Free watermelon to be served, parade on Saturday

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The small town of Vining will transform into a watermelon eating, seed spitting paradise over the weekend for the 53rd annual Watermelon Day celebration. 

The celebration will kick off on Saturday with the annual Vining Lutheran Church pancake and sausage breakfast at 7:30 a.m., before the Run for the Melon 5k/10k will get underway at 8 a.m. 

Bounce houses and one of the largest arts and crafts vendors and farmers market in the area will line the streets of Vining from 9 a.m. to  4 p.m. The classic car show will turn back the hands of time at BigFoot Gas and Grocery from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Clueless the Balloon Twister will be creating one-of-a-kind balloon creations from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Vining History Museum will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Local residents will have the opportunity to construct a NASA kit in the lower level of the community center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., before bingo begins at 12 p.m. 

One of the highlights of the busy day in Vining is the children’s games at the Vining Community Center, which begins at 1:30 p.m. The games feature everything from conventional races to three-legged races and everything in-between. 

The annual Watermelon Day parade will roll through the streets of Vining beginning at 5 p.m. and Thunder Road will wrap up the busy day with a street dance from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Other live music throughout the day include Nathan’s Old Time Band from 10 a.m. to  1 p.m. and Memories with Steve Warner from 1-4 p.m.

Free watermelon will be served beginning at 11 a.m. and will be available to all those who attend Watermelon Day while supplies last. 

The Jacob Quam 3 vs. 3 basketball tournament will be held throughout the day as teams from across the area compete for the chance to win a championship belt and raise money for the Jacob Quam Foundation. The organization was established in honor of the late Jacob Quam who was killed in a car accident, while driving to school in Henning.

Watermelon Day will wrap up on Sunday with the outdoor community church service at 10 a.m.