Fest in the Park: Friday Night

The first park the Festival will visit is Aquatic Center.

Food: Walking Maid-Rites will be available for $5, while free culinary samples will be available to taste from Grounded, La Tienda, Plum Creek Winery, Garden Winery and Vineyard, Old Bank Winery, Sugar Pie Bakery and Café, Triple T Specialty Meats, and possibly more.

Music: University of Iowa-based quartet “the Hands of Time” will play throughout.

Athletics: Friday at Aquatic Center Park will be the greatest concentration of athletic endeavor all weekend, for participants and spectators, with a swim party fundraiser at the park’s title venue, a basketball shootout (sign-up on site), and a friendly grudge flag football match at the adjacent stadium between Sportsgraphics and Hagie Manufacturing.

Coy McLaughlin, marketing coordinator at Hagie’s, said the company’s team will be drawn from the “all star” best players from the Hagie intramural league, including “a lot of people who were pretty good back in the day” when they played tackle football in high school, on the same field. “We did a draft and everything,” he said. “They’ve been practicing, and we’ve been scouting each other,” McLaughlin said of the opposition.

“We deal with schools and athletic directors every day, so this is right up our alley,” said T.J. Stumpf of SportsGraphics. “We’re all athletic people. We thought the game would be a good thing for the community, and hopefully we can grow this into something bigger.”

In between quarters at the football game, the crowd will be invited to participate in mini-games, including a race and afield goal kicking contest. Winners will receive gift certificates. The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Sports Boosters will have a concession stand at the stadium.

Kids Activities: At 6:45, Clarion’s younger residents will show their local pride with a miniature parade through the Park. Participants are to come decorated, via “anything without a motor,” wearing “anything you want to show the cowboy pride,” said Hananh McLaughlin of Kids Korner day care.

Elsewhere: The party continues at Fuel with more music while That Iowa Girl hosts a barbecue 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to celebrate on year of business. The Clarion Theater will show the Adam Sandler / Drew Barrymore comedy “Blended” at 7:00 and throughout the weekend’s other regularly-scheduled showtimes.

Read more about what’s going on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday – complete with maps – in the June 12 Monitor!!!