Courtland Fun Day set for its 61st group celebration

By Olivia Bergmeier | Regional Reporter Blade-Empire

More than six a long time in the past, Courtland started a practice of celebrating its group that continues to at the present time, with 2025 marking the 61st Courtland Fun Day.

“It was just kind of everybody getting together,” mentioned Courtland Fun Day Board of Directors secretary Josey Hammer. “I’ve heard stories about back in the day that there was a piano player at the Beer Garden and that he was really cool.”

Hammer is a more-recent-than-most addition to the city, however she mentioned the tales she’s heard of Courtland Fun Day are countless. According to Hammer, this occasion started as a single day of group celebration, however as we speak, it’s grown to a complete week of actions.

From 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Monday by Friday, the occasion hosts the Courtland Arts Camp on the Arts Center. Matched with the Arts Camp is the annual Medallion Hunt on the Courtland Pool House every night time.

According to Hammer, the Courtland Fun Day Board of Directors fundraises every year in order that youngsters who need to take part within the Courtland Arts Camp can at no cost.

At 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, the occasion will ramp up with a swim pageant, potluck dinner and an evening swim afterward.

Friday will start many extra actions, with the ultimate day of the Courtland Arts Camp concluding, and the ultimate Medallion Hunt for the occasion will start at 5 p.m.

The Beer Garden will open concurrently the Medallion Hunt, and proceed serving drinks till midnight. A typical sight throughout the occasion is stay music, with the primary band, Drop Everything, starting its efficiency at 5 p.m. on the Beer Garden.

Hammer mentioned that the bands that go to and carry out are utterly free for attendees.

“We show people how inviting we can be,” Hammer mentioned. “Anybody can be a part of it, and if people feel that way when they’re just here for an event for a couple of days, then hopefully they know that if they come back for something else or decided they wanted to maybe come live in this area.”

Saturday continues the joy, beginning with the Fun Run and Gravel Bike Tour starting at 7:30 a.m. at Mini Park, with a co-ed sand volleyball event beginning at 8 a.m.

The Courtland Fun Day Beer Garden will open at 9 a.m. and proceed serving drinks till midnight on Saturday.

At 9:30 a.m., there will probably be a greased pig contest, the place contributors compete to catch a slippery pig. Once the pig festivities finish, the Courtland Fun Day Children’s Parade will start at 11 a.m., with the final parade to observe at 11:30 a.m.

This 12 months’s parade grand marshals are Denny and Lorna Lauritzen, who Hammer mentioned attended the primary Courtland Fun Day in 1964.

Water inflatables, frog races and a corn gap event will all open at 1 p.m., adopted by a stomach slide at 3 p.m. At 4 p.m., the Dice Run and Chicken Bingo begins.

At 5:30 p.m., the Courtland Fire Department will host a pit-chicken meal on the Courtland Fire Hall, with a corn pile opening for teenagers at 7 p.m.

Throughout the day, a number of bands and musicians will carry out on a rolling schedule on the Beer Garden, together with Henry Tice, Jacob Steeves, Drew Freberg, Craig Stensaas, Tyler Jenson, Tanner, Trevor and Friends and DJ Brenda Flinn from 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.

The occasion’s predominant stage will characteristic Liz Bentley at 8 p.m. and Tyler Halverson at 10 p.m.

Sunday will end the occasion with the Road Rally that begins registration at midday and commences at 12:30 p.m.

Hammer mentioned that every one of those occasions wouldn’t be attainable with out a number of donors, and expressed gratitude for his or her help.

“I need to give all props to our donors because none of it would be possible without all of them,” Hammer mentioned. “And everybody does a wonderful job of supporting it, and I think that’s because they can see the results. Not only do we have a big fun event for everybody, but we also put some of that money back into the community to help with more future community events.”

According to Hammer, her board has invested in awnings and different park upgrades to proceed enhancing the occasion, and group, yearly.

Other Courtland Fun Day board members embrace president Brian Freeman, vp Garrett Russell, treasurer Chris Henriksen, Ethan Mahin, Sharon Segerhammer and Clay Wallin.