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LAUREL — There’s no need for anyone to leave town as you’ll find entertainment options for the whole family this weekend at Laurel’s annual Ag Days.
The Ag Days lineup has a little something for everyone including some new events, said Craig Gutz. Gutz and Annie McCorkindale share the title of president of the Laurel Chamber Community Club which sponsors the annual celebration.
Ag Days will kick off with a pool party Friday, June 16, at 6 p.m. with free admission, prizes and the traditional ping pong ball float - a game where ping pong balls are retrieved from the pool for prizes at local businesses.
“The pool party is probably the best attended,” Gutz said. “It gives everyone a chance to go to the pool and enjoy a nice hot summer day, end up having some fun and games.”
The Prairie Thunder Band out of Yankton, S.D. is set for the street dance at 8 p.m. Friday, playing classic country with a bit of fiddle - songs everyone can dance to.
“The biggest thing is we moved the street dance to Friday night,” Gutz said. “Our reason for that was to give everybody Saturday night to be able to have the class reunions and the banquet and give a little more time there. People needing to take vacations or get out town for ball games still have the opportunity to dance.”
“The Sandlot” will be the featured family friendly movie shown at the softball field starting at 9:30 p.m.
A full slate of activities are set for Saturday, June 17, beginning early with the Barnyard Dash at 8:30 a.m. The race, hosted by Laurel-Concord- Coleridge cross country team features a 5k race as well as a one-mile fun run or walk.
The annual parade begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday with the route starting at Hillcrest Care Center on Oak Street and traveling straight to Main Street.
After the parade, Laurel’s park will be the location for Saturday afternoon activities.
A tractor show and tractor drive are new events this year, show from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the drive at 1:30 p.m. including a tour of the Kvols farm.
“It’s open to all tractors, all ages and all sizes,” Gutz said.
Also new this year is the co-ed softball tournament set to kickoff Saturday at noon.
“This gives families an opportunity to do something together and participate, have fun and remember the weekend for years and years to come,” Gutz said.
The state-sanctioned kiddie tractor pull will also start at noon.
The LCC FFA cow patty bingo activity is set for 1 p.m. and cornhole tournament starting at 2 p.m.
The park will also be the site for the Lion Club dunk tank, pancake man and other food vendors all afternoon.
The day culminates with the LCC Alumni Association banquet at 5:30 p.m. at the Laurel VFW.
Fathers will be honored Sunday, June 16, at the annual Laurel Vets Club Father’s Day breakfast will start at 8 a.m. and serving to 12:30 p.m. The Father’s Day golf tournament starts at 11 a.m. and the day - and weekend - ends with a Father’s Day coffee and open house at Hillcrest Care Center at 3 p.m.
Most of the weekend’s events are free or low cost, Gutz said, with the dance costing $10 and some entry fees for the softball tournament, cornhole tournament and fun run. Those entry fees go to support the local organizations who are sponsoring the event.
Gutz said it’s hard to keep the long-running annual event fresh so he hopes people attend and like the new ideas put into this year’s Ag Days.
“It’s been a bit of a struggle trying to figure out what will keep people interested. We’re trying some new stuff here this year,” Gutz said.
He said the Laurel Chamber Community Club would like to solicit feedback from residents but the largest tell will be attendance numbers.
“The biggest thing is if you want it to continue, make sure to come out and attend as many events as possible,” Gutz said.
