freedom fest 2011

Austin is the place to be over the long Fourth of July weekend, aspeople from near and far join together for Freedom Fest, July 1-4.The 26th annual celebration of community and country features a

wide variety of family entertainment for people of all ages.This year’s four-day schedule of events includes more than 24

hours of music, a 100-unit grand parade, twonights of fireworks, artsand crafts, races and contests, great food andmore.Several new events have been added to the schedule, including a

salute to The Hormel Institute and “Walk for a Cancer Free World,”aMooseClubCar Show, amusical tribute to the “Legends of Countryand Rock,” a “Little Miss Sparkler” and “Mr. Firecracker Pageant,”and a beanbag tournament.Bandshell Community Park is the center of activities for family

events July 2, 3 and 4. Twenty hours of free stage entertainment isscheduled, along with an arts and crafts show, carnival games andrides, and 13 food concessions will be set up. Fireworks will be dis-played over the park on the evenings of July 3 and 4.

A giant flag is carried down Main Street during the annual Freedom Festparade in Austin. —Herald file photo

Afour-day

celebration

•Look for a complete calendar of events on Page 3.

2 SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2011 FREEDOM FEST - AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

‘It’s the biggest event in Austin’

By ADAM HARRINGA

Due to its popularity, the Chamber ofCommerce is adding an extra day of activi-ties to the 26th annual Fourth of July Free-dom Fest.Old favorites remain, but new events in-

clude the Hormel Institute “Walk for a Can-cer-Free World,” and the Little Miss Sparklerand Mr. Firecracker pageants.Running July 1-4, Freedom Fest attracts

thousands of residents and visitors to cele-brate family, community and country, saidChamber Executive Director Sandy Forstner.“It’s the biggest event in Austin,” Forstner

said. “It’s four days of family entertainment,music, food, fireworks, a parade, and there’slots to do for people of all ages and interests.”This year’s events begin on Friday, July 1,

with the Austin Jaycees’ annual Street Danceat Torge’s Live. Two bands will perform from8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., including Poisoned andthe Amish Playboys.Sporting events open on July 2 with the 5-

Mile Hog Jog and the Kids Fishing Contest atEast Side Lake, followed by the 25-Mile DanUlwelling Bike Race at the Jay C. Hormel Na-

ture Center.“Walk for a Cancer Free World” is sched-

uled for Saturday, July 2, as part of FamilyDay in the Park sponsored by The Hormel In-stitute. The day will include an Instituteopen house and family walk from the Insti-tute down to Bandshell Park.Bandshell Community Park is the center

of activities for food, music and family en-tertainment July 3-4. Twenty hours of con-tinuous stage entertainment has beenscheduled, along with children’s rides, car-nival games and contests, food concessions,and arts and crafts show. Costumed charac-ters and magicians will entertain throughoutthe grounds.The Morning Lions will also host their an-

nual Fly-In Breakfast from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.July 3 at the Austin Airport.Bandshell stage entertainment on July 3

and 4 includes 14 musical and dance per-formers, including Bissen Brothers Band,Austin Community Band, The Austin Sym-phony Orchestra, 3 Lane and the Austin BigBand.

Chamber, community ready for Freedom Fest, 2011

The Austin Freedom Fest Grand Old Fourth Independence Day Parade be-gins its progression down Main Street. —Herald file photo

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - FREEDOM FEST SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2011 3

We will beclosed Monday,

July 4

FRIDAY, JULY 1•Jaycees Street Dance; 8 p.m.Friday - 12:30 a.m.Saturday;at Torge’s Live, featuring Poisoned and Amish Playboys; $5cover charge.

SATURDAY, JULY 2•Hog Jog 5-Mile Run; 8 a.m.; at East SideLake; pre-registration at the YMCA, race-day registration 6:45-7:30 a.m.at the racesite. For a race form, go to www.ymca-austin.org.•Kids’Fishing Contest; 8-10 a.m.; at EastSide Lake; $2 entry fee, $50 first-placeprize, prizes for all 15 and under; regis-tration on site beginning at 7:30 a.m.25 Mile Dan Ulwelling Bike Race; Noon;at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center; reg-istration at 11 a.m.•The Hormel Institute’s “Walk for aCancer-Free World”; 3 p.m.; starting atThe Hormel Institute; registration 1:30-2:30 p.m.; open house 2-3 p.m.; $8 entryfee, includes aT-shirt on first-come basis.•Bandshell Community Park enter-tainment; 2-7 p.m.; slides, rides and car-nival games, arts and crafts, 13 foodconcessions, and a Jaycee’s beer garden.•D.C. Music Productions’ Legends ofCountry andRock; 4-7 p.m.;at BandshellPark;The“Great Girl Groups”4-4:30 p.m.,The Hormel Institute 4:30-4:45 p.m.,country classics 4:45-5:15 p.m., TheHormel Institute 5:15-5:30 p.m., JohnnyCash by Bill Dewey 5:30-6 p.m., TheHormel Institute 6-6:15 p.m., and tributeto“Buddy and the Bopper”6:15-7 p.m.

