‘Shove the Bug’ is new event at Bug Days

At one time or another, we've all had to push a stalled vehicle or one that gets stuck in wintry conditions. At Boxelder Bug Days this year, committee members are making a contest out of it.

The first annual “Shove the Bug” contest will feature two man-teams that will be timed to see how quickly they can push the Bug Day committee’s 1970 Volkswagen “Bug” Beetle approximately 100 feet behind.

That event will take place behind Gislason’s Hardware store. “We had something similar a couple of years ago,” said Bug Days Committee Member Jeff Van Keulen.

“But instead of pushing the car, the teams were hooked up to a harness and pulled the car. We think this will work out better.” A committee volunteer will be seated inside the vehicle to steer it and apply the brakes at the finish line for the teams.

“This is a great spectator event,” Van Keulen said.

“It usually draws a pretty good crowd of people. And the more people watching, the more that want to participate.”

Teams can sign up at the event and are required to pay an entry fee.

The overall winner of the event will split the entire pot, while the other half of the proceeds will go back into the Boxelder Bug Day fund for future events.

Also new this year to Boxelder Bug Days is the Craft and Vendor Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the west parking lot at Veterans Park.

There will be many vendors on hand selling handmade soap, bath bombs, artwork, knitted and crocheted items, glass art and much more.

There will also be several home-based vendors included in the show.

The Community Worship will again be held at 10 a.m. Sunday in the Bug Square. The service is open to the public. Picnic table seating is available, or you can bring your own lawn chairs.

There will be no worship service at Hope Lutheran Church or St. Paul’s Lutheran Church that day. Students of all ages are urged to bring their backpacks to the worship where Hope Lutheran Pastor Bruce Drackley will hold a “Blessing of the Backpacks” at the service.

The blessing of the backpacks is being held as school is just getting started and he will pray for the students to have a safe school year.

Money from the offering at the worship service will be donated to the Minneota Food Box Program that helps families in need.

The Hope Lutheran Church Mission Endowment Fund will be matching the offering for the backpack program at the community worship service during Bug Days on Sunday.

The annual Golf Ball Roll, a Boxelder Bug Days fundraiser sponsored by Countryside Golf Club, will be held after the Grande Parade Sunday at approximately 3 p.m. in front of the Bug Hut in Bug Square.

“The free stuff on stage is really not free,” said Van Keulen. “This is a big fundraiser for us.” Golf balls can be purchased the day of the event for $10 each.

The ball will all be rolled down a 60-foot hill with cash prizes given out to the winners. Last year’s event sold out all the golf balls with the first-place winner receiving $500.

“If we sell out like last year, we will give out cash prizes to the top 12 places,” said Scott Josephson.

“If we don’t sell out, we will give cash to the top 10 winners.”

For a complete list of Boxelder Bug Days events, visit the website at www.boxelderbugdays.com or Page 2 in “What’s Happening” in the Mascot.