First City Days still on this weekend in Abby
As one of the last summer festivals still standing, First City Days this weekend will offer three days of outdoor activities that organizers say will be both enjoyable and safe.
Event organizer Dean Wiese said they are taking extra precautions this year to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as putting up signs urging people to social distance. Wiese said people should wear masks if they feel it’s necessary.
“This is open-air thing,” he noted.
Wiese also urges people to use common sense.
“If you don’t feel good, don’t come,” he said.
There will not be the usual bouncy house for kids, and a petting zoo has been cancelled, but Wiese said a group out of Menomonie will be providing games for kids.
“Every time someone leaves a booth, they will sanitize that area,” he said. “There will be hand sanitizer.”
All three days will include a beer stand, food stands, music, and crafters and vendors at Red Arrow Park in Abbotsford. Breakfast will be served Saturday and Sunday mornings, from 7 to 10:30 a.m. each day.
The 15th annual event will start on Friday night with an antique tractor pull on blacktop, on the north end of Red Arrow Park. Registration begins at 4 p.m., and the pulls themselves start at 6 p.m.
Fore more information, contact Ed Kulas at 715-507-0116, Kevin Johnson at 715-613-4196 or Dean Wiese at 715-721-6881.
Live music will be performed by Juke Box Elvis, starring Dave Ehlert, “One Man, 1,000 Voices,” from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday night. He will also perform on Saturday night, from 7 to 11:30 p.m. and on Sunday during the car show.
Saturday will feature the annual vintage snowmobile show and swap meet, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. and going until 1 p.m. Voting ends at 2 p.m. with trophies awarded at 3 p.m.
Goody bags, dash plaques and door prizes will be provided to participants.
For more information, contact Kevin Johnson at 715-650-1755 (days) or at 715-223-2755.
A Saturday evening car cruise starts at 6 p.m., with registration beginning an hour earlier at 6 p.m. A show car is not required; everyone is welcome to participate. The registration fee is a non-perishable product for the local food pantry. Call Brenda Wiese at 715-613-6094 with questions.
The annual car, truck and motorcycle show will be held Sunday, with registration running from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Voting goes until 2 p.m. with trophies awarded at 3 p.m.
First and second-place trophies will be awarded in each class, with participants judging. Spectators can also vote for the “People’s Choice” winner.
Some of the annual events that were still up in the air as of Tuesday include the Sunday morning church service in the park, the Saturday ATV pulls and the pedal pulls on Sunday.
