Music and so much more are in store for those attending this year’s Vetch Days’ celebration.
It promises to be a week’s worth of activities for all age groups.
The theme for this year’s event is “Start Your Engines, Blow Your Horns, Rolling into 2014.” The theme is reference to the community’s Q125 celebration to be held next year.
This year’s Vetch Days celebration will be held June 10-12, earlier than previous years. Again this year, Richard’s Amusements will be on hand all three nights of the celebration. Carnival tickets can be purchased in advance at City Limits, Dean’s Market, The Station and Elgin One Stop.
Vetch Days officially kicks off on Monday, June 10, during the afternoon as there will be ‘Water Fights’ just east of the Fire Hall. The water fights are scheduled to get underway at 3 p.m. and continue throughout much of the afternoon.
Activities will switch to the downtown for the evening activities. The Elgin Community Center will be serving ‘sloppy joes’ and ‘walking tacos’ from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Kid’s Karaoke will begin at 6 p.m. and run til 8 p.m. at Boomerang’s. There will be prizes for performers.Beginning at 7 p.m., a ‘Poker Walk’ will get underway. The starting point will be ‘Vetchville’ located at the corner of First and Pine Streets. Prizes will be awarded to the top two hands among those participating. Cost is $5 for adults, $1 for 18 & under.
The evening will wrap up at Boomerang’s where there will be adult karaoke from 8 p.m. to midnight.
Tuesday, June 11, activities will get underway at 1 p.m. with a pool party for children at the Elgin City Pool.
At 4 p.m., there will be kid’s races at the Elgin Park, weather permitting.
Evening activities will include a kid’s parade at 6:30 p.m.. Lineup for the parade will begin at 6 p.m. behind Jerry’s Feed Service.
The grand parade will begin at 7 p.m. and will follow a slightly different route than in years past (see map). The new route will be the one which will be used for the Q125 parade to be held in June 2014.
Lineup for the parade will begin at 6 p.m. near the Elgin football field.
During – and at the conclusion of – the parade, there will be an ice cream/cake social served at the Fire Hall.
The evening will wrap up with live music at Boomerang’s from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Performing will be Sean Cole.
The last day of Vetch Days, June 12, will begin with a Kid’s Scavenger Hunt beginning at the park at 3 p.m.
Free-will donations will be accepted at the annual Community BBQ to be held at the KC Hall from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. At that time, persons will also be able to register for the Q125 Beard Contest. Persons will be able to purchase ‘shave permits’ at a cost of $5.
The action will shift to Maple Street at 7 p.m. for a new event. Sponsored by EKG, there will be a ‘Lucky Duck’ race (see separate story). People will be able to purchase one or more numbered rubber ducks, then watch them race down a water-filled Maple Street hill with the chance to win big money. Tickets are available from EKG members.
Starting at 8 p.m., an Adult Scavenger Hunt will begin at the Steel Steed Steakhouse & Saloon.
One hour later, Dave Merkel will be performing live music at the Steel Steed til 1 a.m.
