Outside Looking In

Busy times

After having a hard time finding something to do last year because of the pandemic, the next few weeks are going to be a very busy time in the area.
As summer seems to be flying by fast, Belgian-American Days is already just around the corner and returns to a normal schedule on August 6-8.
Belgian-American Days was scaled back last year to only a few events such as the Ghent Cruisers Car Show, Rolle Bolle, and the waffle eating contest, but will have most of its usual activities this year, plus a few new ones.
Two of the usual events that will be missing this year is the annual Challenge of the Lions Mud Run, one of the most popular events during Ghent's annual town event. It was cancelled because of the drought and the town's need to preserve the water.
Also, the softball tournament was cancelled as the team that was planning to run the tournament qualified for the state tournament the same weekend.
Some of the events at Belgian-American Days will be a scavenger hunt, bean bag tournament, coronation, .05k run with participants urged to dress in a 1960s theme, block party, pedal tractor pull, petting zoo, kids' carnival, car show, Rolle Bolle, photo contest, parade, street dance, food and much more.
(See the Belgian-American Days poster of events with times and dates in the special section area on the home page of this website).
The Yellow Medicine County Fair just concluded this past weekend and organizers reported that crowds were back to normal.
Tyler also recently hosted Aebleskiver Days July 23-25 that included many of its normal activities such as a golf tournament, running and biking races, car show, vendors, talent show and many more activities that were shut down a year ago.
Tyler will be busy right away again when it hosts the Lincoln County Fair from July 29-Aug. 1 at the fairgrounds. The Chippewa County Fair in Montevideo will be held from July 28-31.
The Lyon County Fair is fast approaching, set for Aug. 11-15 at the fairgrounds in Marshall. Performers this year include Jason Pritchett, Cody Hicks Band, Red Dirt Road and the White Sidewalls. There will also be pig races, a pedal pull, demolition derby
The 50th annual Polish Days in Ivanhoe is scheduled for Aug. 13-15. Here's a chance to eat some foods you aren't even able to pronounce, such as golabki (stuffed cabbage roll), charnina (duck blood soup), pierogi (stuffed dumplings), and paczki (sweet roll with fruit filling). There is also an antique tractor pull, parade, golf challenge, softball tournament, fireworks, vendor fair and more.
Porter's Harvest Fest will be held Aug. 21-22 with a full-scale return, highlighted by the Wood Bat Softball tournament, tractor show, kids' carnival, pedal tractor pull, medallion hunt, parade, craft and vendor show, senior king and queen, horse show and competition and more.
Boxelder Bug Days returns to a full schedule after having been scaled down to a Queen Coronation and Royalty Parade last year due to the pandemic. The Smokin BBQ Cook-off and Johnny Tillemans Chili Cook-off are both back by popular demand. Performers lined up are Ali Gray's Country Jamboree, Avenger Joe and Platinum Road.
There will be boxelder bug races, petting zoo, parade, vendor and craft show, barrel racing, readings at the library, inflatables, climbing wall, pedal tractor pull, bean bag tournament and much more.
We will list all the events with times and dates for Boxelder Bug Days in an upcoming Mascot.
Summer is half over but there are still many opportunities for families to get out and have a good time.

Contact Us

The Minneota Mascot
Address: 201 N. Jefferson
Minneota, MN 56264

Phone:(507) 872-6492