m. Rolle bolle: novice format

4:30 p.m. Grand parade

5 p.m. Fire department feed

5 p.m. Belgian cookie making demonstration

5:30 p.m. Grand Marshal presentation: Randy & Sheila DeRoode

6:30 p.m. Registration begins for rolle bolle draw

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 Catholic Church

11 a.m. Services at Iglesia Cristiana Rayo de Luz

Lincoln County Fair, Tyler

TODAY

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Open class entry day-care

7 p.m. Outstanding Senior Citizen Award, 4-H Fashion Revue and 4-H Parade of Champions

8 p.m. Kayla Daniels

FRIDAY

Noon-2 p.m. Larry Olsen Band

2-6 p.m. Ecology Bus Center

5 p.m. Make & take project: Nature cards

7 p.m. Make & take project: Beaded keychain or charm by Hilary Thooft

7 p.m. Music by Skipping Stones

SATURDAY

7-10 a.m. Lincoln Co. Corn and Soybean Growers’ Ag Awareness Breakfast

10:30 a.m.-noon Lincoln County Fair bake-off

Noon Ranch rodeo

1 p.m. Century Farm presentations

2-4 p.m. The Irish Blues Drifters

5 p.m. Southwest Minnesota Cattlemen Association hamburger feed

5-8 p.m. The Mobile Sign Shop

5 p.m. Kiddie tractor pull

6:30 p.m. Make & take project: Design your own mask

6:30 p.m. Beanbag tournament

7 p.m. Hypnotist Freddie Justice

SUNDAY

12:30 p.m. 4-H livestock auction. Kids’ small animal show to follow 4-H auction.

2-4 p.m. Neon Gypsy

3 p.m. Demolition derby

Pezihutazizi Oyate Wacipi, Upper Sioux Community

FRIDAY

4 p.m. Registration opens

7 p.m. Grand entry

SATURDAY

9 a.m. Flag raising

1 p.m. and 7 pm. Grand entry

5 p.m. Registration closes

SUNDAY

9 a.m. Flag raising

1 p.m. Grand Entry