Puzzles, suds and kissing pigs in Tracy

Box Car Days start Friday with activities throughout Labor Day weekend

TRACY -- There is a long history of supporting community festivals. As the 99th annual Box Car Days approaches, organizers say they're looking forward to seeing the crowds.

"It's really nice to see the amount of turnout we have from the community," said Michaela Miller-Schreier, one of the organizers of Box Car Days events.

In addition to local residents, she said, "We have so many people who come from out of town."

Box Car Days starts Friday night in Tracy, and continues with events through Labor Day. The festival kicks off with the Tracy Area Chamber burger night in downtown Tracy, followed by DJ entertainment by Jerry Gladis and karaoke.

The celebrations start to kick into high gear on Saturday, when several different community activities and tournaments begin. A new addition to the schedule this year will be a pulled pork meal benefiting the Tracy Fire Department, which will be from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the beer tent. Events like the "Pizza, Puzzle and Guzzle" contest, where teams have two hours to complete a jigsaw puzzle, a 12-pack of drinks and a large pizza, are returning this year.

"People have a lot of fun. But we have had a couple requests for easier puzzles this year," Miller-Schreier said.

A pie-eating contest with three different age groups will be held Saturday.

"We wanted an event to do on Saturday afternoon," when there was a gap in the schedule of events, Miller-Schreier said.

Saturday night wraps up with a street dance featuring Junk FM.

On Sunday, planned events include family-friendly activities like inflatables and face painting in Central Park, as well as pickleball and mud volleyball tournaments. The pickleball tournament is returning for its third year at Box Car Days, said organizer Natalie Oellien.

"A lot of people come and watch, just to see what it's about," she said.

Miller-Schreier said the mud volleyball tournament also draws a dedicated crowd, usually maxing out at about 16 teams competing. "It's a long day, but it's a fun day," she said.

Sunday evening, the Miss Tracy Scholarship Program will be held at the Tracy Area High School auditorium.

Monday will bring the festival to a close with the Box Car Days grand parade at 1 p.m., followed by an afterparty at the beer tent. People can vote for one of five local candidates in the "Kiss the Pig" contest. The vote winner will kiss a pig provided by Fultz Farms.

Throughout the weekend, carnival rides and the Wheels Across the Prairie Heritage Center and antique tractor show will be open. There will be tractor drives as part of the tractor show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon. On Saturday, the Heritage Center will also be serving a pork burger meal at lunch time.

Miller-Schreier said community members are also looking forward to next year, when Box Car Days celebrates its centennial.