SUNDAY, JULY 3•Morning Lions Fly-in Breakfast; 7 a.m.- 1 p.m.; at the Austin Airport.•Moose Club Car Show; Noon; registra-tion at 11 a.m.; 50s and 60s music, foodand prizes.•Family Day in the Park; 2-10 p.m.; at

Bandshell Community Park; slides, rides and carnivalgames, arts and crafts; bags tournament west of theBandshell at 1 p.m., registration at noon (507-440-

0961); jugglers,magicians and clowns; 13 food conces-sions; and a Jaycee’s beer garden.•Bandshell Community Park stage entertainment; 2-

10 p.m.; Jane Taylor Dancers, 2-3p.m.; Bridget’s Dance Conservatory,2:45-3:15 p.m.; Little MissSparkler/Mr. Firecracker, 3:30-4:30p.m.; CW Von Arx, 4:30-5 p.m.; TheSisseez, 5:15-6:15 p.m.; 3 Lane Band,6:30-8 p.m.; announcements, 8-8:30p.m.; Austin Community Band, 8:30-10 p.m.; fireworks display at dusk.

MONDAY, JULY 4•28th annual Mini Piggy Fun Run;10:45 a.m.•Independence Day Parade; 11a.m.; Main Street.•Bandshell Community Parkstage entertainment; 1-10 p.m.;Rochester Caledonian Pipe Band,1-1:30 p.m.; opening ceremony/flagraising, 1:30-2 p.m.; The Austin BigBand, 2-3 p.m.; The Irish Minstrels,3:30-5 p.m.; 2nd Edition, 5:15-6:15p.m.; Bissen Brothers (and Sisters)Band, 6:30-8 p.m.; announcements,fireworks raffle drawings and AAACpresentation, 8-8:30 p.m.; AustinSymphony Orchestra, 8:30-10 p.m.;giant fireworks display at dusk.•Other entertainment;1-8 p.m.;Bubbles the Clown, Jim Jaye’s Pup-pet Show, slides, rides and carnivalgames; 13 food concessions, and aJaycee’s Beer Garden.•Kid Power “Pedal Tractor Pulls”;3 p.m.•Free ice cream social; 2-4 p.m.;Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Fireworks burst over the bandshell during the fireworks display as part of Austin's Freedom Frest cel-ebration. —Herald file photo

Freedom Fest schedule of events


Youngsters cheer the Freedom Fest parade coming down Main Street.—Herald file photos

Freedom Festat a glance

Above: Norm Heci-movich, as a past GrandMarshall, waves to spec-tators at the FreedomFest Parade.Left: Three-and-a-half-year-old Liam Mayerspeeks out from a gigaballduring Family Day in thePark as part of FreedomFest.Below: Children squealas the Osman ShrineDragon Patrol blowssmoke into the crowd dur-ing the parade.

Austin will be going hog wild July 2.The YMCA’s Hog Jog 5-Mile runwill return for

the Fourth of July weekend on Saturday.The entry fee is $25 after June 22. All proceeds

from the racewill go toward youth and family pro-grams at the Y.The run starts at 8 a.m. at East Side Lake at the

Eighth Ave. and Oakland Place Northeast inter-section. Racers must register before 7:30 a.m.Awards will be announced following the race

and given to the first man and woman runners,and the first-place finisher in each age group.Results will be posted at www.onlineracere-

sults.com. To register, contact the YMCA at 507-433-1804.

Mini-Piggy Fun RunBefore the parade passes by, Austin youth will

be breaking in the parade route.

The annualMini-PiggyFunRunwill be held onthe parade route at 10:45 a.m. July 4.Registration is $8 after June 24. To register, call

the chamber at 507-437-4561.The race is not timed and is open to children

of all ages.

