Farmer’s Fest offers a lot of events

“Start Your Engines” and head to LaCrosse for the 2014 Farmer’s Festival this weekend.

The festival begins Friday with a barbecue at the high school cafeteria at 5 p.m.

Following the dinner is the Mr. LaCrosse contest in the high school pit at 7 p.m. From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. is live DJ High Voltage Disco at the Pastime Tavern. Singles are $3 and couples are $5. Identification is required.

Saturday’s activities begin at 8 a.m. with breakfast at The Grillbilly Cafe served until 10:30 a.m. Although Grillbilly owners Joe and Dionne Evans have closed the cafe, they agreed to serve breakfast and dinner during the festival.

Vendors also will begin sales at 8 a.m. at the city park.

Starting at 9 a.m. quilts will be shown at Pins+Needles on Main Street through noon.

A silent auction by the LaCrosse Community Pride will be in the Gathering Place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Approximately 40 items will be auctioned off. All proceeds go to pay for utilities, property taxes, insurance and other expenses for the Gathering Place, the library and the kitchen, the non-commercial spaces in the restored LaCrosse Market building.

A display of work by area artists will be at the library from 9 to 4 p.m.

Many accomplished artists are participating in the show.

The first ever invitational art exhibit features work by Emily Adams, Sid Barth, Vicki Broeckel, Barb Curtiss, Denise Filan, Cheryl Lothspeich, Larry Pfaff, Sara Swett, Rob Smith, Katie Martin and DS Watkins.

The exhibit is called “Start your Engine. Start your Imagination. Start your ImaginEngine.” Goal of the ImaginEngine exhibit is to challenge and inspire audiences by comparing and contrasting a variety of art media and materials including wood, paper-cutting, metal, pastels, watercolor and needlepoint.

One of the participating artists include Rob Smith of Colfax who paints in watercolors and oils, produces animations, editorial cartoons, web sites and videos, and self-published his own children’s e-book called “Undead Ted.” Smith’s watercolor painting, “Journeys of the Harvest,” was recently exhibited in the Northwestern Watercolor Society’s Waterworks show.

The senior class car wash at the bus barns will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Kiddie Parade is at 10 a.m. with the Grand Parade on Main Street at 10:30 a.m.

After the parade, classic machinery, cars and pickups will be on display in a special area on the street next to the football field.

A rummage sale at the United Methodist Church will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with hot dogs and chili also served there.

From 11 a.m. to noon is chalk art on the football field sidewalk for four age groups: 4 and under, 5-9 years, 10-15 years and 16 and over. This event is sponsored by Jasper Trucking.

At noon, there will be a live band, pit barbecue sandwiches sold by the LaCrosse Community Club, and dessert and coffee available at the city park. If there’s inclement weather, this will move to the school cafeteria.

Outhouse races start at 12:30 p.m., followed by a money and prize scramble at the city park at 1 p.m., kids’ races at the football field at 1:30 p.m. and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the elementary school tennis courts at 2:30 p.m.

From 5 to 7 p.m., the “Main Street” Barbecue, sponsored by the Grillbilly Cafe, will be served.

From 6 to 9 p.m., the Wine & Stein will be held at the LaCrosse Community Club Building. The cost is $20 and includes four pours, a commemorative glass and hors d’oeuvres.

Free swimming at the city pool will be from 1 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m.

The Pastime Tavern will also host live DJ High Voltage Disco from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The charge for singles is $3 and $5 for couples. Identification is required.

All donations help support the Community Chili Feed, Breakfast with Santa, band at Farm Fest, new tables, parade supplies, money scramble and chalk art.

Church services on Sunday include Selbu Lutheran Church service at 10 a.m. and LaCrosse Methodist, LaCrosse Catholic and County Bible Church services at 11 a.m.

For more information, visit the LaCrosse Farmers Fest on Facebook.