After a snow-filled winter, it seems southern Minnesota is skipping spring and heading straight for summer. And a hallmark of every summer in Mower County are the town festivals. Of course, Freedom Fest July 3-7 takes center stage for many in Austin, but for those looking for more town-wide parties, look no further than Lyle, Brownsdale, Rose Creek or the plethora of other cities — within a 20-mile drive — that come together between June and early August.

Adams Dairy Days: June 7-9

What better way to kick off a town-wide celebration than with a rummage sale?

Adams Dairy Days starts with a rummage sale June 7 that continues into Saturday. Other Friday events include an adult beanbag tournament at the American Legion, youth wrestling tournament at the athletic complex and outdoor movie at the EMS building.

Saturday opens with a poker fun walk/bike ride at the fire hall. More endurance challenges will be held from Sacred Heart School with a 5K run/walk, kids’ mile fun run, and a triathlon, which begins at the Adams pool.

The Big-Cup golf tournament starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Cedar River Golf Course with a silent auction. The street dance returns for 2013 with the band Next to Nothing from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Sunday opens with a pickup and tractor pull 11 a.m. at the Adams City Park, followed by other staple events, such as the coronation of the Dairy Days prince and princess at noon, the grand parade at 1, an ice cream eating contest at 7, and the event that sums it all up: the milking contest, at 8 p.m.

Dexter Summer Daze: June 15

It’s that year again, the year when the little town of Dexter will hold its celebration.

Sunflower Daze, which is held every other year, will be in the Dexter City Park.

A kiddie carnival will run from noon to 4 p.m., along with a kickball tournament, volleyball tournament, beanbag tournament, concessions and beer garden at the park.

For more about the kickball tournament, call 507-438-0323 or email ajmathews10@gmail.com. For more about volleyball, call 507-438-5959.

Music by DJ Trouble Shooter will be from 8 p.m. to midnight at the park, and there is no admission.

Lyle Independence Days: June 28-30

Mower County will stay true to its roots this summer with Lyle Independence Days, the first of such celebrations in the county.

It starts off easy on the 28th with food specials at Lyle Liquor from 5 to 9 p.m., a 7 p.m. beanbag tournament and music from 8 p.m. to midnight at Lyle Liquor.

Tradition continues Saturday with a favorite: the truck, tractor and semi pull at 10 a.m. on the south side of town and the Lyle Classic Car Show at the city park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. And the party continues into the night with a street dance and music by Spin Drive.

Sunday is jam-packed, with an all-day antique tractor display, 10 am. church service in the park and a noon parade and games into the afternoon. Growing in popularity, the mud bog will be held again, too, at 1 p.m.

However, it’s not over until Little Miss Lyle has been crowned, followed by fireworks at dusk.

Admission to all events is free.

Grand Meadow Meadowfest: June 28-30

Grand Meadow is officially over the hill after last year’s sesquicentennial, but that doesn’t mean the town is going to take a nap for its 151st celebration.

Meadowfest 2013 is again jam-packed with hands-on entertainment and spectator fun.

The real fun begins June 28 with a kids’ fun night from 7 to 8 p.m. at the school gym, library and early childhood center. Trouble Shooter will blast the music from 8:30 p.m. Friday to 12:30 a.m. Saturday.

Saturday continues with a 5K run/walk, craft fair, art show, kids’ pedal pull, games and rides in the park, and the Grand Army of the Republic Hall open house.

Last year’s hit, a vintage baseball game, will return at 6 p.m. Saturday with a battle between the Rochester Roosters and the GM Nine. The second night will close with music by Next to Nothing during the street dance.

Even Sunday is chock-full of events, including the Paul Stier Memorial Skid Loader Rodeo, kids’ kickball tournament and water fights, church dinner, and in-house music from 12:30 to 9 p.m.

Blooming Prairie Fourth of July Celebration: July 3-4

With all the other Fourth of July celebrations around the region, Blooming Prairie is again aiming high with its own party.