—AUSTIN DAILY HERALD


Dan Ulwelling25M Bike RaceSeveral years ago, FreedomFest’s bike race took on anew

title: the Dan Ulwelling 25-Mile Bike Race.Dedicated to Ulwelling —who passed away several years

ago and competed in, helped and cheered on the race — the2011 race kicks of at noon on Saturday, July 2, at the Jay C.Hormel Nature Center.Registration begins at 11 a.m. with a $15 entry fee.Within

the men and women classes, contestants can sign up for oneof six different age brackets.All racers must wear a helmet. First-place winners of

men’s and women’s classes will receive trophies. All partici-pants will receive a Freedom Fest T-shirt.Call TerryFox (SMBC) at 507-433-7184with any questions.


Bikers taking part in the 25 miles Dan Ulwelling Bike Race head outof Austin, past the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. —Herald file photo

The Hog Jog will make its return to Freedom Festthis year. —Herald file photo

YMCA 5MHog Jog run One of the newest and most-anticipated events of this year’s Free-

dom Fest is the Hormel Institute’s “Walk for a Cancer Free World.”The walk, which begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 2, is a “for every-

one” event that supports research to fight cancer.Bring friends and family to enjoy a walk on an easy and fun 3.5-mile

route from The Hormel Institute (801 16th Ave. NE) to Bandshell Park.Along theway, learn about TheHormel Institute’s latest discoveries andhow community partners help support the Institute’s cutting-edge re-search.Registration is available on the day of the event at the Hormel Insti-

tute, or in advance at the Chamber of Commerce. Same-day registrationgoes from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., and an Institute open house is from 2-3 p.m.The entry fee is $10 and free T-shirts are available on a first-come

basis.Bandshell entertainment kicks off at 2 p.m., with food, games, rides

and more until 7 p.m., and a “Legends of Country and Rock” concertfrom 4 to 7 p.m., presented by D.C. Music Productions.For questions, call the Chamber at 507-437-4561 or The Hormel Insti-

tute at 507-437-9601.


Institute to host cancer walk

SATURDAY, JULY 2•First annual rib cook off; US Bank parkinglot — 1 p.m.—Pre registration is required.Contact: EricLoftess 251-9951•Crowning of the Little Miss Firecracker;Blooming Prairie High School; $2 admission;5 and younger; free — 3 p.m.•J&H Street Dance; $5 cover charge; 21 andolder only;Downtown — 8 to 12:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, JULY 3•Dodge Ball Tournament; high school gym— sign up from 12 to 12:30 p.m.—Contact:Ali Mach 440 1663•Trading Faces decorative face painting; CityPark — 3 to 9 p.m.•Pedal Tractor Pull; City Park — sign up 3:30p.m.•Concessions; variety of food and drink; CityPark — 4 to 9 p.m.•Bounce Zone LLC; victory Field — 4 to 9p.m.•Pie and ice cream social; City Park — 4 to 9p.m.•BPRA Moonwalk; City Park — 4 to 9 p.m.•Bingo; City Park — 5 to 9 p.m.•Live entertainment:The Kittelson Family;City Park — 6 p.m.•Schiffely Puppets; City Park — 6:30 p.m.•Magic Show;City Park — 7:15 p.m.•Teen Dance; servicemen’s club — 8 to11:45 p.m.•BP Cue Company Street Dance, featuringBad Monkey; 21 and older — 8 p.m. tomidnight

—Chamber button required for admittance;purchase available at the door

MONDAY, JULY 4•Concessions: variety of food and drink; CityPark; open all day•Bounce Zone LLC;Victory Field — 4 to 9p.m.•Trolly rides between City Park and VictoryField; free with chamber button — 10 a.m.to 7 p.m.•BP Lions Club Breakfast; Prairie Manor —7:30 to 11 a.m.•Awesome Blossom run; High School —sign up 8:15 a.m.—Contact John Bruns 583-7221•Fire Department open house; fire hall — 9to 11 a.m.•Sweet Rides Car Show;Victory Field — 9a.m. to noon•Bingo; City Park — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.•Hole-in-One Miniature Golf; City Park — 9a.m. to 6 p.m.•Frog Bog Game;City Park — 9 a.m. to 6p.m.•BPRA Moonwalk; City Park — 9 a.m. to 6p.m.•Fine Arts Craft Fair; City Park — 9 a.m. to 6p.m.•Beer garden — alcohol in permitted areasonly — 21 and older; City Park — 9 a.m. to 6p.m.•Open doubles horseshoe tournament (8:30a.m. sign up), City Park — 9 a.m. to 4 pm•Tractor pull;west of Victory Field — 9 a.m.—Contact:Denise Krell 438 3862•BP Boys and Girls Club kids races;Victory

