Aug. 5-7 event features tractor pulls, carnival rides, music, wood carving
By Holly Neumann
The Scandinavia Booster Club will host the 54th annual Scandinavia Corn Roast Friday to Sunday, Aug. 5-7.
“The Corn Roast is a very fun family-friendly event,” club president Wayne Luck said. “There are carnival rides for the kids and many other great events and musical performances taking place all weekend.”
Gates will open at 4 p.m. Aug. 5. Events that day include a $20 unlimited ride wristband special from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Viking Softball Tournament games starting at 5 p.m.; registration for the 5K Cob Run at 5 p.m., followed by the race at 6 p.m.’ and the fireman’s dance featuring the Spicy Tie Band at 8 p.m.
The Viking Softball Tournament will continue at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, followed by a parade at 11 a.m.; truck and tractor pulls at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; $20 unlimited ride wristband specials from noon to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; an all-class reunion from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and music from Genesee Depot from 7 p.m. 9 p.m. and the Rejects from 10 p.m. to midnight.
Saturday’s events will also include a craft fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in and near the trade show building, including hand woodcarving lessons for kids of all ages.
Roasted corn will be available to purchase for $1 an ear and a mini quick carve auction will take place at 5 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 7, will start off with the annual 9:30 a.m. church service with gospel music by Dakota Pongratz; a craft fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; a pie social at 10:30 a.m.; free corn at 11 a.m.; music from Pongratz, an Elvis Presley tribute artist, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; a $20 unlimited ride wristband special from noon to 4 p.m.; a mini quick carve and masterpiece auction at 1:30 p.m.; and a BABA game between the Scandinavia Vikings and Weymont White Bass at 1:30 p.m.
“The most popular event has become the chainsaw carving events,” Luck said. “Carvings and auctions selling the carved items are scheduled to take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.”
The event will conclude with music by the Gray Catz from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission for the event is $5 daily for ages 21 and over; or $3 daily for ages 13-20.
Weekend wrist bands can be purchased for $10 for ages 21 and up or $5 for ages 13-20. Kids 12 and under are free.
Luck said the Scandinavia Booster Club is dedicated to building and promoting a strong, dynamic community for family, business and recreation through financial support and community spirit.
“The Corn Roast is the largest fundraising event that the Scandinavia Booster Club sponsors,” he said. “Proceeds from the Corn Roast this past year enabled the Booster Club to donate $5,000 to the Silver Lake rehab project, $5,000 to the Scandinavia Fire Department and $11,000 toward the purchase of new playground equipment for Sentral Park. The Booster Club made additional donations to the Iola-Scandinavia High School musical, Dairy Agstravaganza, the Iola Lake District youth fisheree, Iola-Scandinavia post-prom event and to the Iola Lions for the purchase of heart defibrillators to be placed in Iola and Scandinavia.”