Area residents are getting ready for another busy weekend. In Cottonwood, residents are getting ready to celebrate community with Coming Home Days events. And in Slayton, organizers of the Murray County Classic Draft Horse Show are welcoming teams of horses from across three states.

“We’ll probably have between 80 and 90 horses at the fairgrounds this weekend,” said Draft Horse Show board member Brandon Kinney. “Everybody loves to see the big hitches.”

There will be nine six-horse hitches competing this weekend, as well as farm teams and other events, Kinney said. The show lineup includes draft horse breeds like Belgians, Percherons, Shires and Clydesdales. Kinney said participants are coming to Slayton from Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska.

The draft horse event will have three different shows spread out Friday through Sunday. “We did change our schedule a bit,” Kinney said. “We will have a full show on Friday night.”

While shows on Friday and Saturday will start at 5 p.m., Sunday’s show will be in the morning. Kinney said having an earlier show Sunday would make it easier for participants to get ready to take their animals home at the end of the weekend.

Community celebrations in Cottonwood

Area residents are getting ready to celebrate Coming Home Days in Cottonwood. The festival kicks off on Friday, and planners are hoping to get some new events and attractions in the mix.

“There are a couple of new things this year,” said Stacey Broberg, of the Coming Home Days organizing committee. “We’re bringing in a few more food trucks during the golf scramble,” she said. Although the trucks will be set up at the Cottonwood Country Club, they will be open to everybody, not only golfers.

Broberg said organizers wanted to try holding some different free events for this year’s Coming Home Days. On Friday, people ages 10 and up can sign up to try axe throwing. In the evening, the Singing Qs will also give an outdoor performance.

Friday night’s events will wrap up with a fireworks display over Cottonwood Lake.

Broberg said community groups also added to the Coming Home Days lineup on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday morning, a memorial sculpture honoring local veterans will be dedicated at the corner of Main Street and Barstad Road. Members of Christ Lutheran Church in Cottonwood will be offering free water to refresh festival-goers on Saturday afternoon. Another new community event will be a Sunday pancake breakfast organized by the Cottonwood American Legion, Broberg said.

“It’s nice that we’ve had a lot of community groups and members” taking part in Coming Home Days, Broberg said. “And we’re thankful to our great sponsors.”

This weekend’s festival events will also include a lot of returning favorites, like a kids’ splash dance, the grand parade, and the Coming Home Days street dance. All three events will be on Saturday.

Schedules of events

Murray County Classic Draft Horse Show at Murray County fairgrounds, Slayton

Friday: Show starts at 5 p.m.

Saturday: Show starts at 5 p.m.

Sunday: Show starts at 11:30 a.m.

Cottonwood Coming Home Days

Friday

8 a.m.-5 p.m.: New city office open house, at 231 West Main Street

1 p.m.: Golf Scramble

5:30: Burrito bowl meal fundraiser at Cottonwood Community Center

6-9: Axe throwing behind the main stage

6-8:30: Singing Qs performance

6:30-9: Bingo at Cottonwood Community Center

7: Musical: “Annie Jr.” at Lakeview School Auditorium

9 p.m.-1 a.m.: Outdoor karaoke with Livin’ Alter Ego Entertainment

10: Fireworks over Cottonwood Lake

Saturday

7:30 a.m.: Coming Home Days 5K

10: Bean bag tournament behind the fire hall

10: Veterans Memorial sculpture dedication, at corner of West Main Street and Barstad Road

11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Cottonwood Ambulance fundraiser

1-2:30: Cottonwood Fire Department splash dance

1:30: Pedal tractor pull

2: Cottonwood Cardinals baseball game at Lakeview baseball field

2-3:30: Refresh, restore and replenish at Christ Lutheran Church

4: Grand Parade

4: Cottonwood Area Food Pantry food drive

5-7:30: Fire Department roasted pork loin dinner

7: Musical: “Annie Jr.” at Lakeview School Auditorium

9:15 p.m.-12:15 a.m.: Street dance featuring IV Play

Sunday

10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Legion breakfast at Cottonwood Community Center

Noon-3: Marshall RC Club flight demonstration at Cottonwood driving range

1-3: Cow Pie Bingo at C.W. Reishus Park

2: Cottonwood Cardinals baseball game at Lakeview Baseball Field