The 68th annual Litchfield Watercade celebration began yesterday with the Medallion Hunt and it will continue this weekend with the bulk of the events from Thursday evening through Sunday. Thursday’s big events include the Center Bank Brat Feed from 4-to-6 p.m. and music in Central Park with Bob & the Beachcombers at 6 p.m.
Abby Shoutz, who was a Litchfield Princess back in 2021 is part of the Royalty Committee and is helping with this year’s senior Miss Litchfield candidates and is coordinating the Queen’s Ball which will follow the Grand Day Parade on Saturday evening. She says one of Friday’s big events will be the Beach Party which starts at 6 p.m. at Lake Ripley Beach and will be followed by the fireworks show at dusk.
Shoutz says Art in the Park will be on Saturday from 9-to-4 in Central Park and there will be lots of vendors and food trucks. She says the Kiddie Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and that will be followed by the crowning of the junior royalty in Central Park at 11 a.m. and the talent contest at noon.
Shoutz says the Grand Day parade begins at 6 p.m. Saturday – with Grand Marshal Duane Hickler – and it will go along the usual route – North Sibley Avenue from 10th Street to 3rd Street, then east of 3rd to Armstrong Avenue and back to 10th Street. She says the Little Crow Waterski Show will be back on Lake Ripley this year on Sunday at noon, and the Coronation will conclude the weekend Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Bernie Aaker Auditorium.
Shoutz says people may purchase a Watercade button from any of the queen candidates and it will qualify you for a cash prize drawing. She says the candidates have a contest each year to see who can sell the most buttons.
Shoutz says there are numerous Watercade events throughout the weekend and you can register online for things like the fishing contest, 4-mile run and the golf tournament at watercade.com.
District 7 U.S. Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach is back in Washington, D.C. after spending a few days back in her district during the July 4th break. The Paynesville Republican spent some time assessing the damage done – especially to crops – due to the excessive rains.
Fischbach says a disaster declaration has been made and hopefully the FEMA dollars will get moving quickly. She says the next farm bill has passed out of a House committee and hopefully the Senate will get their version passed and it can get into conference committee and back to the House floor for passage; and her portion of it will help to get more capital into rural areas.
Fischbach says she was saddened about the closing of the nursing home in Arlington as people who need those services will be forced to move elsewhere – away from their home towns and families, but she was thrilled with the opening of the new veteran’s home in Montevideo. She says the Ways and Means Committee is working on increases in wages for military personnel.
Fischbach says she is running for reelection, and one of her TV commercials shows her walking along the U.S.-Mexico border. She says House Republicans passed a bill a month ago to help make the borders more secure by providing the resources needed for the border patrol, which includes the northern border as some people are finding easy passage through Canada.
Fischbach says she was concerned by President Biden’s performance during the recent debate with former President Donald Trump, and his ability to lead for another 4 years if he’s reelected due to his physical condition. She says people are welcome to contact her with any concerns by calling the Willmar office or at fischbach.house.gov.
Litchfield’s 68th annual Watercade celebration gets started today with the Medallion hunt and will continue through Sunday as a new Miss Litchfield will be crowned. Some of the main events get started on Thursday.
The Center Bank Brat Feed will be on Thursday from 4-to-6 p.m., followed by music in Central Park featuring Bob & the Beachcombers. More food will be served on Friday with the Kiwanis Club’s Pancake Breakfast in Central Park from 6:30-to-12:30, and the Rotary Club’s Brat and Hamburger Feed at Memorial Park by Lake Ripley beginning at 4 p.m. The Beach Party and Fireworks show will also be at Memorial Park Friday evening.
Numerous events are scheduled for Saturday – concluding with the Grand Day Parade at 6 p.m. More events are scheduled for Sunday – concluding with the Royalty Coronation at 4 p.m. in the Bernie Aaker Auditorium. For a complete schedule and more Watercade information, go to watercade.com.