Farmington’s summer festival Dew Days will return with a new venue that has long been the site of fun for generations – the Dakota County Fairgrounds.
Castle Rock, Empire, Eureka and Farmington Enhancement Group has planned an 11-day lineup June 18-28 aimed to satisfy all ages.
Organizers have set up new family events and booked more than 10 bands
to offer music under the entertainment tent, according to Maribeth
Vanderbeck, chair and chief organizer for CEEF.
To kick off Dew Days, the annual Miss Farmington and Little Miss
Pageant is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, June 18 in the auditorium at the
former Farmington High School and now called Robert Boekman Middle
School.
A $3 Dew Days button is required to enter and a $5 admission ticket can
be purchased from candidates, at city hall or at the door.
The Dew Run, a three-and-a-half mile jog, will take off at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 20 in front of the old city hall building.
The second annual Flavors of Farmington will tempt taste buds from
6 to 8 p.m. June 25 under the fairground tent. The entertainment and
food samplings will be served up from local restaurants owners and wine
will poured from Farmington Liquors. The event costs $7 with a Dew Days
button and children are welcome.
A whole line of family and musical entertainment will take place each
day under the entertainment tent and tickets will cost $5 per day.
The Rockin’ Woody Show will perform a couple of times Saturday, June 27
to entertain the whole family with juggling, sing-a-longs, magic, rock
‘n roll and dancing.
The headliner country rock band Jug will play at 8 p.m. Friday, June
26, and Christy Love and You Know Who will play from 8 p.m. to midnight
Saturday, June 27.
Love, a former lead singer of Boogie Wonderland, will sing 70s to 80s
classic rock and will be available for photographs with fans.
Battle of the Bands groups will perform on stage from 6 to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 24. The alternative and rock headliner band Jabberwocky
will play from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 27.
“We are also trying to do more this year for the little kids with
the Kiddie Parade and the seniors that will enjoy the clog dancers,”
Vanderbeck said.
A larger craft and merchant mart and Carnival Midway rides and
inflatable rides will be open for children Friday, Saturday and Sunday
during Dew Days.
A Kiddie Parade is set to begin at 12:45 p.m. Saturday, June 27 and
children from newborn age to 12 years old are asked to come dressed as
their favorite TV character with decorated tricycles, bicycles and
wagons to earn prizes.
“This year we are also going to offer a new Kick Ball tournament and we
hope for good participation for all ages,” Vanderbeck said.
Proceeds from the Kick Ball Tournament will benefit the Farmington Food
Shelf and teams from elementary to adults are welcome to sign up online
or pick up a form at city hall or Pellicci Ace Hardware in Farmington.
The tournament will roll at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 27 at the
fairgrounds.
The popular movie “Twilight” about teenage vampires will show on a big
screen outdoors at dusk Saturday, June 27 at the fairgrounds.
“We picked this movie for the tweens age because we don’t feel we
always have had that much for this age group,” Vanderbeck said.
The Hometown Honorees Ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Friday, June 26 in the entertainment tent.
“Come and help us honor these wonderful people and show them how much
we appreciate their selfless acts of kindness,” Vanderbeck said.
The 26th Annual Bed Races that has become a Farmington tradition will take off at 7 p.m. Friday, June 26.
Many diverse carnival foods and drinks will be served and food tickets
can be purchased for 50 cents each at the CEEF ticket booth.
“This year we will also have a trolley running back and forth to pick
up people from the fairgrounds to take them to the downtown Farmington
businesses,” Vanderbeck said.
To celebrate the last day of Dew Days the Grand Day Parade floats will
take off at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 28 at the fairgrounds and meander down
Third Street turning at Rambling River Center and head up to Fourth
Street, ending at the fairgrounds.
Immediately following the parade, the public is welcome to meet and
greet city and township chairs, supervisors, city council, mayor and
Hometown Honorees outside the fairgrounds 4-H building.
To register for events or obtain more information on daily Dew Days
events that will be hosted outside the fairgrounds at other Farmington
locations such as the library and local businesses, check out
www.dewdays.com.
“We just want to bring the whole community together from every age
group and we know the fairgrounds space will be perfect for Dew Days
this year,” Vanderbeck said.
News 
Subscribe to this comment's feed