By Paul Downer
Community Editor
Organizers have added to the fun at Glad Days in 2008. Cologne’s community celebration will be held on Friday July 25 and Saturday, July 26 this year.
In recent years, the festival had all but run its course by early Saturday afternoon, but this year’s planning committee has made a concerted effort to bring in more entertainment and food vendors to keep things rolling into the evening hours.
One new feature this year will be an entertainment and beverage tent. It will provide those in attendance a place to relax out of the sun while enjoying some quality entertainment, including a pet show, dance show, storytelling session and the Waconia Area Jazz Band.
“It seems like things used to thin out by 1 p.m. This year we have things going until 6 p.m.,” said Betsy Pysick, chairperson for the event. “We have music coming in and lots of new food vendors.
The pet show will allow owners to take the stage in the entertainment tent and demonstrate a trick, display an animal costume or simply show off their companion.
A number of demonstrations will also be held, including the popular Carver County K-9 activity from last year. A new demonstration includes area members of the Cabin Fever Archery group who will display their talent and possibly allow a few onlookers a chance to shoot as well.
Friday night is largely dedicated to Kid-Fest, but a softball tournament will begin at Lions Park and Chopper will perform there from 9 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
“We want Saturday to grow a little bit. Friday kind of took on a life of its own, so we didn’t need to worry about that as much,” said Pysick. “Saturday needed a little bit of work. I think having the tent and the entertainment up there that should help.”
Thursday, Friday and Saturday
City-wide garage sales.
Friday, July 25
Kid-Fest will be held at Marion Field (Sponsored by the Cologne Firemen’s Relief Association)
7 p.m. Kiddie Parade theme is “Night Out at the Movies!”
7 to 8:30 p.m. Bounce houses, games, crafts, fire truck rides, Dairy Princesses and family fun
7 p.m. Hot dog dinner (sponsored by Klein Bank of Cologne)
5 to 8 p.m. Teen dance with Chopper (sponsored by Youngstedts)
Movie in the park at dusk (sponsored by Lenzen Chev)
Softball tournaments will take place at Lions Park on Friday evening, and Chopper will perform at Lions Park from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 26
The following events will be held at City Park:
8 a.m. 5K fun run.
9 a.m. Kids’ pedal pull, craft fair, Farmer’s Market and Business Expo, Gladiolus and flower entry (judging at 10 a.m.)
10 a.m. Bounce houses, petting zoo, fire truck rides
2 p.m. Toilet races (sponsored by Wickenhauser Excavating).
The following events will be held in the Entertainment Tent:
10 a.m. Pet show (sponsored by Security Bank of Cologne)
11 a.m. WonderWeavers storytelling
1 p.m. Andrea’s Danceworks
2 p.m. Paper, rock, scissors tournament (sponsored by Cologne Academy)
3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Waconia Area Jazz Band.
Demonstrations will take place at the following times:
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Master Gardeners
12 p.m. Cabin Fever Archery
3 p.m. Carver County police dog
Also, the softball tournament will continue at Lions Park, and a dance featuring Scratch will be held at Lions Park at 8 p.m.
Reader Comments
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.
Print Version
E-mail This Story
RSS Feed
