Final score: Boxelder Bug Days 1, Mother Nature 0
Inclement weather was able to put a damper on a few events this past weekend, but it wasn't able to rain on the Boxelder Bug Days' parade. "Everyone did a great job," said Scott Josephson.
"We only had to cancel a few things." Boxelder Bug Days started on a beautiful Friday night with the Minneota football team thumping Lakeview, a fireworks show and a Kick-off Dance featuring Outlaw Entertainment.
But things turned a little uglier after that. As the skies began to open up Saturday morning, One More Time's annual outdoor silent auction, the petting zoo and the dunk tank were all cancelled.
Sunday's scheduled Fireman's Water Fights, a fundraiser for the community swimming pool renovations, was cancelled due to the cool weather.
The craft and vendor show, scheduled to again be held at the west parking lot at Veterans Park, was moved to the American Legion. The bean bag tournament, slated to be held in the Bug Square, was relocated to the Fire Hall.
The intermittent showers held off long enough to allow for many of the outdoor events to go on as scheduled such as the live musical acts, kiddie tractor pull, kiddie parade, running races, Bingo, barrel racing, inflatables, climbing wall, Shove the Bug, and much more. And to the keep the Bug Square area dry while eating, listening to the live music or watching the coronation on the main stage, three large tents were brought in.
"It could have been much worse," said one woman sitting on a picnic table under the tents.
"They did a great job getting everything covered up so no one got wet." As the cool weather began to move in Saturday evening, the rain stopped and Bug Square was packed with people watching the queen coronation.
Jodi Buysse was named this year's Boxelder Bug Days Queen, while Klaire Banks was selected as First Princess and Raeann Bruner was chosen as the Second Princess. Brad Minnehan was recognized on the main stage for his many contributions to the community with the "Good Neighbor" award.
In the City Hall parking lot, intermittent showers didn't keep hungry visitors away from the 22nd annual Johnny Tillemans Memorial Chili Cook-off or the Smokin' BBQ Cook-off. Canopy tents kept the cooks out of the rain. Even the food vendors didn't feel affected by the wet weather.
Hamburger grillers were even having trouble keeping up due to the patrons' demands at the Booster Stand. "I had a good weekend," said a vendor selling kettle corn.
"I live in Fergus Falls and I come here every year. I did just was well this year as I usually do when it's not raining." It might have rained a little, but it certainly didn't dampen the spirits of those attending Boxelder Bug Days this year.