Webster to honor veterans at annual celebration

The Annual Webster Harvest Days celebration will be held Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 23 and 24. This year's celebration will include area veterans honored as grand marshals of the parade, which begins at noon on Sunday, Aug. 24. The committee has been sending out invitations to area veterans since the beginning of the year and is still looking for other local veterans to join the parade. A float will be available for those unable to walk in the parade. There will be a short ceremony at the park after the parade with a guest speaker. Webster Harvest Days is also one of the few parades in Minnesota to have an airplane fly-over to start the parade.

This year's celebration also includes a large variety of new entertainment, children's games, farmers market, food and crafts, softball tournament, huge silent auction and more. Among the many changes this year will be the Tractor pull starting at a new earlier time (9 a.m.) and a new Truck Pull event starting at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23.

Children's Entertainment has been greatly expanded this year at Harvest Days. There will be jousting, an obstacle course and the moon walk for kids (inflatables). The Kids' Pedal Pull event will be Sunday, Aug. 24, complete with trophies. Bob the Beachcomber will be doing two free shows on Sunday. Rounding out the children's entertainment will be Kite Building and flying with Mr. Kite on Saturday, Carnival games and the National Guard's Rock Wall for the kids on both days.

The adults can compete in a horseshoe tournament, pie contest, truck and tractor pulls, bingo, Guitar Hero contest, karaoke, helicopter rides, cake walk and a raffle for $1,000 cash as well as many other cash prizes.

Saturday night's entertainment will be the band High Noon. This band plays mostly country, but also includes a mixture of rock and other music as well. This is another free night of entertainment with no cover charge. Sunday's entertainment includes the Novotny Trio Band from Montgomery after the parade.

During the afternoons, DJ Steve Hamilton from Absolute Power Entertainment will play both days. There will be a Guitar Hero Contest Saturday, Aug. 23, with trophies and cash prizes. Both Saturday and Sunday there will be karaoke along with other contests.

Webster Harvest Days is held at the Webster Community Park, one block west of the intersection of Rice Country Roads 3 and 5 in Webster, which is located in northwestern Rice County about 12 miles east of New Prague. For a complete list of entertainment, directions and more information, please visit the website www.WebsterHarvestDays.com.