Days of Old Schedule of Events

The Days of Old features a wide variety of events for the whole family.

Downtown. . .

*Car Show and other Magnificent Machines, 10 a.m. on the grounds of the Maple Lake VFW. Vintage cars, tractors and machines will be on display with prizes to be awarded at the end of the day. Owners of classic vehicles and machines can still register by calling Sandy Krohn at 320-963-3411. At 3:30 p.m., a car parade will proceed to the city park for an awards ceremony.

*10K, 8 a.m.; Fun Run, 9:15 a.m. Proceeds from the races will benefit the Maple Lake High School track squads. The 10K will begin at 8 a.m. on August 19 at the Maple Lake school grounds. The route will take runners to and through Ney Park and then back to the school. The Fun Run will begin at 9:15 a.m. for two laps around the school track at Irish Country Stadium. Race registration forms can be obtained at the running website, raceberryjam.com, or at the high school office.

*Live KRWC Radio broadcast, 10 a.m. to noon. KRWC will be broadcasting interviews and Days of Old details as the events get underway.

*Market Place, food, games, 11 a.m. The Market Place, will feature flea market items, produce, business displays, organization information and crafts. Registration is $10 and can be completed by calling Shannon Veches at Security State Bank-320-963-3161 or Carol Lundquist at Pearson Plumbing-320-963-1010. The current line-up of booths will feature Ertel’s Famous Butt Cream, Safe Home, LLC and Log Division, Wright County MEADA, the Wright County Sheriff’s Department, Maple Lake History in Photos, Kim Mooney’s Outdoor Plant Sale, Diane Sorenson’s Antiques, Premier Jewelry by Berta Monk, Kari Benson Crafts, the Maple Lake Property Owners Association, Maple Lake Community Theatre, Bethlehem United Church of Christ, Perspective Technique Photography by John Schaefers, the Christopher Reeve Foundation, Tastefully Simple by Julie Shelby, All New Square Foot Gardening by Connie Lahr, Lake Region Country Store, Dave Stumpf Produce, Pioneer Park selling maple syrup and Creative Memories by Laurie Risbrudt and Mary Scheiber. There will also be a spot to sign up for a raffle featuring a quilt made by SAMS Quilters of Maple Lake and a child’s bench made by the Log Division of Safe Home Inc. The drawing for the raffle will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. at the city park.

Tom Ertel will be on hand to answer questions and offer for sale a Maple Lake original: Ertel’s Famous Butt Cream. The diaper rash remedy was developed over 100 years ago by Tom’s grandfather, Charles Ertel, a Maple Lake pharmacist.

Also offered for sale will be the second painting in the “Maple Lake Memories” series. The painting, commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce through Speltz Studio of Wildlife in Armstrong, Iowa, features the Maple Lake Lakers and the Irish Stadium baseball park.

Food will include the Maple Lake Lions, hamburgers, hotdogs and cheese curds; VFW Men’s Auxiliary, brats and cool treats; Holy Cross Lutheran Church, rootbeer floats and ice cream; the Maple Lake Bakery, cotton candy, fudge and taffy; Boy Scouts, Sno Cones; Girl Scouts, Tacos in a Bag; and Scooter Dawgs.

Games will include a variety of carnival games hosted by Youth Connections and a 70-foot moonwalk to be located on Birch Avenue which will feature a castle, slide and obstacle course.

*The Retiree: On to Geezerhood book signing, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jerry Hoem, author of the column, “The Retiree,” in the Maple Lake Messenger, will be on hand to sign copies of his new book at the History in Photos tent at the Market Place on Birch.

Dunk Tank, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Maple Lake’s royalty will be hosting a dunk tank that will feature familiar local faces on the list of those willing to get wet.

11:00-Toni Mills

11:30- Mark Redemske

12:00- Brenda Elliott

12:30- Jeff Evenski

1:00- Ken Elsenpeter

1:30- Princess Tiffany Elliott

2:00- Princess/Ms. Congeniality-

Stefanie Mills

2:30- Queen Sarah Dombrovski

3:00- Leo Dombrovski

3:30- Gary Elliott

4:00- Todd Kempenich

*Free Concert by classic rock band, Major Tom, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The band features Maple Lake resident Andy Peterson as vocalist; Joe Seliski, guitarist; Brad Bruhn, keyboard player; Mike Rumpza, base player; and Dave Paquette, drummer. The band is prepared to entertain the Days of Old crowd with some classic rock cover tunes from the Beatles, Who, REM, and much more. Sponsored by the Maple Lake Lions and the Maple Lake Chamber of Commerce.

