LaCrosse fest adds events to celebration

The LaCrosse Farmers’ Festival begins Friday evening and lasts through Sunday.

Festivities start with a new event in the lineup, the Mr. LaCrosse contest. It begins at 5 p.m. with barbecued hamburgers at the LaCrosse High School. The contest begins at 7 p.m. at the high school pit. Contestants will compete in fitness, formal wear, talent and a question and answer session.

All proceeds go toward the Richard L. Roberts Memorial Scholarship Fund. The scholarship is awarded to a local graduate based on community service.

Activities begin early on Saturday with a community-wide garage sale at 8 a.m. Maps are available.

From 8 to 10 a.m., the newly-opened Grillbilly Cafe will serve breakfast, offering special biscuits and gravy.

Also starting at 8 a.m. is another new event, the LaCrosse Community Pride silent auction at the newly-renovated grocery store building. All proceeds will benefit Pride’s ongoing annual expenses for the library, DECA and community gathering space. These areas are non-income generating for the nonprofit organization.

The silent auction continues until 4 p.m.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., a senior class car wash will be held at the bus barn.

From 9 a.m. to noon, the Palouse Piecemakers will host a quilt show at the Main Street Building.

The United Methodist Church will offer a rummage sale and hot dog chili feed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This year’s theme for the parade is “An All-Star Celebration.” According to Sharon Schlomer, the grand marshals will be school teachers and administrators, the third-place state hoop team, state jump winners, FFA state winners and the Special Olympics winners.

“We want to honor our all stars,” Schlomer said. They will use flatbed trucks and other vehicles for the grand marshals to ride in the parade.

The children’s parade will begin at 10 a.m., with the main parade following at 10:30 a.m.

Linda Henninger will sing the national anthem before the parades, and JoAnne Fleming will be the announcer.

From 11 a.m. to noon, children can do chalk art on the sidewalk next to the football field.

The Cool Waters band will perform in the park at noon. Also in the park there will be a pit barbecue and potluck lunch.

A drawing for a dinner for two at the Grillbilly Cafe will be at 1 p.m. Raffle tickets sell for $1 and are available at different businesses around town. All proceeds from the raffle go to the Farm Fest fund.

From 1 to 5 p.m., there is free swimming at the city pool.

Also at 1 p.m., the money and prize scramble will be next to the football field. At 1:30 p.m. sack races, baseball throws and egg tosses will be at the field.

Also new this year is the Wine & Stein from 5 to 9 p.m. at the LaCrosse Community Building. For $25, participants get a commemorative stein, five pours and hors d’oeuvres. Iron Horse Brewery of Ellensburg and Smasne Wine Cellars of the Tri-Cities will provide the spirits.

Proceeds go to improvements of the Community Club Building.

From 7 to 9 p.m., free swimming at the city pool will be offered.

From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., the Pastime Tavern will offer music.

Sunday, church services will be from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Methodist, Selbu Lutheran, Catholic and Country Bible churches.