Field south of pavilion — 10 a.m.•Antique Tractor show;high school — 10a.m. to 2 p.m.•Kick Ball Tournament;HS Ball Diamonds 10

to 2 p.m., resume after parade—Contact Scott Archer 4752718•Just For Kix performance; Judges Stand atCity Park — noon•Alden Conger Supermileage car;VictoryField — noon to 2 p.m.•Laverne’s Concertina; Prairie Manor — 1 to2 p.m.•Little Miss Firecracker Contestants PerformDance; Judges Stand City Park — 1 p.m.•Hog Calling Contest; Judges Stand at CityPark — 1:30 p.m.•Parade — 2:30 to 4 p.m. (due toconstruction the parade route will bechanging)•Frozen T-shirt contests; City Park BeerGarden — 4 p.m.•Laverne's Concertina; servicemen's club —after parade•Stix of Fury performance; City Park — afterparade•Letterman Club beanbag toss (DaleHansen Scholarship Fund);Victory Field —4:30 p.m.—Pre registration required.Contact: JoshToquam 475-2130•Bean Bag Toss Tournament; 21 and older;south end of Beer Garden — 4:30 to 9 p.m.•Live Entertainment: by Arrows at Dawn;Victory Field — 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.•Fireworks at Victor Field — 10 p.m.


Two young girls celebrate the Fourth of July inBlooming Prairie. —Herald file photo

Blooming Prairie Fourth of July CelebrationIn Blooming Prairie, the Fourth of

July is time for the city to show what it’smade of.According to chamber director Becky

Noble, the 37th celebration is the town’schance to come together and show off.'“I think it’s brought people from other

towns a new perspective on what Bloom-ing Prairie is like,” Noble said.“It’s showing people it is a great little

community with some great people in it,”she added.Even though the parade will return at

2:30 p.m. this year, the parade route isscheduled to change because of road con-struction in town.For the first time in years, the Little

Miss Fire Cracker Pageant will return toBlooming Prairie.Also new this year is a rib cookoff

July 2 and a dodgeball competition July3.It will still be cold in July, as Blooming

Prairie has frozen T-shirt contests.Contestants will compete to see who

can thaw a T-shirt the fastest — withoutusing any electrical items like a blowdrier.“Last time we had a lot of laughs with

that,” Noble said.Along with the rib cookoff, there will

be a street dance on July 2. A teen dancewill be held at the servicemen’s club.

Most of the events July 3 will be heldin the park, with activities for kids and awide variety of activities for the entirefamily.The park will be bustling again on

July 4 starting at around 9 a.m. Therewill also be a breakfast at 7:30 at PrairieManor Lions club and a run starting at8:15 a.m.Local band Arrows At Dawn will play

from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. leading up to thefireworks, which will close the event.

July 2-4

BP holiday weekend schedule


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1200 West OaklandAustin, MinnesotaFOR TAKE OUT ORDERS

CALL 433-1369Open 11am - 11pm • 7 Days a Week

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Lyle celebrates Fourthwith family weekendLyle residents are set

to celebrate theFourth ofJuly with family andfriends.The town will host its annual Independ-

ence Day celebration on July 1 through 3this year.“It just brings families together,” said

DianaWitt, Lyle city clerk.The Dyna Tunes will be in own to per-

form on Friday and Saturday night.Saturday will be a packed day with a car

show, a truck and tractor pull, 3 vs. 3 bas-ketball and a Street Dance.

Sunday promises to bejust as busy, as a churchservice in the park willkick off the day that will

feature kids’ games in the park, a pedal pull,a mud bog and a talent show. Concertinaband Big Ben and the Brians will play Sun-day afternoon, andOneStepDown is sched-uled to perform later.For the third year in a row, the townwill

crown a Little Miss Lyle on Sunday after-noon.The paradewill be held at noon, and fire-

works will close the festivities.

July 1-3

Mark Reyman polishes the hood of his 1968 Chevy Camaro during the Lyle Fourth of July carshow. —Herald file photo

The Freedom Fest welcomes a newcontest this year; and like the contest, thecontestants are young, too.The Little Miss Sparkler and Mr. Fire-

cracker contest begins 3:30 p.m. July 3, atBandshell Park. Each contestant must be5 to 8 years old, and show what they havefor personality. It’s not a fashion show,but it is about patriotism.“A little patriotic casual dress would

be a good idea,” said Jeff Baldus of theAustin Chamber of Commerce.

Participants must be able to walkacross the stagewithout the help of a par-ent or guardian.The winners will receive $100 savings

bonds each and a ride on a float duringthe Fourth of July Parade.Entry forms can be obtained from the

Austin Chamber of Commerce. Entry feeis $5, and participants should arrive 30minutes before the event.


Youth to sparkle in Austin

freedom fest 2011

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