GLADBROOK - Tradition and the Gladbrook Corn Carnival go hand in hand - and that's even more the case this year as the town recognizes a milestone.
The town is celebrating the 90th Corn Carnival beginning this Thursday and running through midday Sunday.
"We just keep going," said Dennis Gienger, president of the Corn Carnival committee for nearly three decades. "Everyone seems to be proud. We have a good group of core people who want to see it keep going."
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T-R FILE PHOTO
Young people take part in the corn cob throwing contest during last year’s Gladbrook Corn Carnival. This year’s festival is celebrating 90 years and runs Thursday through Sunday.
Events begin Thursday with the announcement of the Little Miss and Mr. Corn Carnival and Corn Cob Queen as well as the kiddies parade.
The traditional huge Friday night community parade will begin at 6:30 p.m.
"That draws well over 10,000 people to the community," Gienger said of the parade. "It's one of the best parades around."
Fact Box
Gladbrook Corn Carnival
Thursday
Collector's Fair
10 am to 9 p.m. Memorial Building
Merchant and Business Exhibits
4 to 10 p.m. - Upstairs City Centre
Kenny's Funland Midway
6 to 10 p.m. Ride Wrist Bands $20
Little Miss and Mr. Corn Carnival and Corn Cob Queen
Just prior to Kiddies Parade
Kiddies Parade
6:30 p.m. - City Park
Music On Main - Time Warp Cowboys
7:30 p.m. to dark - East end of Main Street
Friday
Merchant and Business Exhibits
3 to 10 p.m.
Movie at Gladbrook Theatre
1:30 p.m.
Kenny's Funland Midway
6 to 11 p.m.- Ride Wrist Bands $20
Grand Parade
6:30 p.m.
Bingo
Main Street After Parade
Music on Main-The Other Band
After The Parade-East End of Main Street
DJ Karaoke- By Mike Uhde
By Beer Garden 9 p.m. - Midnight
Saturday
Breakfast In The Park
7:30 to 10:00 a.m.
5K Walk/Run
Register 7 a.m. - Race 8 a.m.- City Park
Shuffleboard Tournament
8 a.m. - Upstairs City Centre
Antique Power Show
9 a.m. - City Park
Sand Volleyball - City Park
9 a.m. $25/team
Cribbage and 500 Tournament
9:30 a.m. Registration - City Centre
Kids Activities
Starts at 10 a.m. - City Park Registration at 9 a.m.
Kenny's Funland Midway
1 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 11 p.m.
Merchant and Business Exhibits
Open from 1 to 7 p.m. - City Centre
Movie at Gladbrook Theater
1:30 p.m.
Pickleball Tournament
$5 per team 1:30 p.m. Middle School Gym
Classic Car Cruise
Registration 3:30 p.m.; cruise 7 p.m.
Music on Main - Swamp Cabbage
Swamp Blues from Florida - 6 to 7 p.m.
Bingo - Main Street 7:30 p.m.
Gladbrook Families Have Talent
7:30 p.m. - Gladbrook Theatre - Quilt Raffle, Merchant Drawings
and Photo Hunt Prize During Intermission-
Fireworks
10 p.m.
Sunday
Community Church Service
10:30 a.m. - Gladbrook Theater
Pork Loin Dinner
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Community Food Stand
This year's grand marshalls for the parade are Darrell and Jeanne Paustian, who are both longtime volunteers in the community.
"You couldn't ask for two people to do more for a community than those two," Gienger said.
Following the parade, there will be music by The Other Band and a DJ downtown.
The fun doesn't end Friday night, especially for the children.
Crowds will be back at the city park Saturday at 10 a.m. for dozens of games in the park. Everything from big wheel races to corn cob throwing contests are planned.
"It has evolved into a tremendous kids event," Gienger said. "There's just a lot of things going on."
The adults and teens also will have events that day including a sand volleyball tournament that starts at 9 a.m. Saturday.
A fireworks show will shoot off on the southeast side of town beginning at 10 p.m. Saturday.
Events wrap up with a community church service and pork loin lunch Sunday. Most of the event focuses on family fun, just as they have for 90 years.
"Family fun - that's what the Corn Carnival is all about," Gienger said.