Will Little Tom be found?

By Robert Williams

Editor

Frazee Turkey Days “Aliens Arrive in ‘25” gets started per usual with the Frazee Care Center King and Queen coronation Wednesday, July 23, but the Care Center royalty will be joined by the Miss Frazee and Miss Frazee Teen pageant at 7 p.m., at the high school, moving up from its normally scheduled weekend evening date.

Speaking of Aliens, they are reportedly responsible for the missing Little Tom Turkey statue downtown. Rumors continue to swirl about what may replace Little Tom or if he will be returned prior to the festival.

This year’s opening ceremony and presentation of flags will be held prior to the pageant at 5:30 p.m., at the high school, followed by the history walking tour.

Opening night closes with the kick off part at the VFW from 7-11 p.m. VFW visitors will notice a change to the back beer garden where Commander Bob Clarey has brought back the old sign that is immediately recognizable.

Thursday, July 24 has only three scheduled events beginning with bingo at the Care Center at 2:30 p.m. From 5-6:30 p.m., free ice cream will be available at the Wannigan Alumni Challenge Party at Wannigan Regional Park where the winners of the months-long fundraiser competition will be announced and celebrated.

Thursday closes with what is always a packed house at the Event Center for Purse Bingo. The bingo proceeds support the Frazee Softball team and begins at 6:30 p.m.

Friday, July 25 has a little something for everyone. The day begins at the Event Center at noon with the Old Time Variety Dance. The newly updated Town Hall Beach will be the scene for the kids Sandcastle Contest at 1 p.m. There will be 10 spots available.

From 4-6:30 p.m., Corner Collective Bistro will be hosting live watercolor painting for youth, while Harvest Church will have inflatables, tie dye and food available from 5-7 p.m.

Third Crossing hosts the popular Pizza, Puzzles and Beer at 6 p.m.; call 218-396-0638 to register. At 7 p.m., Cornerstone hosts Pizza, Pop and Puzzles for kids in fifth through 12th grade. 

A family block party and beer garden will be held on East Main Avenue from 7-9:30 p.m., with DJ Kyler Hanson, prior to the end of day three fireworks at 10 p.m. Suggested parking for the fireworks show is near Frazee Electric and the Red Willow subdivision.

There will be 28 different events happening on the busiest day of the celebration Saturday, July 26 starting at 7:30 a.m., with biscuits and gravy breakfast at the Event Center. Breakfast runs for three hours.

The Dolores Smith Memorial Turkey Trot 5K opens for registration at 8 p.m., with the race’s starting time at 9:15 a.m., at Riverside/Hank Ludtke Park.

The Bethlehem Lutheran Women’s Missionary League bake sale runs from 8 a.m. – noon at the Event Center. 

The Kids Fishing Contest at Town Lake Beach also starts at 8 a.m. and runs for one hour. The contest is sponsored by Wounded Warriors Guide Service.

Street Fair and Food Vendors will be open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on West Main Avenue with approximately 50 different vendors in town. The West Main Food Court will be open both Friday and Saturday.

In place of the car show, East Main Avenue will be filled with contestants of the Alien Ship Building Contest. Registration is available online (see Turkey Days brochure for links) or in-person at 8 a.m.

The annual button drawing will be at the Event Center at 9:30 a.m., while at the high school at 9:30 a.m., the Junior King and Queen pageant will be held. The pageant begins at 10 a.m., with registration a half hour earlier.

Various graduation classes from Frazee-Vergas High School will celebrate reunions at the Event Center at 10 a.m.

Watercolor continues at Corner Collective Bistro with plein air painting for adults from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Plein air painting is the practice of creating art outdoors, with the subject in full view, capturing the natural light and atmosphere.

Cornerstone’s Scavenger Hunt will begin at 11 a.m., registration is at 10:45 a.m.

The Event Center is host to the United Methodist Salad Luncheon from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. At the same starting time, the Frazee Liquor Store parking lot will be packed with beanbaggers competing in this year’s tournament. Registration is at 11 a.m., bags fly at noon.

Competitors in the longstanding Road Rally will meet in the Clinic parking lot to register at 11:30 a.m. and race at noon. There is a $20 per vehicle fee.

West Main Avenue is host to many afternoon activities: Turkey Bowling at noon; Soap Box Derby at noon, arrive 15 minutes early to register; the Frozen T-shirt contest at 12:30 p.m.; Book Walk from 12:45-1:15 p.m. and a Beer Garden running from noon to 4 p.m.

From 1-4 p.m., Turkey Bingo is at the Event Center. Damian Anderson and Kyler Hanson, performing as the band “Us” will play Main Avenue from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

The Fire Hall Open House runs from 1:30-3:30 p.m., with the Turkey Drop at 3:34 p.m., at Ketter’s; Kids Pedal Tractor Pull will be in the vicinity beginning at 1:30 p.m.

The Fire Hall will also host two rounds of Water Fights – kids at 4 p.m. and adults at 5:30 p.m.

From 4:30-7 p.m. a Spaghetti Dinner will be held at the Event Center, followed up by Teen Night at Corner Collective from 7-10 p.m., and the Street Dance at the Frazee Liquor Store with 32 Below on stage. There is a $10 cover for 32 Below. Guests must be at least 21-years-old. The Street Dance runs from 8 p.m.-midnight.

The annual Tractor Show and a new Car and Bike Show, sponsored by Jems & Jalopies Motor Club and Heart of the Lakes ABATE opens the final day of celebration on Sunday, July 27, from 8 a.m.-noon.

From 8-11 a.m., Cornerstone will be the spot for chalk art and a crepe bar.

Yoga in the Flower Fields is scheduled for 9:30-10:30 p.m., at True Blue Flower Company, located at 35191 County Road 4.

A multi-Church event hosted by Harvest Church will be in the form of a community outdoor praise and worship service at the Skating Rink Park at 10 a.m.

The Turkey Luncheon is at the Event Center at 11 a.m., with the Turkey Calling contest beginning 10 minutes into the luncheon.

Register for the Pet and Doll Parade at 12:45 p.m., in the Frazee Family Foods parking lot. The parade is scheduled for 30 minutes after registration.

This year’s Turkey Days parade is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m., beginning at the elementary school and traveling through the downtown corridor. After the parade, United Methodist Church is hosting an ice cream social.

The Demolition Derby is always a sign of the end of Turkey Days on Sunday afternoon beginning at 3:30 p.m. The VFW closes down the festival with Gobber Karaoke from 6-10 p.m.

Multi-day events include: You Pick Flower Bouquets at True Blue Flower Company on County Road 4.

Call for tee time availability for the Turkey Golf Scramble at the Golf Course. The tournament runs from Friday through Sunday.

The Flower Show is at the Event Center Friday 9 a.m.-1 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

The VFW Beer Garden is open all weekend during regular business hours Friday 6 p.m.-Sunday 6 p.m.