The popular celebration is like a big class reunion on the first day and a bash for out-of-towners toward the second. The old-fashioned event is Blooming Prairie’s biggest celebration of the year.

As usual, tons of fun in the park will be available for all ages, including pony rides, art and music late into the evening on Wednesday.

Blooming Prairie’s big-time parade will kick off at 2:30 p.m. Sunday and lasts for nearly two hours. Guests will know when the parade starts as a convoy of classic cars from the 1:30 p.m. car show will stroll through the streets.

Rose Creek Fun Days: July 12-14

There’s no question; it’s all about kickball in Rose Creek.

Rose Creek Fun Days will continue its kickball tradition for the ninth-straight year with a 16-team adult tournament, along with tournaments for children, all on Friday, July 12.

Last year, event coordinators limited adults to 16 teams, as the competition was creeping well past nighttime.

Of course, Rose Creek wouldn’t hold a celebration without its firemen’s windsor chop supper and dance at the park on Saturday.

And Sunday, the third annual car show, across from the Rose Pedaler on Highway 56, will return with proceeds benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Other events throughout the weekend include basketball, softball and beanbag tournaments, a firemen’s water fight, hole-in-one golf and a hunt for cash. Concessions will be available throughout the weekend.

For more information, call 507-438-6709 or email wendy.landherr23@gmail.com.

 

LeRoy Summerfest: July 19-21

LeRoy’s Summerfest could be a little more interesting this year, as it will no longer compete for the weekend with Brownsdale Fest.

Summer Fest opens on July 19 with plenty of entertainment, including Radzoo from Owatonna at the LeRoy Community Center, a variety show at the LeRoy-Ostrander High School gym and a street dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. featuring Never the Less.

Saturday gets a little more active with volleyball, a 5K run/walk, a pedal pull for kids, free swimming at the pool and plenty more. The evening continues with a windsor chop supper at the south park, music and a beanbag tournament at Travel Lanes.

Sunday continues with a joint church service at the south park, grilled chicken dinners and the ever-popular grand parade at 2 p.m.

Hayfield Hey Days: July 26-28

Hayfield residents have their vacations set for July 26-28 this year, better known as Hey Days.

Events start at 8 a.m. July 26 with a wiffle ball tournament, followed by a flea market, golf tournament and heartwarming Field of Flags at Field Crest Care Center. Then the wanna-be singers will crawl out of the woodwork for “The Voices: Karaoke Contest” at 8 p.m. The event has blown up and is in its fourth year.

Like many other communities, Hayfield has its own 5K run/walk, softball tournament, volleyball tournament, tractor pull, mud bog and plenty of games for kids. The Hayfield Fire Department chicken fry at 5 p.m. Saturday, is also a staple. Then Time Machine hits the stage from 8:30 to 12:30 p.m.

The softball and volleyball tournaments continue on Sunday, along with a trip back in time at the car and antique fire truck show. Festivities continue late into Sunday in Hayfield, as well. A parade begins at 2 p.m., and fireworks at the Hayfield School parking lot will wrap up the events.

Brownsdale Fest: Aug. 2-3

Brownsdale residents and visitors will celebrate a decade of summer fun this year during Brownsdale Fest.

If something seems different, that’s because it is. This year’s celebration has been moved three weeks later.

“We were competing with Stacyville and LeRoy,” said Mayor Dave Pike.

The format, however, will remain the same by kicking off with the ever-popular car show with the support of the Brownsdale Fire Department, which has a large hand in organizing each year’s events. The car show will begin at 6 p.m. Friday with prizes awarded in several categories.

From 8 p.m. to midnight, DJ Bring It Sound will rock the street dancers.

For those who don’t stay up too late, or can handle the pressure, there is a 5K run on Saturday, a new event to Brownsdale. For those who want to recover, there is a fireman’s breakfast at 9 a.m. with sidewalk sale specials throughout the day.

Other specials will include old-fashion, full-service station at Greenway Co-Op, a car wash at First Farmers and Merchants Bank, competitive jig-saw puzzling and plenty of fun events and skating for kids.

 —Adam Harringa contributed to this report.