Fort Dodge set for 2016 Frontier Days run
FORT?DODGE – The annual Frontier Days has come together in spite of tragedy this year.
Frontier Days board chairman Kerk Friday was seriously injured in March, in a car accident in Missouri in which also killed Friday’s father Kenneth Friday and Frontier Days parade coordinator Chon Rushton.
“It’s definitely been hard, but we came together as a group, and we knew we had to do what we needed to do to make sure Frontier Days continued on,” said Deanna Lau, Frontier Days Committee member in charge of gates and volunteering.
Frontier Days is a tradition that needs to go on, Lau said.
“It’s important to the community, and to families, and the buckskinners, and all the people involved in it,” Lau said. “They have always enjoyed it. We get a lot of feedback every year of what things they would like us to try next year, and what they loved about it.
“That’s one reason we all volunteered to be on the committee, to make sure it happens every year-because of what it does for our community, and getting people together for a really decent price.”
Families should check out the kids’ games in particular this year, Lau said, which will feature new games and more options than other years.
Frontier Days will be Friday through June 5 at the Fort Museum, 1 Museum Road. A weekend full of activities and entertainment, admission is a wristband available for $5 that is good throughout the multi-day event.
Gates open for the citywide celebration at noon on Friday, allowing people in to visit with the re-enactors and merchants gathered for the annual Buckskinner Rendezvous, until the event’s opening ceremony takes place at 4 p.m. at the south flagpole on the museum grounds. The Frontier Days Booth will also be open to offer the 2016 collector’s button, as well as buttons from previous years.
Then performing from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the Fort Dodge Ford Stage will be the Chicago-based band Dec8de. A an alternative rock cover band, the group draws their material from synth-based and guitar-driven bands such as U2, R.E.M., Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, The Cure, The Smiths, New Order, Echo & the Bunnymen, Blur and Psychedelic Furs.
Members of Dec8de have performed on stages throughout Chicago and across the Midwest. Their primary stomping grounds, however, are the Windy City’s surrounding suburbs and stages at iconic venues that include Cubby Bear, Metro, Reggie’s, Schuba’s, Durty Nellie’s, Penny Road Pub, Double Door and House of Blues.
Activities Saturday begin with the parade down Central Avenue. The theme of floats and parade entries this year will be “Evolution of the Frontier.” Action continues after the parade with children’s games, craft and food vendors, as well as the continuation of the rendezvous camp at the museum grounds.
Also, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., The Fabulous Uniques, a long-time band focusing on music from the 1950s and ’60s, will perform on the Fort Dodge Ford Stage. During the afternoon, young talent will be highlighted when the Midwest Combat Arts students do a demonstration in the Opera House followed by students from Hollingsworth School of Dance.
The annual spelling bee will be held beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the school house on Front Street. This competition is open to all ages and ribbons will got to winners in each age group. Then, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Opera House, the 2016 parade marshals will be introduced and the year’s parade winners will be announced.
From 7 to 11 p.m. the local rock band Saucy Jack will perform on the Fort Dodge Ford Stage while the classic country band Bobby Awe and the Country Awe Stars perform in the Opera House. Both well-known groups have a history of playing Frontier Days, although Bobby Awe and the Country Awe Stars has the special distinction of performing during the event for 41 of its 42 years.
On June 5, a nondenominational church service will be held at 10 a.m. on the museum grounds after which the Little Miss and Mr. Frontier Days Pageant at the Opera House. Contestants traditionally range in age from 12 months to 7 years, but new this year are the titles of Miss Junior Teen Frontier Days and Miss Frontier Days. This expansion opens the contest up to girls between 11 and 20 years old. The pageant will be at 2 p.m. at the Opera House.
Wristbands for Frontier Days 2016 will be available at the following locations: Zakeer’s Restaurant, Daniel Pharmacy, Fareway Food Store, Candies and More on Central Avenue, Hy-Vee Food Store, Fort Museum Trading Post, Anytime Fitness and First American State Bank on Central Avenue.
