There’s no place like home and being “Down Home on the Prairie” is the place to be for Prairie Days 2019. Prairie City’s annual community celebration will take over the town Friday though Sunday with a weekend full of events, activities, entertainment and hometown fun for everyone.
“Prairie Days is a time when the community comes together and puts the busyness of life on hold for a couple days. We still have that small town feel ... kind of like stepping back in time,” organizer Christy Lindsay said. “It’s about building memories for the kids and a time to connect as a community. From Bingo, to Saturday afternoon in the park, to Sunday worship, it is a time to bring our little town together.”
Kicking off at 5 p.m. Friday are Prairie Days staples including the carnival inflatables which are up until 10 p.m. and Bingo, sponsored by the Prairie City Celebration Commission on the north side of the square. Food stands and the open market will also begin at 5 p.m. along with the Prairie City Lion’s Club pork supper on the north side of the square.
Entertainment begins with the PCM Dance Team at 5 p.m. followed by Bob Slings and Company on the bandstand from 6 to 7:30 p.m. To beat the heat, Water Fights, sponsored by the Prairie City Fire Department start, at 7 p.m.
TOAST3R, a Des Moines area classic rock band, will take the bandstand with their fun and energetic show. Using great lighting, sound and playing many of your favorite classic rock songs from bands including Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Rick Springfield, Cheap Trick, AC/DC, Sweet, Poison, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, The Outfield and Pat Benatar, TOAST3R is sure to have downtown rocking.
The smell of chocolate chips and cinnamon rolls will great you as you make your way downtown for Grandma Marilynn’s Chocolate Chip Cookie contest and the Prairie City Cinnamon Roll contest at 9 a.m. Saturday Kids races head to the start line at 11 a.m. with the frog jumping contest to follow at 11:45 a.m.
Afternoon activities get underway at 1 p.m. with the Flag Raising ceremony following by memorials, Citizen and Organization of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“This year, our Lifetime Achievement Award is going to any one that taught in the Prairie City School district from the beginning to 1990. We are very excited to honor those up to that point who have made an impact on our community. We hope that it will be a mini reunion for the staff and students alike,” Lindsay said. “We would also like to welcome back anyone that participated in the Cub Scout pack with any flag raising ceremonies through the years for Prairie Days. We would like them to participate at the 1 p.m. program for the flag raising.”
Other activities on the schedule for Saturday afternoon including a bags tournament at 1:15 p.m., the ISU Conservation Station will visit at 2 p.m. along with Steppin’ Out Dance Studio performances and a watermelon feed and spelling bee starting at 3:30 p.m.
The parade will make its way through the streets at 7 p.m. with plenty of candy and goodies for every little (or big) kid watching. The evening entertainment is Damon Dotson, a singer/songwriter based out of Des Moines and originally from Northwest Iowa. Dotson has opened for legendary performers such BB King, Willie Nelson, The Beach Boys, as well as modern artists like Matt Nathanson, Edwin McCain and The Lone Bellow and puts on an entertaining and musically engaging performance.
The weekend concludes with donuts, muffins and coffee at 9 a.m. Sunday following by the community church service at 10 a.m. at Garden Square.
“As always, I love to see our community come together, young and old to celebrate our town. Every year when I was growing up, that was the highlight of the summer,” Lindsay said. “In such a small town, we don’t pay to park, and can generally get close to the square for parking. We are lucky to be able to do that. Moms and dads are able to sit in the park and enjoy the events while relaxing, and still be able to see the kids on the inflatables. It is a nice family weekend.
“Last but not least, if it wasn’t for the donations and labor by the businesses, selling of the wristbands for inflatables, the DeReus Foundation donation, the committee members. volunteers, sports teams and churches along with the help from city workers, this celebration wouldn’t happen. This, this is one of the top reasons we live here.”
For more information about Prairie Days, visit the Prairie City Celebration Facebook page.
Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com