This Sunday kicks off the 2012 Vetch Days celebration in Elgin. This year’s theme is “Back To The Future….Celebrating Our Past, Looking Forward To Our Future”. As in past year’s, Richard’s Amusements will be set up all three evenings of the celebration. Tickets for the carnival are now on sale at Elgin One Stop, The Station, Dean’s Market and City Limits.
Activities kick off with everybody’s favorite, Bingo, on Sunday evening, June 17 at the Elgin Community Center beginning at 7 p.m. Bring your family and friends and have some fun!
Monday, June 18 with feature afternoon waterfights east of the firehall, beginning at 3 pm. The Senior Center will begin serving Walking Tacos, Sloppy Joes, and the fixings from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. The annual Poker Walk will begin with registration ($5 for adults, $1 for kids) before 6:30 pm at “Vetchville” (2nd & Pine). Walkers will turn in their poker hands at the Elgin Community Center where winners will be determined.
Wrapping up activities that evening will be kid’s karaoke from 7-9 pm at Boomerangs, followed by adult karaoke, also at Boomerangs.
Tuesday, June 19
Kid’s activities will get things going on Tuesday with the Kid’s Races beginning at 4 pm. Still with the kids, the Kid’s Parade will lineup at 6 pm behind Jerry’s Feed Service with it to begin at 6:30 pm. The Grand Parade begins its lineup at 6 pm on the east side of the City Park. The parade is scheduled to begin at 7 pm. This year’s route will be the same as last year’s, turning down third street instead of the highway. A reminder to everyone, with closed streets and the amount of traffic around the park, the park is considered temporarily “closed” until the parade entrants have left the area.
Elgin’s Q125 group will be holding an Ice Cream Social at the firehall, beginning at parade time and continuing following the parade.
All proceeds from the social will benefit the upcoming celebration in 2014.
Lovers of cars, trucks & bikes are encouraged to bring in their finest and cruise main street – just like “in the old days”. Antique, muscle & all-around classics of all ages are welcome to participate in the parade and then “strut their stuff” around town following the parade.
Rounding out the evening will be live music by Shawn Cole from 9 pm – 1 am at Boomerangs.
Wednesday, June 20
Due to a camp conflict, the Pool Party has been moved to Wednesday this year. The party will be at the Elgin City Pool from 1-3 pm. Activities will remain at the City Park with the Kid’s Scavenger Hunt at 3:30 pm. The annual Community BBQ will be held at the Elgin Knights of Columbus Hall from 5 – 7 pm. Everyone is invited to join in the feed.
A requested donation of $1 per sandwich is asked but additional funds won’t be refused!
Beginning at 8 pm, an Adult Scavenger Hunt will be held. Teams will sign in at The Steel Steed and report back there following their successful “hunt”. Live music by Nick Leland will begin at 9 pm at The Steel Steed.
Saturday, June 23
After a couple of days off, Vetch Days activities will officially wrap up with the Elgin Community-Wide Garage Sales on Saturday, June 23 from 8 am to 3 pm.
Also on that evening will be the alumni banquets for Elgin High School and St. Boniface High School.
