VERGAS — It's time for all "Birds of a Feather to Get Looney Together!" The community of Vergas is getting ready for a full weekend of Looney Days fun, starting this Thursday, Aug. 8 and continuing through Sunday, Aug. 11.
More than 40 events are planned for the 2024 summer festival, from Thursday night's inaugural Looney Days Pickleball Tournament to the Grand Parade on Sunday afternoon. "We really strive to keep everything pretty family friendly," says Vergas Community Club member Sherri Hanson, noting that admission to most events is being offered free of charge for just that reason. Even entry into the pickleball tournament, which will take place from 1-5 p.
m. Thursday at the Vergas Pickleball Courts, is free this year. "It's fun to be adding that to the schedule this year," Hanson said.
ADVERTISEMENT Also on Thursday night, the Vergas Got Talent Show is returning for a second straight year. "It's all local talent," said Hanson. "That one was really fun last year; people really enjoyed it.
" The talent show takes place at 7 p.m. inside Loonie's Pub, while over at Otter Coffee, there will be live music and food trucks from 5:30 to 7:30 p.
m. Friday morning events will include local rummage sales all over the Vergas community and a "make your own sidewalk chalk art" opportunity at Natalie's Serendipity, along with a brats and beans luncheon at the Unit Methodist Church parking lot. The remainder of Friday's events will take place at Loon Park, from a kids' fishing clinic at 10 a.
m. to a "Battle of the Businesses" loon calling contest at 6 p.m.
"The loon calling contest is our signature event," Hanson said. "We recognized that on Saturday, the businesses are busy, so we wanted to make sure everybody gets an opportunity (to participate in the contest) that wants to. "We're also adding a boat parade (on Long Lake) on Friday at 6 p.
m.," Hanson said. "That precedes the band, the Front Fenders, who will play at Loon Park from 7 to 9:30 p.
m." Hanson added that they will have food and beverage vendors out at the park throughout the afternoon and evening festivities, from 4 to 9 p.m.
ADVERTISEMENT Friday night's Front Fenders concert is just the first of several music events planned during the weekend, Hanson noted. Popular Detroit Lakes entertainer Tim Eggebraaten will be playing at the Summers Design Center in downtown Vergas from 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m. on Saturday, while Trip Wire will be playing at the street dance later that night on Railway Avenue, from 8 p.
m. to midnight. Sunday music events will include a performance by Katie Baker before the Grand Parade, from noon to 2 p.
m. on Main Street, while Skal Bar and Grill will be hosting live music "under the tent" following the parade, which gets underway at 2 p.m.
The ever-popular Wiener Dog Nationals will take place Saturday morning at the Vergas baseball field. "We're hoping for right around 100 wiener dogs," Hanson said, adding that they're planning for some pretty big crowds to see the little dogs race. "The thing we're really trying to get across is that we listened when people said that it was frustrating that they couldn't see," she added.
"We've put in some new bleachers ...
so hopefully everyone's going to get a chance to see it." Bleachers have been trucked in from as nearby as Frazee and as far away as Big Lake, Minnesota, as the track is surrounded with both bleacher and comfortable chair seating to help accommodate the expected 2,500 spectators. The perimeter of the track is designated for ground seating only, so that kids and those willing to sit on the ground can have a clear, close-up view of the racing action.
The race is sponsored again this year by Forest Edge Gallery of Vergas, which provides the one-of-a-kind trophies for the top racers. Door prizes will also be awarded so that all contestants have an opportunity to take home a beautiful, hand-crafted, metal wiener dog statue. Although most of the contestants are from the local area, dogs from an estimated 10 states will converge upon the neatly groomed turf at the baseball field to sprint their way to the crown of 2024 National Champion.
ADVERTISEMENT Planning for this premier event has been underway for over nine months, as an event of this magnitude requires a tremendous amount of preparation and work. According to Digger Anderson, president of the NWDRA (National Wiener Dog Racing Association), a staff of over 25 people from as far away as Green Bay, Wisconsin are needed to properly setup and conduct this national race. The natural grass track is 80 feet long and 40 feet wide, so up to eight hounds can compete side-by-side in preliminary heat races, trying to stampede their way to the championship race.
Owners of the speedy wiener dogs are positioned at each end of the track, as one owner releases their wiener and begins its the sprint to the finish line, where the other owner waits ready to reward them with a tasty treat for a job well done. Over 300 feet of vinyl fencing has also been installed to prevent the racers from escaping into the spectator areas, though those watching will have ample opportunity to see the dogs outside the race format, and maybe even pet them or get a doggie smooch. No admission is charged for spectators, who are encouraged to arrive early as the best seats begin to fill up well before race time.
There is a $15 entry fee per racing hound, or $25 total for a family who enters more than one of these four-legged sprinters. Your dog does not need to be a full-blooded dachshund, as the judges have some flexibility in allowing other dogs to race, providing they are similar in size to a dachshund. Registration for the races will begin at 8 a.
m., with the races starting at 9 a.m.
For more information, contact Digger Anderson at 763-370-9796 or [email protected] . The Looney Days Street Fair set to take place from 9 a.
m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday on Vergas's Main Street will be jam-packed this year. "We've been maxed out on vendors since May," Hanson said, noting that their downtown area just isn't large enough to accommodate any more booths. "It'll be one of our larger street fairs, so hopefully everyone will be able to find that special something they're looking for.
" Back over at Loon Park, a wide range of events are planned, from the Little Miss and Mr. Vergas Pageant at noon to the Loon Calling Contest at 1:30 p.m.
to the Puppy Plunge at 3 p.m. ADVERTISEMENT "Everyone loves the Puppy Plunge," Hanson said.
A water ski show at 5 p.m. will close out the day's activities at the park, with Trip Wire set to take the stage on Railway Avenue at 8 p.
m. for the Looney Days Street Dance. The final day of Looney Days will start with a classic car show from 9 a.
m. to noon on Main Street, followed by "Yoga Among the Blooms at True Blue Flower Company starting at 9:30 a.m.
The Grand Parade down Main Street gets underway at 2 p.m., followed immediately by water fights on Main Street and live music at Skal Bar and Grill.
The days festivities conclude with TIP Bingo (starting at approximately 3 p.m.) and a raffle drawing at Billy's Corner Bar and Grill.
The 6 p.m. TIP raffle drawing will close out the weekend.
A full, downloadable schedule of events is available online at cityofvergas.com/events/vergas-looney-daze..
