Kicking off the celebration on Friday, June 13, the Paynesville Pirates will play the Regal Eagles at 8 p.m. in Paynesville at the high school ballfield. The first game in a four-team tournament.
A doubles tennis tournament will start at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 15, at the high school tennis courts. No preregistration necessary. Bring a new can of balls. Entry fee is $5 per person, payable at the tennis courts on Sunday.
A 10k and two-mile walk/run will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, with runners starting at the Regional Park on the south side of Lake Koronis and finishing up at Veteran’s Memorial Park on the north side.
Registration is held at the Veteran’s Memorial Park and then runners are bussed to the starting line. Awards will be presented to the top man and woman winners, prize for first one up half-way hill (Flanders hill), and first runner with Paynesville address.
Roller-bladers are also encouraged to participate. Anyone interested can contact Jay Thompson, 320-243-3887. Registration fees (includes t-shirts) are $10 in advance, $14 race day and $25 per family.
Peeper’s Family Picnic will be held at noon on Sunday, June 15, at the Gazebo Park in conjunction with an Antique Car and Tractor Show. Music will be provided by John Buermann and BAND-A.D.E. The cost of the picnic is an item for the food shelf.
The annual queen pageant, to select “Miss Paynesville 1997-98,” will be held at 8 p.m. Monday night, June 16, in the Paynesville Area Elementary School. The theme is “Masquerade.” There are seven girls competing for the title.
Tuesday morning, June 17, the annual Pet Show will be held on the lawn of the Good Samaritan Care Center with a kiddie parade scheduled for the afternoon.
The Merriam Midway will open at noon Tuesday in downtown Paynesville on James Street and runs through Wednesday night. Advance ticket sales will end Monday, June 16. Tickets are 25 rides for $10.
The grand parade will be held Wednesday, June 18, at 7 p.m. “Four years ago we didn’t have a band in the parade,” Troy Stang said. “This year there are 15.” They are Becker High School, Elk River Senior High, Litchfield High School, Sartell High School, Anoka Marching Tornadoes, St. Michael-Albertville Marching Knights, Sauk Rapids-Rice High School, Bertha-Hewitt High School, Foley Falcons, Monticello High School, Sauk Rapids-Rice Cadets, Sauk Centre, Albany, Willmar Marching Cardinals and Paynesville Area High School.
Anyone interested in entering a float should contact Mark Leverington, parade chairman, 320-243-7019 (work) or 320-243-7697 (home). At press time there were about 100 units entered in the parade (including bands). The awards ceremony for the band judging and parade entries will take place at the Gazebo Park immediately following the parade.