Somebody call the fire department; it’s Brownsdale Fest this weekend.

Brownsdale’s fire department is the center of the action each year for the city’s event and has some new items on the agenda for this year’s ninth annual festival. However, it all starts with the staple event: the car show. Car enthusiasts will line up their rides near the fire hall for the show at 6 p.m. Friday with trophies and prizes, and awards will be presented at 8:30 p.m. Friday. The car show will also set the tone for the night, as a DJ will begin with 50s music and work his way through the decades for the night. Saturday also features a theme: tropical night.

Trying new events and growing the celebration has been happening since Brownsdale Fest’s inception during the town sesquicentennial in 2004, said Fire Chief and event organizer Dave Pike.

“It’s been kind of an evolving thing,” he said. “We’re just always trying something different.”

And with the town’s recent business transformation — more than a dozen new shopping opportunities — merchants will line Mill Street to kick of Saturday with a sidewalk sale.

Other Saturday events include the firemen’s breakfast, children’s games and specials at Rohler Rink, water wars, a basketball shooting contest, hog roast and a costume contest during tropical night with the DJ.

Though Brownsdale Fest has had its bouts with rain in the past, Pike said, events run rain or shine, as the fire hall will make the accommodations.

Events close on Sunday with a community picnic.

Brownsdale Fest Schedule, July 20-22

Friday, July 20

6 p.m. Car show with trophy prizes (rain date Saturday, July, 21 at 6 p.m.)

6 p.m.-1 a.m. Beer garden with mixed drinks, food and snack concessions

6 p.m. Brownsdale Area Business Association silent basket auction begins

7-10 p.m. Rohler Rink special: $3 admission and rental

8:30 p.m. Car show awards presented

8 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday night bandstand by Bring It DJ Sound (playing music through the decades)

12:30 p.m. Costume contest cash prizes awarded

Saturday, July 21

8 a.m. Sidewalk sale

sponsored by the Brownsdale Area Business Association, contact Don and Carol Larick at 507-567-9967, downtown business area

8-11 a.m. Firefighters’ breakfast

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Full service filling station, Greenway Co-Op

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Hayfield Dance Team car wash, First Farmers & Merchants parking lot

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fire dxtinguisher refill and safety equipment sale

Noon-4 p.m. Giant inflatables

Noon-Midnight Beer garden with mixed drinks and snack bar

Noon-Midnight Food and snack concessions

Noon-6 p.m. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church ice cream stand

Noon Basketball shooting contest

1-4 p.m. Rohler Rink special, $3 admission and rental

1-3 p.m. DJ show by Bring It DJ Sound

3-5 p.m. Bingo with cash prizes for all ages

2 p.m. Children (6-12 years olds) bean bag tournament

1:45 p.m. Registration

3:30 p.m. Children’s water wars

3:30 p.m. Bean bag tournament

3 p.m. Registration

5-8 p.m. Firefighters’ hog roast

6 p.m. Silent basket auction winners announced

8 – 12 p.m. Tropical night (themed music and costumes) by Bring It DJ Sound

11:30 p.m. Costume contest cash prizes awarded

Sunday, July 22

Noon Brownsdale potluck picnic