Medina Fall Festival this weekend

Harvest time is right around the corner and that means the rural farming community of Medina, N.D., is gearing up for its annual Fall Festival.

“A lot of families come back that maybe don’t live here but have roots in Medina,” said Bruce Schlescht, chairman of the Fall Festival Committee.

Events start at 7 p.m. Friday at City Hall with a concert from the Old Tyme Kings, a polka band, and singer Hanna Olson. Tickets are $5 at the door or free with the purchase of a $5 commemorative button.

On Friday, the Fall Festival’s only event is the concert. But Saturday has a full slate of activities for all ages.

Pie, rolls and coffee will be available starting at 9 a.m. and until 3 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, for various costs. The event is hosted by the Lutheran Ladies.

Lineup for the parade starts at 9:30 a.m. with the parade starting at 10:30, according to Kay Heinle, parade coordinator.

For Medina’s centennial celebration there were close to 100 floats in the parade. Heinle said it usually averages closer to 30 but so far this year only 10 entries signed up.

To sign up, those with parade units can fill out a form during the lineup or call Heinle at 701-486-3539 or Pat Ezereing at 701-486-3323.

Also starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, people can view exhibits in the Legion Hall until 3 p.m. Anyone is welcome to enter vegetables, fruits, grains or other items similar to a 4-H competition but entries have to brought to the Legion Hall before 6:30 p.m. Friday.

A beef feed starts at noon on Saturday; tickets are $7 for adults, $4 for children ages 6-12 and 5 and younger are admitted free.

The Heritage Center in downtown Medina will also be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The center features antiques and other pieces of farming memorabilia. There is no admission charge.

Saturday’s activities continue with one of the Fall Festival’s biggest events, a truck/truck tractor pull at 1 p.m. Admission is $10 or $5 with a commemorative button. Buttons can be purchased Friday before the concert or at any Medina business.

Schlescht said the tractor/truck pull brings in competitors from across the region and has a 100 percent payout. He couldn’t remember the exact cost to enter a truck/tractor, but said it’s between $15 and $20.

At 7 p.m. on Saturday there will be cards and bingo at the Legion Hall and a DJ will play music at the Decoy Bar that evening.

Sunday starts with a nondenominational church service at 11 a.m. A scalloped potato and ham feed is at 11:30 a.m. and the cost is $7 for adults, $5 for children 6-12 and children 5 and younger are free.

Also on Sunday there will be a grain-threshing demonstration at 2 and 4 p.m. and an old-time potato harvest event at 3 p.m. The festival wraps up with a classic car show from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

“The weather sounds like it should be good I think it’ll be a pretty good turnout,” Schlescht said.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by email at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

Tags: diversions, festivals