Variety of events key at Railroad Days

There will be music in abundance during Railroad Days in Staples Aug. 25 - 28. In addition to the Little Red Caboose Variety Show, be sure to take in the outdoor concert and street dance featuring the music of Sell Out Stereo; and a gospel concert at Centennial Auditorium with recording artist Kayla Bailey. The Staples Sings Contest is back; and local band Aitas will take the downtown stage as well.

Other highlights of the weekend include a car show, chili cook-off, fireworks, parade and more. 

The following is a list of activities as known at press time.

Each day

Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union offers their medallion hunt with a $500 cash prize. Clues are posted each day on the credit union’s website at www.mnfcu.org and at the Staples branch. 

Sacred Heart Area School will hold their 10th annual rummage sale 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

City-wide garage sales are going on at various times. Check the Staples World for a complete list.

Various businesses will have sidewalk sales Friday and Saturday.

England Prairie Days, south of Verndale, are Friday and Saturday.

Thursday, Aug. 25

“Golf for Kids,” sponsored by the Lakewood Health System Foundation, takes place at The Vintage in Staples. All proceeds will go towards health and wellness programs for kids.

The Little Red Caboose Variety Show is back with new acts and some old favorites at 7 p.m. at Centennial Auditorium. Proceeds from the show go back into the Staples and Motley communities in the form of grants.

Friday, Aug. 26

Field Day will be held at the Central Lakes College Ag and Energy Center in Staples from 9 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Quad Copter demonstrations, local foods tour, CLC fruit wine tasting, Living Legacy Gardens Walk and more. Located at 26505 Cty Rd. 2.

Living Legacy Gardens will have an ice cream fund raiser from 2-4 p.m. at the gardens just north of Staples at the CLC Ag and Energy Center. 

Jon’s Family Foods is having a rib fest from 4-7 p.m. in their parking lot.

Twisted Sisters Bar and Grill is having their car show from 5-10 p.m. on 2nd Ave. NE and 3rd St. NE featuring classic cars, trucks, motorcycles and any custom vehicles. Food and beer gardens available.

Fireworks will be at the Staples airport beginning at 9:30 p.m. Jars have been placed in area businesses to help pay for them. The contractor is Zambelli Fireworks Company from Pequot Lakes.

Saturday, Aug. 27

The 3rd Annual Cardinal Classic Golf Tournament will be held at The Vintage in Staples with a hot breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Golf will begin at 9 a.m. The golf fee includes breakfast, green fees, cart and prizes. Come out for a morning of breakfast and fun golf or just come out for breakfast and enjoy the Bloody Mary bar.  This year’s tournament is a fundraiser to keep your local golf course open for the kids and the community, so come out and support your local golf course. For information, call 218-894-9907 or email vintageatstaples@gmail.com.

Trinity Lutheran Church at 1000 4th St. NE is again offering their pancake and sausage breakfast from 8-10:30 a.m.

The Kinship Dash, a 5K walk/run, will begin at 8:30 a.m. from Staples Alliance Church and the Junior Dash for ages 12 and younger will begin at 9:30 a.m. Pre-register online at railroaddaysdash.com or on site at the church at 1512 8th St. NE before 8 a.m.

The car show is sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts and the Staples Motley  Area Women of Today. It will held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Staples-Motley Elementary School on 4th St. NE featuring classic cars, trucks and motorcycles. Shuttle service, offered by Sacred Heart Area School, will be available from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The shuttle will run along 4th St. NE with pick-ups at the corner of 4th St. and 3rd Ave. (near the post office) and at Staples-Motley Elementary. 

Arts and crafts sales as well as food booths will be set up on 4th St. NE and 2nd Ave. NE. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friends of the Staples Public Library will once again offer their root beer floats during this time, a fundraiser for the organization. 

 A number of children’s games will be offered downtown throughout the day.

Staples Ace Hardware is sponsoring CT Pedal Pull on 2nd Ave. NE in front of their building. Registration begins at 10 a.m.

The Penny Auction, a fund raiser for the Staples and Motley food shelves, is back with a long list of products to entice bidders. The Staples Congregational Church will hold the auction in their parking lot on 2nd Ave. NE and 5th St. NE from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Staples Softball Association’s Bean Bag Tournament is from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. behind Lefty’s on 2nd Ave. NE and 5th St. NE.

The Staples Motley Area Chamber of Commerce beer garden will be open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on 4th St. NE.

Stop by the Farmers Market from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., at the Staples All Veterans Park.

Halcyon Helicopter rides will be offered from 10 a.m. - dusk.

Stage entertainment during the day begins on 4th St. NE with the Music General Dancers at 11:a.m., the Staples Sings! contest from 12-1:30 p.m. and local band Aitas from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Prior to the Staples Sings! contest, Jenessa Iverson, 2016 Staples Motley High School graduate and the winner of the 2016 Motley Sings! contest will provide some music.

The Chili Cook-off will take place on 4th Street from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. At present, there are eight teams registered. Teams will begin serving at 11:30 a.m. until they are out. Judge’s Choice, People’s Choice and Theme winners will be announced at 1:15 p.m.

The Famous LA Racing Pigs will have one-hour shows at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the parking lot/playground north of Sacred Heart Area School on 4th St. NE with pigs sponsored by area businesses. 

Hair braiding with be offered by R Salon of Staples, located at 4th St. and Pleasant Ave. NE.

The parade will begin at 5 p.m. at 2nd St. NE near Burger King and proceed east on 2nd Ave. NE to 11th St. NE. Serving as Grand Marshals this year are Bill and Helen Mennis, along with Mary Theurer and Sarah Koopmann.

Staples Alliance Church will have their free corn feed following the parade at 1512 8th St. NE.

Saturday’s events are capped off by a gospel concert with Kayla Bailey at Centennial Auditorium at 7 p.m., sponsored by the Ministerial Association; and an outdoor concert from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. on 4th St. NE and 2nd Ave. NE sponsored by Lefty’s, Twisted Sisters and Local Legends Liquor. The music of “Sell Out Stereo” spans six decades.  Tickets for the outdoor show are available online at www.rockintherails.net.

Sunday, Aug. 28

A Family Fun Day Softball Tournament will take place at Dower Lake beginning at 9 a.m.

Wayne Renn will host his concert from 4-7 p.m. at Lincoln Park on Staples’ south side on Nebraska Ave. SW between 3rd and 4th St. SW.