Local News

The Songs of Summer Festival is coming up on August 16th at Memorial Park on Lake Ripley in Litchfield. Gates will open at 4 p.m. with Michael Shynes performing at 5 p.m. and the Fabulous Armadillos taking the stage at 7:30.

Sarah Jones says Memorial Park is a new location this year as construction is taking place on their former site, but if it rains, they will move the event to the Litchfield Civic Arena; and it’s a free event, but freewill donations will be accepted. She says you’ll want to bring extra cash to support the vendors who will have all kinds of items to eat and drink, but they will accept Venmo for those without cash.

Jones says she’s new to the Songs of Summer Festival Board, but has been having such a great time serving on it. She says this is a family-friendly event.

Jones says their new purple t-shirts will be sold at the event on August 16th, along with can koozies in numerous colors. She says you can check their Facebook page on any updates – especially if they have to change locations due to the weather.

Amanda Nelson says they will have all kinds of vendors serving different types of food and beverages. She says several of the vendors will be local non-profit organizations.

Nelson says the Songs of Summer Festival helps to raise funds for non-profit groups that enrich the lives of young people in our community. She says the board members are selling raffle tickets for $20 each and they are only selling 500 tickets this year. You can find a list of board members and other information at songsofsummerfestival.com.

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The 56th annual Cosmos Space Festival is coming up this weekend with most of the activities scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There will be inflatables and games in the city park Friday from 5-to-8 p.m., bingo at the fire hall from 5-to-8 Friday, followed by a DJ in the park from 8-to-11 p.m.

Some of Saturday’s events in Cosmos include arts & crafts and food vendors all day at the ball park, senior yard games in the city park from 11-to-3, Lions pedal tractor pull at the ball park at noon, Cosmos Fire Water Ball at 1 p.m. at the fire hall, inflatables and games at the city park from 2-to-8 p.m., kiddie parade at the ball park at 5:30, Big Bang Small Engine parade near the ball park at 7 p.m., live music at the Dive from 8-to-1, and fireworks at dusk at the ball park.

Arts & Crafts and food vendors will continue all day Sunday at the city park and there will be a community worship service in the city park Sunday morning at 9:30, followed by a pork chop dinner from 11-to-1, the Space Festival drawing at 1 p.m. and the Space Festival Parade at 3 p.m. For more information, go to the Cosmos Space Festival Facebook page.

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The Litchfield Community Theatre “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” medallion has been found.  Henry Jasso and Hannah Guza found it in the little book library across from Zion Lutheran Church.

For the record, the first three clues, which helped them locate the medallion, were:
A crash of drums, a flash of light, my golden coat flew out of sight; One more angel in Heaven; and
It’s all there in Chapter 39 of Genesis.

Henry and Hannah won $100 and two free tickets to see “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” The show is coming up July 25th, 26th and 27th at 7 p.m. and July 28th at 2 p.m. in the Bernie Aaker Auditorium. Tickets are on sale at litchfieldcommunitytheatre.com or at Litchfield Community Education. Call 693-2354 for more details.

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The Litchfield City Council has set a public hearing for its August 5th meeting to consider the annexation of lots on West Ripley Street. The lots were purchased by Litchfield Building Center last year.

Litchfield Mayor Ron Dingmann says the first reading of the annexation ordinance will be held at the August 5th meeting. He says the Litchfield Area Community Foundation acquired a popcorn stand from the Granite Falls Kiwanis Club and the Council gave them permission to set it up in Central Park at the corner of 3rd Street and Sibley Avenue to raise additional funds for the LACF, and other non-profit groups who operate it will be able to raise funds as well.

Mayor Dingmann says the Council approved the first two bids for the Litchfield Area Recreation Center including the shell of the building – from Nor-Son Construction of $2,152,000, and for concrete from Ebert, Inc. for $793,300. He says both bids came in under budget and ground is expected to be broken this fall with completion of the project in the fall of 2025.

Mayor Dingmann says the Council had more discussion on Monday evening about the wastewater issue and city officials are working on getting an extension for the July 22nd compliance deadline with MPCA. He says a productive meeting was held on July 8th between state, city and First District representatives.

Mayor Dingmann says the Council also talked about the safety issues related to scooters that have been buzzing around town – mainly in the Lake Ripley and downtown areas and the matter will be referred to the police department for solutions. He says the Council preceded Monday’s meeting with a work session to further discuss the organizational review.

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