By Deb Kroon
Review Staff Writer
The line-up for this year’s Christmas in July is fantastic. The fun begins on Friday, July 20. In the green space behind City Hall you’ll find the large tent complete with EMS personnel and area firemen serving the best ribs around from 5:30 p.m. until gone. They will also be serving up hotdogs, beans, chips and ice-cream. The line may be long at times, but it moves quickly. A freewill donation will be taken, and the proceeds will go to Rushmore, Ellsworth, Lismore and Adrian fire departments and the Adrian EMS. After filling up on ribs and ice-cream, take the time to stroll around and look at the great wheels parked on the streets. There will also be outdoor seating and refreshments served by both the Sports Page and Big Orv’s Bar.
Also at 5:30, the registration for the kids tractor pull (sponsored by Nobles Coop Electric) begins and the tractor pull is scheduled to start at 6:00. Henning Construction will once again provide construction machine inflatables for the kids to play on.
Somewhere between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m., County Line Drive will begin playing on stage for your listening and dancing enjoyment. In case you missed out on Seth Darling’s ribs at Rims and Rims, Adrian Town and Country will have a hamburger stand set up for a late night snack, from 8:30 until the burgers are gone. It’s a guarantee that you’ll run into someone you haven’t seen for a while.
Saturday, July 21 is jam-packed with events. The lower park near the campgrounds is the site for a variety of events to start out the day. Beginning at 9 a.m., the kids can compete in a ninja warrior obstacle course that will run until 11 a.m. Also from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. kids (ages 9-13) can compete in a kickball tournament. Be sure to line up your team. At 11 a.m., the Zoo Man Express (former Adrian resident Brent Mielke) will be bringing a variety of animals to introduce to all interested and brave people. Can you wear a snake? There will also be a vendor fair in the space down in the lower park for any shopping you’d like to do. To eat? There will be walking tacos provided by ATC as well as the food stand.
Out at the Adrian Country Club a 4-person best ball tournament gets underway at 11:00 a.m. There will be food, beverages and prizes available as well as the fun of taking on your friends in a game of golf. Who is the best? That will be determined at the end! The proceeds of this event will go to Randy Lenz to help with costs from his Rochester stay.
The food stand opens at 11:00 a.m. There will be a couple of minor changes to the menu, but you can count on the same great pork burgers that have become tradition for Christmas in July.
The Adrian Wrestling program will be celebrating fifty years with events taking place on Saturday. Be sure to check out the schedule of events in the article in this week’s paper.
Also on tap for the afternoon is the Dawg Days Summer Summit III with activities getting underway at 1:00 p.m. at the American Legion building. (Complete information can be found in the article in this paper).
The evening starts off with the kiddie parade, that is making a come back. Anyone that is interested in being in the kiddie parade should meet at the Sanford Adrian Clinic parking lot at 6:30 p.m. Come dressed in costume if you wish, but not required (another use for a Halloween costume!). You can walk, ride your bike or trike, pull a wagon, push a stroller, anyway you want to go through the parade. The route is about six blocks long. Candy will be provided to hand out. Bring a bucket Parents, please accompany your younger kids! The kids will be leading off the parade just before 7:00 p.m.
Immediately following the parade on the side street adjacent to the fire hall (food stand), the duck races will take place. Be sure to get your duck tickets from any Town and Country member, or at Closet to Closet, Adrian Hardware or Adrian State Bank. They will also be available at the food stand through out the day. Ten dollars buys you three ducks to race down the street for one of the multiple cash prizes.
Finish off the evening visiting with friends, family, or classmates while listening to the music off Stove Top Productions featuring DJ Lee Stover (another former Adrianite), playing from 9:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m.
There is absolutely something for everyone at Christmas in July. Don’t miss out. Get your rims entered for Ribs and Rims, get your duck tickets bought and get your lawn chair out for the parade. See you there!