Fort Dodge set for 2016 Frontier Days run
FORT?DODGE – The annual Frontier Days has come together in spite of tragedy this year.
Frontier Days board chairman Kerk Friday was seriously injured in March, in a car accident in Missouri in which also killed Friday’s father Kenneth Friday and Frontier Days parade coordinator Chon Rushton.
“It’s definitely been hard, but we came together as a group, and we knew we had to do what we needed to do to make sure Frontier Days continued on,” said Deanna Lau, Frontier Days Committee member in charge of gates and volunteering.
Frontier Days is a tradition that needs to go on, Lau said.
“It’s important to the community, and to families, and the buckskinners, and all the people involved in it,” Lau said. “They have always enjoyed it. We get a lot of feedback every year of what things they would like us to try next year, and what they loved about it.
“That’s one reason we all volunteered to be on the committee, to make sure it happens every year-because of what it does for our community, and getting people together for a really decent price.”
Families should check out the kids’ games in particular this year, Lau said, which will feature new games and more options than other years.
Frontier Days will be Friday through June 5 at the Fort Museum, 1 Museum Road. A weekend full of activities and entertainment, admission is a wristband available for $5 that is good throughout the multi-day event.
Gates open for the citywide celebration at noon on Friday, allowing people in to visit with the re-enactors and merchants gathered for the annual Buckskinner Rendezvous, until the event’s opening ceremony takes place at 4 p.m. at the south flagpole on the museum grounds. The Frontier Days Booth will also be open to offer the 2016 collector’s button, as well as buttons from previous years.
Then performing from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the Fort Dodge Ford Stage will be the Chicago-based band Dec8de. A an alternative rock cover band, the group draws their material from synth-based and guitar-driven bands such as U2, R.E.M., Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, The Cure, The Smiths, New Order, Echo & the Bunnymen, Blur and Psychedelic Furs.
Members of Dec8de have performed on stages throughout Chicago and across the Midwest. Their primary stomping grounds, however, are the Windy City’s surrounding suburbs and stages at iconic venues that include Cubby Bear, Metro, Reggie’s, Schuba’s, Durty Nellie’s, Penny Road Pub, Double Door and House of Blues.
Activities Saturday begin with the parade down Central Avenue. The theme of floats and parade entries this year will be “Evolution of the Frontier.” Action continues after the parade with children’s games, craft and food vendors, as well as the continuation of the rendezvous camp at the museum grounds.
Also, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., The Fabulous Uniques, a long-time band focusing on music from the 1950s and ’60s, will perform on the Fort Dodge Ford Stage. During the afternoon, young talent will be highlighted when the Midwest Combat Arts students do a demonstration in the Opera House followed by students from Hollingsworth School of Dance.
The annual spelling bee will be held beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the school house on Front Street. This competition is open to all ages and ribbons will got to winners in each age group. Then, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Opera House, the 2016 parade marshals will be introduced and the year’s parade winners will be announced.
From 7 to 11 p.m. the local rock band Saucy Jack will perform on the Fort Dodge Ford Stage while the classic country band Bobby Awe and the Country Awe Stars perform in the Opera House. Both well-known groups have a history of playing Frontier Days, although Bobby Awe and the Country Awe Stars has the special distinction of performing during the event for 41 of its 42 years.
On June 5, a nondenominational church service will be held at 10 a.m. on the museum grounds after which the Little Miss and Mr. Frontier Days Pageant at the Opera House. Contestants traditionally range in age from 12 months to 7 years, but new this year are the titles of Miss Junior Teen Frontier Days and Miss Frontier Days. This expansion opens the contest up to girls between 11 and 20 years old. The pageant will be at 2 p.m. at the Opera House.
Wristbands for Frontier Days 2016 will be available at the following locations: Zakeer’s Restaurant, Daniel Pharmacy, Fareway Food Store, Candies and More on Central Avenue, Hy-Vee Food Store, Fort Museum Trading Post, Anytime Fitness and First American State Bank on Central Avenue.