By Chad Koenen

Publisher

A parade, fireworks and demo derby—oh my!

The annual Henning Festival will kick off on Thursday night in Henning and will include events throughout the weekend.

The festival will get underway on Thursday with a farmers market at the Farmstand at 3 p.m., before the historic walking tour led by Chris Schulke of the Otter Tail County Historical Society will begin at 7 p.m. at the Landmark Center. The Landmark Center will provide trailers for those not wanting, or able to walk. The cost for the walking tour is $10, which will go entirely to benefit the Otter Tail County Historical Society.

On Friday the food stand and smoothie stand will open at 5 p.m. at the festival grounds, while the Scoops for Hoops will get underway at 6 p.m.

The parade will roll through town at 6 p.m. and feature a slightly different route this summer. The parade line up/start will be near St. Edwards Catholic Church and head down Douglas Ave., before turning on Front St. and then turning again on Fergus Ave. The parade will eventually meet up with Poulson Ave., before ending on Jensen St. near Tony Kawlewski Field.  

Following the parade, the annual Henning Area Festival Miss and Little Miss pageant will be held at the festival grounds. Candidates for the Miss Henning pageant include: Alona Reinbold, Callie Thompson, Hallie Weller and Ashley Wendland. The Little Miss candidates include: Paisley Glebe, Alaina Emter, Elizabeth Horn, Lia Carrlson, Eleanor Hoyhtya, Gianna Thalmann, Delaney Lutgens, Ellie Hammer and Ruby Dosdall.

On Saturday, the Henning Festival will continue with the walk/run and softball tournament, both of which will begin at 8 a.m. The Henning Lions Breakfast will get underway at 8 a.m. and the quilt show at the Trinity Center will go from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Henning HOPE will host Bingo at the event center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., while the inflatable games will be held from 12-4 p.m. 

The kids bean bag tournament will kick off at 1 p.m., followed by the adult bean bag tournament at 2 p.m. 

One of the main events of the Henning Festival is the annual demolition derby, which will get underway at 6 p.m., before a live band performs at 9 p.m. and the fireworks show will get underway around 10 p.m. on Saturday night. 

The Henning Festival will wrap up on Sunday with the quilt show at the Trinity Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and one of the largest car shows in the area, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Amundson Park. The car show is sponsored by the Tri-County Cruisers.