*Bovine Bingo, noon to 3 p.m. Bovine Bingo, coordinated by Lake Region Co-op and the Country Store. Bovine Bingo hasn’t been attempted in Maple Lake since a cow escaped from a Centennial Playground fund-raiser 16 years ago. Players guess the numbered spot where the bovine will do his business.

*KRWC Road Show, noon to 2 p.m. Radio personalities will be playing music and conducting games for prizes on Birch Avenue.

*Fire Department crash rescue demonstration, 12:30 p.m. Members of the Maple Lake Fire Department will be conducting a crash rescue training session in front of the fire hall on Division Street.

*Ertel’s Butt Cream Heist, 2 p.m. The Midwest Mounted Reenactors will be involved in a variety of activities from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. that include street shootouts, gun education, trick roping and the 2 p.m. heist of Maple Lake’s precious stockpile of Ertel’s Famous Butt Creme.

*Car Parade to the Park, 3:30 p.m. Participants will move their classic vehicles in a procession from the VFW grounds to the city park.

At the City Park. . .

*Maple Lake Fire Department Water Keg Games, 3:30 p.m. There is no cost to participate and teams can win Business Buck prizes of $60, $40 and $20 in a co-ed contest. Business Bucks are gift certificates that can be used at any Maple Lake businesses. Participants must be 18 years of age or older and registration will take place at the park at 3:15 p.m. on August 19. Anyone with questions can call Brad Hennen at 963-4684 after 6 p.m.

*Hasty-Silver Creek Sportsman’s Club Pork Chop Dinner, 4 p.m. A full meal for those who plan to enjoy the evening entertainment in the park. Also available at the park will be the VFW Beer Garden.

*Car Show Awards, 4 p.m. A variety of awards, including the People’s Choice Award, will be presented.

*Old Tyme Costume Contest judging, 4 p.m. Everyone in costume is welcome to enter the contest, with winners receiving prizes of $60, $40 and $20 in Maple Lake Chamber of Commerce Business Bucks for first through third places. Judging will be conducted by the Maple Lake royalty based on appearance, presentation, and creativity.

*Ben Marquette and Friends, 4 p.m. The veteran band, consisting of Ben Marquette, Roger Stumpf, Don Lattimer, and Shelby Kingmon, started playing together years ago, but their performances have become less frequent with time. However, Marquette still leads the band with his vocals while the other members strum away on their fiddles and guitars to produce new and old country tunes with a little gospel twist. Sponsored by the Maple Lake Chamber of Commerce.

*Square Dancing, 5:30 p.m. Members of the County Line Square Dancers will perform in the park pavilion. Sponsored by Safe Home LLC.

*Rebecca’s Well, 6:30 p.m. The seven-member band is known across the state for their music which presents the gospel message with a lively mix of new and old-time favorites, done in country-western style. Pastor Steve King of Holy Cross Lutheran Church and his wife, Becky, lead the band with their vocal talents. Sponsored by Security State Agency/Emerald Mortgage

*Buffalo Junction, 7:30 p.m. Buffalo Junction is a duo consisting of George Meissner and Perry Snider. One of the folk opera songs performed by Buffalo Junction will include a story about a couple who sail around Maple Lake. The song is entitled “Let’s Sail Away” and it was written by George’s son, David Grerd Meissner. In addition to their own written material, Meissner and Snider will be combining their Johnny Cash-voices for a few cover songs by the Eagles, Cash, John Fogerty, and more. Sponsored by the Maple Lake Messenger.

*Fireworks, at dusk (9:15 p.m.).

The display will be produced by Melrose Pyrotechnics, which coordinates fireworks for numerous Minnesota festivals, including the Taste of Minnesota and the St. Paul Winter Carnival. The staging area for Maple Lake’s display will be Irish Stadium. However, for safety reasons, viewing will not be allowed at the stadium. The best viewing area will be at the city park for the 20-minute show, which is expected to begin at about 9:15 p.m. Sponsored by the Maple Lake Lions, the City of Maple Lake, MP NexLevel, LLC and the Maple Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Days of Old is coordinated by the Maple Lake Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call the Maple Lake Messenger at 320-963-3813.