Monticello gets in on the community celebration act this weekend with its annual Riverfest events, which includes a car show, street dance, grand parade, block parties and more.
The community festival, which involves volunteer organizations such as the Monticello Lions Club, Monticello Rotary, the Monti Royalty program and the Monticello America Legion and VFW, kicks off Thursday in Pioneer Park (located just west of the high school on School Boulevard (County Road 18).
Here are some highlights:
Thursday
Opening celebration, featuring a car show, petting zoo, appearances by the Monticello Royalty Candidates and the annual pie eating contest. Kids’ games and the Home Depot Kids workshop will also be on hand.
Friday
Action moves indoors with the annual Monticello Talent Show from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
(Editor’s note: I can’t tell you how many times this thing has been going on while a thunderstorm hits the area. It’s almost like an annual tradition).
Some of the top talents from around the northern Wright County area will be on stage at Monticello High School’s auditorium.
Saturday
The weekend gets off to a fast start, literally, with the Riverfest 5K, which kicks off at 8:30 a.m. at West Bridge Park (near the river, west of Highway 25). This is a certified course for all runners.
A kids fun run starts at 9:15 a.m. at the park.
Riverside Art in the Park and the Taste of Monticello run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Ellison Park, which is off of River Road, north of Broadway, in Monticello (behind the Centra Care Hospital). Some of the best eats in the area will be riverside, as well as drinks, treats and snacks.
Hop in on the bean bag tournament, which will run from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (registration is required).
Wrap up Saturday with the street dance, which runs from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Monticello Community Center lot.
Sunday
Worship with the community at Ellison Park and members of the Monticello faith community at 9 a.m. with a service. All are welcome.
Then, since everyone loves a parade, grab a chair and line up along Walnut Street, Third Street (by the American Legion), Sixth Street or Minnesota Drive as the parade kicks off at 12:30 p.m.
That’s followed by the annual Duck Race at 3 p.m. and the celebration/chicken dinner in Ellison Park from 2 to 5 p.m.
A complete guide to the weekend can be found in this week’s newspaper edition of the Monticello Times, or online at MonticelloRiverfest.com
(Photos by Skipp Machmer)