Cheese Days rolls into Colby this weekend

The 59th Annual Colby Cheese Days will get underway this weekend, with three days of fun in the “Home of the World Famous Cheese.”

The Colby Community Library will kick off the festivities early on Thursday with its annual book and movie sale, which runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Colby Lions Shelter. The sale will continue on Friday, from 7 a.m to 2 p.m. Besides books and movies, items for sale will include CDs, puzzles, games, audiobooks and Colby High School yearbooks.

Food stands will open at 5 p.m. on Friday in downtown Colby, followed by the midway rides provided by Tri-State Carnival and Abby-Colby Chamber of Commerce beer stand at 6 p.m.

Friday evening will also feature ATV, garden tractor and UTV pulls, starting at 6 p.m. on South First Street.

The annual three-day softball tournament will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at the Colby Softball Field on East Street. Games will continue at 9 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday mornings. For more information, call Kayd Soppa at 715-507-0413.

Two nights of live music will get cracking on Friday with a performance by Hyde, a Wisconsin-based rock band, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Saturday will start bright and early with the Colby Cheese Days Race and Run For Jamison. Registration opens at 7 a.m., with the Jamison Kampmeyer Memorial Mile starting at 8:15 a.m., followed by the kids one-mile race at 8:15 a.m., the 10K race at 8:45 a.m. and the 5K race at 8:46 a.m.

Registration will open at 10 a.m. for a pedal tractor pull on Spence Street, with pulls starting at 11 a.m. The competition is open to all kids 4 to 12 years old. Entry is free, and each participant will receive a free carnival ride ticket. Contact Jeanie Tesch at 715-2235182 with any questions.

Weigh-ins will run from 10 to 11 a.m. for a bench-pressing contest on First Street. There is a per-person entry free. Call Chad at 715223-8100 for more information.

Saturday will also feature a car show, with registration beginning at 10 a.m. and the show opening at noon. A pin-up contest will be held held at 1 p.m., and awards will be given out at 3:30 p.m.

Food stands will open up again at 11 a.m. on Saturday, followed by the beer stand at noon and rides at 1 p.m.

The Colby Co-ed Sand Volleyball Tournament will once again be held at South Sixth Street Park, with games beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The tournament will be doubleelimination, with a maximum of 16 teams. Call Wade Oehmichen at 920-763-4939 for more information.

Crafters and vendors will also set up in the park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Saturday night will feature a live performance by the Spicy Tie Band out of Stevens Point, who will play a variety of rock songs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Sunday will start with a 10 a.m. weigh-in for a tractor pull starting at 1 p.m. on First Street.

Wisconsin’s “Real” Cheese Parade will start lining up at 10 a.m. at the Colby High School parking lot, with the parade getting underway at noon at the corner of Second Street and Adams Street.

This year’s theme is “Christmas In July,” with awards for Best Use of Holiday Lights, Most Holiday Spirit/Energy and Something Other Than Candy (most unique hand-out that is not candy). Contact Liz Baumgartner at 715-223-5397 for more information.

Prior to the start of the parade, the Colby VFW will start serving its famous charcoal chicken at 11 a.m. and go until all of the cluckers are sold.

First United Church on the corner of Second and Clark streets, will also be serving hot beef, hot pork, chili, pie and ice cream at the church’s fellowship hall, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a great view of the parade route.

Food stands will open again at 11 a.m., followed by the beer stand and carnival rides at noon.

Sunday will feature the World Championship Cheese Curd Throw, starting at 1:30 p.m. on Spence Street.

Music provided by a DJ will wind down the weekend from 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday night.

Other ongoing events throughout the weekend include Colby Lions Bingo on Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The Rural Arts Museum will also be open on Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m., and on Sunday after the parade until 4 p.m. The museum has five new exhibits and a chance to a ride a toboggan.