VOLGA The committee planners are calling it Old Timers Day, as they do every year but this year, as it does every year, the annual Volga hometown celebration goes for more than a day: June 11 through June 15.
Lindsey Grabow, who serves on the OTD planning committee, noted that the theme changes every year. We put out three different options, usually in that February, March timeframe and the public gets to vote. This year it was kind of that Safari, lets get wild theme.
It all gets going sort of today, with the Wild Wednesday Facebook Contest, Grabow said.
Its just kind of a way to get people engaged and excited about the weekend, things like that. On our Facebook page devoted to Old Timers Day, we will make a post where residents can comment and share and we will select one person Thursday morning and that person will receive a free meal on Friday morning from Shortys Hot Box.
Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., brings the traditional OTD Cookout that rotates from place to place. This year its being held at South Dakota Soybean Processors administration building at 211 Caspian Ave. In the evening, the good times roll again, with the OTD Weekend Kickoff at Schade Winery. Its an event hosted by the Volga Business Network (Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce). Attendees will enjoy live music and drinks. Grabow called the gathering a good way to get people connected.
Friday features a full day of events. For starters, theres the always-popular all-day City-wide Rummage Sale. Residents and Volga visitors can get around town and do some bargain hunting. Meanwhile at 9 a.m., a first-time ever event gets started: A Sioux Valley PTO 3-on-3 basketball tournament for first graders through eighth graders. The entry fee is $40 per team.
At 7 p.m. its time to Get Wild at Meadow Creek, a for-everybody gathering that includes: free ice cream, by the Volga Tribune and Cool as Ice (ice cream shop); food trucks; bounce houses; bubble play; and fireworks at dusk.
Saturday is really the day if youre thinking of one day that was originally Old Timers Day. Events are ongoing all day and include: the Too Young to be Old Timers 14-and-under softball tournament, hosted by Volga this year and pulling in teams from around the area; the American Legion pancake feed, from 7:30 to 10 a.m., at CCs; and Race at Your Pace, register at 7:30 a.m. and take off at 8 a.m.
And the big event comes at 11 a.m. the parade, with the theme being Lets Get Wild! Grabow said those in the parade can do whatever they want, but if they want to look to this years theme, Its kind of safari.
Come post-parade at noon there are plenty of activities getting underway at Doc and Roma Peeke Park: food trucks; craft vendors; Hometown Honeys entertaining with oldies, country and modern folk music; volleyball tournament; face painting; and bubble play. At 1:30 p.m. on Kasan Avenue theres the always competitive Kiddie Tractor Pull.
Then to wrap up such a busy and fun-filled day, theres the Volga Firemens Street Dance, featuring music by Eclipse. Gates open at 8 p.m. This is a 21-or-older-to-attend event. Admission is $15. Coolers are welcome and encouraged but no glass, please. The band will play from 9 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday.
Now its wind-down time. However, dont forget the all-weekend free swimming at the pool and the Brookings County Museum is again open. The softball tournament continues.
The day and the weekend finish with a Community Hymn Sing at First Reformed Church, sponsored by the Volga Ministerial Association.
For additional information about OTD, visit here and here on Facebook.
Contact John Kubal at [email protected].
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