Farm City Fun Fest starts Friday

It’s that time of year again. It’s time for Winthrop to celebrate Farm City Fun Fest. After a spring and summer that has been filled with more than its fair share of rain, the weekend forecast looks fabulous.
Things kick off on Friday at 4 p.m. and then get into full gear on Saturday and Sunday with events all day long.
The beer garden and food stand will open up at 4 p.m. and the entertainment starts then as well with the Sleepy Eye Area Concertina Club under the big tent.
The Kid’s Midway will be open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday but will also be available for fun on the weekend as well from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days. It will feature an obstacle course, bounce houses and a waterslide.
T-Bird Community Arts will hold a pork chop feed from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will also be a dessert and snack social from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. sponsored by the Winthrop General Federation of Women’s Clubs.
Bingo will begin at 6:30 p.m. and is sponsored by the Transit Trailblazer 4-H Club.
A double-elimination softball tournament will begin Friday evening with games all day Saturday and the championship being played on Sunday.
Family movie night takes place under the south park shelter and is sponsored by the Winthrop Royalty.
A luminary walk on the north end of the park begins at 8 p.m. with proceeds going to Winthrop City Park improvements. Bags can be purchased at city hall and returned by noon on Friday.
The evening ends with Thunder and Lightning DJ performing in the big tent at 8 p.m.
Saturday starts out strong with the 5K Splash ‘N Dash at 9 a.m. People are encouraged to keep the runners (those not wearing red) cool by spraying them with water.
The youngsters will be playing T-Ball beginning at 9 a.m.
The big tent will play host to the annual Sheephead Tournament at 9 a.m.
The beer garden and food stands will open at 10 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
The home business/ craft fair will also run both days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Raptor Center will be on hand in the south park shelter 10 a.m.-11 a.m. to be followed by a comedian/unicyclist at 11 a.m. Both events are sponsored by the Winthrop Public Library.
The kids bike giveaway will be held in the south park shelter after the comedy event. You must be present to win.
The GFW Pioneer Express FFA Chapter will have a petting zoo in the park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days.
For those who enjoy competition, the bean bag tournament for adults (12 and older) will begin at noon with the kids tournament (ages 8-13) beginning at 3 p.m. Both are double elimination.
GFW ECFE is hosting a kids arts and crafts in the north park shelter from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
It is expected to be hot on Saturday and what better way to cool down than at the kids water fight at 2:30 p.m. by the volleyball courts.
A canvas painting class will be held in the south park shelter at 4:30 p.m.
Thunder n Lighting will be back at it under the big tent beginning at 4 p.m.
The dance in the park will begin at 9 p.m. with KC and the Southside Band playing. The event has been moved to the park due to the street construction in downtown Winthrop.
Sunday begins with an ecumenical service at 8 a.m. in the big tent.
Breakfast will be served from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Always a big attraction, the car show will be celebrating its 22nd year and begins at 10 a.m.
The first tractor show will also begin at 10 a.m.
The kids pedal pull has been moved to Sunday and will be held at 10 a.m. by the big tent.
Entertainment in the park will be provided by Minnesota Over 60 Band at 11 a.m. by the tractor show and by Schell’s Hobo Band at 12:30 p.m. by the car show.
The Great Parade will begin at 2 p.m. It starts at St. Francis Church north to Eighth Street, east to Main Street, south to Fifth Street and then west ending near Peace Lutheran Church.
After the parade, stop down to the park for the chicken bar-b-que. They will begin serving at about 3 p.m.
The Concord Singers will be providing music from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Mages Family band will follow from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the big tent.
Bi-County baseball will have a game on the north field at 6:30 p.m.
The weekend concludes with the Raffle Drawing at 7 p.m.