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Annual Black Dirt Days celebration starts Friday

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CONRAD — “Set Sail to Conrad” for a two-day celebration Friday and Saturday featuring a parade, live music, kids’ activities, car show and tournaments such as golf, pickleball and bags, and more.

“I think the purpose of the theme was kind of to just draw people in — a little theme to get people to come into Conrad, since we’re a tiny little town. We’re a destination you have to make your way to,” said coordinator Salina Caster.

Friday, June 12

The junior golf tournament at Oakwood Golf Course starts at 9 a.m. The remainder of the day’s events occur after 5 p.m. Food vendors will set up shop along Main Street and include returning favorites: Clare’s Tenderloins, Maria’s Tacos, Sky Kone Ice Cream, Sugar Box Treats and Smokin’ G’s, plus three that are new this year: Funky Pepperoni, The Gyro Spot and Saddle Up Drink Co. The Beer Garden with That Place also opens at 5 p.m.

Little Mr. and Miss will be crowned on the Main Stage at 5:45 p.m. The contest was open to second graders who reside in Conrad, with registration by May 27. Winners will participate in the parade. Immediately following, at 6 p.m., is the crowning of the Black Dirt Days King, also on the Main Stage, sponsored by Bear Paw Massage.

“This is a new fundraiser we did this year, where everyone in the community could go on Facebook where you could nominate different men in the community that play a role — people that pretty much live and breathe Conrad — community members that are always out and about doing things and play a vital role,” she said. “We had over 30 different submissions.”

The finalists are Eugene Ubben, Chad Brown and Craig Smith.

“Three different stores around town have jars set up for people to donate money to, or they can Venmo money, and whoever the winner is gets a nice gift bag,” she added.

From 6 to 8 p.m., enjoy games and inflatables in the midway area. A hospitality tent will be situated in front of Graceful Arrangements, also spanning that time.

A foam party at the end of the midway, sponsored by GNB Bank and Insurance, will run from 7 to 8 p.m. Route 66 will perform on the Main Stage at 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 13

A Dash n Splash 5k run/walk kicks off the day at 8 a.m. at Reunion Park, registration at 7 a.m. The Conrad Family Aquatic Center is open to race participants and their families at the conclusion of the event. A community pancake breakfast, sponsored by MidWestOne Bank, is set for 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., also at the park.

At 9 a.m. the women’s doubles pickleball tournament will start. The men’s doubles starts at 1 p.m. The tournament is held in honor of Darla Ubben and debuts this year. Sunday at 1 p.m. will offer coed doubles. Entry fee is $20 a team and entries limited to eight teams per division. Sponsored by the Wolf Creek Pickleball Club and held at the Conrad Family Aquatic Center.

Caster noted that Ubben was the executive director of the Conrad Chamber Main Street for several years.

Come out to the Conrad Heritage Hall Museum, City Hall from 10 a.m. to noon for exhibits.

Line up for the parade at 10:45 a.m. at BCLUW High School. Free to enter, no registration needed. It starts at 11:30 a.m.

Food vendors and the beer garden open at 11 a.m. Register for the bags tournament at the beer garden from noon to 1 p.m., with it beginning at 1:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Conrad Chamber Main Street.

The hospitality tent will run from noon to 8 p.m. Games and inflatables in the midway also goes noon to 8 p.m., with face painting in front of the library from noon to 5 p.m.

There will be games and giveaways at the Alice Church of God from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. with Pastor Randy.

The Two Man Scrabble at Oakwood Golf Course is new this year. Register at 12:30 p.m. with tee off at 1 p.m. Cost is $50 per person, 18 team cap, with 100 percent payout, top two each flight.

A Quilt of Valor presentation will go on at the Main Stage at 1 p.m.

The car show, sponsored by Conrad Chamber Main Street, will go from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the 200 and 300 blocks of Main Street. Registration is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with multiple categories.

All That’s Left will take to the Main Stage from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., followed by Katie and the Honky Tonks, sponsored by Green Products Co.

For more information, visit: www.facebook.com/blackdirtdays.

Starting at $4.38/week.

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