From music and food to sports and celebrations of community, there’s a lot going on in the area this weekend.

In Minneota, organizers of the annual Boxelder Bug Days say they’re anticipating a good festival. And more local events, like HopFest and the annual Ag Bowl at Southwest Minnesota State University, will also be going on in Marshall.

“I think we’re looking forward to a good weekend for Boxelder Bug Days,” said Scott Knutson, one of the members of the Boxelder Bug Days Committee. Knutson said sign-ups were starting to come in for parade units. There are usually around 75 to 100 units for the Boxelder Bug Days parade, he said.

“I think we’ll have a pretty good turnout this year,” Knutson said. The number of parade units were around average by Wednesday, and there are usually later additions, he said.

Community events, ranging from history presentations, to the coronation of the Boxelder Bug Days queen and the annual Johnny Tilleman Memorial Chili Cook-Off, are a big part of the festival. Knutson said this year’s parade will also honor the memory of Lisa Hart, a longtime kindergarten and early childhood teacher at Minneota Public School. Hart died this spring, and her family members will be the parade grand marshals.

This year, Boxelder Bug Days will also see the return of the annual barbecue rib cookoff on Saturday. It’s been a few years since the event was last held at Bug Days, said committee member Randy Prellwitz.

“We thought it was time to bring it back,” he said.

The rib cookoff was popular with festival attendees. In the past, the public tasting event for the ribs would sell out quickly, Prellwitz said.

Entertainment like live music will also be part of the festivities in Minneota. There will be two different street dances on Friday and Saturday nights. The Bug Days kick-off dance Friday night will feature Mario Callens and the Midwest Cowboys. On Saturday night, the street dance will feature Casey Muessigmann, who appeared on season 3 of NBC’s “The Voice.”

HopFest kicks off at Brau Bros.

Outdoor music, locally-brewed beer, games and more will be part of the annual HopFest at the Brau Brothers brewery in Marshall. The music and beer fest starts Friday evening and continues Saturday outside the brewery and taproom.

This year’s concert lineup features a variety of bands and musical genres. Performers will include Minnesota-based bands like Atomic Lights, Admiral Fox and the Jon Sullivan Band. On Friday night, Girls Night Out will pay tribute to the women of country music. On Saturday night, Ladies of the ’80s will take the audience back in time with hits from the 1980s.

In addition to music, HopFest will feature events like a beer mile run, a beanbag tournament, beer yoga, and bingo by the Tracy Area Animal Rescue.

Ag Bowl at SMSU

On Saturday, Southwest Minnesota State University will be celebrating Minnesota agriculture as well as Mustang athletics, with the annual Ag Bowl at the Schwan Regional Event Center.

The annual event raises funds for scholarships and programming for student athletes and young people who are going into the agriculture, environmental science and food industries.

The 18th annual Ag Bowl will start with a free youth football clinic at 2 p.m. A variety of agriculture-related activities will follow at 3 p.m. Planned events include a pedal tractor pull, hayrides and a mechanical bull. The SMSU Mustangs will kick off their first home game of the 2024 season at 5 p.m.

Boxelder Bug Days schedule of events

FRIDAY

8 p.m.-midnight: Kickoff dance featuring Mario Callens and the Midwest Cowboys

SATURDAY

Tractor show at Minneota Grain Elevator

6 a.m: Johnny Tilleman Memorial Chili Cookoff cooking begins

8 a.m.: Family fun run

8-9 a.m.: Set-up for Ribs Cookoff

9 a.m.: Countryside Golf Course three-person scramble

9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Craft and vendor sale

10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Vietnam Memorial and History Center open

11 a.m.: Kiddie parade. Free will donations for school supplies matched by Hope Lutheran endowment fund

11 a.m.: Chili Cookoff judging

11:30 a.m.: Pickleball tournament behind BMO bank

1:30 p.m.: Pedal tractor pull

Noon: Boxelder Bug Races

Noon-5 p.m.: Opera Hall open

Noon-6 p.m. Free inflatables

1 p.m.: Minneota barrel racing series at Silver Spur Arena

1 p.m.: Peter Gorton presentation on pitcher John Donaldson, at Opera Hall

2 p.m.: Beanbag tournament

4 p.m.: Family presentation honoring Vietnam vet Tom Bradley, at Opera Hall

5:30 p.m.: Public ribs tasting

7:30 p.m.: Queen coronation

8 p.m.: Shove the Bug and adult pedal pull

8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.: Street dance featuring Casey Muessigmann

SUNDAY

8-11 a.m.: Firemen’s pancake breakfast

10 a.m.: Community worship service

11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Vietnam Memorial and History Center open

11 a.m.: Friends of the Library pie sale

11 a.m.: Ali Gray’s Country Jamboree

1 p.m.: Grand parade

3 p.m.: Golf ball roll. Boxelder Bug Days Queen’s meet and greet following golf ball roll.