The small town of Grand Meadow will be filled with activity the weekend of June 27, 28, and 29 for Meadow Fest 2003. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. June 27 with Bingo until 8 p.m. At 8:30 p.m. at the EMS building will be a Teen Dance with the Deejay BADGE. Grand Meadow's C.H.I.E.F.S. group will be sponsoring the dance.

There will be adults-only dances from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. June 27 and 28 at Boonies. The Grand Meadow Fire Department, Booster Club, Jaycees and Lions Club will be sponsoring a beer garden at Boonies on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Grand Parade starts at 2 p.m. Saturday with more than 100 units. Margaret Baudoin has been in charge of preparing the parade line up since 1987. Her son, Fran, has been her right hand man since 1992.

This year's special units include the Barber Shop Chorus from Rochester, the Albert Lea Shriners Club that drive mini antique cars, the Stewartville Community Band, the LeRoy Community Band, and several large horse units. Meryl and Jean Schrieber will have a six Belgian Horse hitch. Curt and Sylvia Wenness of Mable/Canton will have a 10 pony hitch. The ponies will be pulling a vintage Wells Fargo wagon. The Wenness travel to Arizona each year and drive their ponies in the Arizona Fiesta Bowl.

Before the parade, activities begin Saturday morning with softball tournaments at 8 a.m. at the Grand Meadow softball fields. Three on three basketball at the school gym starts at 8 a.m. The three on three basketball is open to boys and girls ages 11 and under, 12-14 and 15-18. For more information contact Dan Glynn at (507) 754-5069. A golf tourney will be held at 9 a.m. at the Adams Golf Course with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Volleyball tournaments will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Grand Meadow City Park. Contact Curt Stier at (507) 754-5209 for more information.

For those not interested in sports there will be a bake sale from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at the Golden Age Center sponsored by W.E.L.C.A. There will be another bake sale along with a rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Grand Meadow School. The proceeds for this goes for the school playground equipment. This bake sale and rummage sale is sponsored by the Grand Meadow Education Association.

A Kiddie Parade, with a beach party theme will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the school elementary commons followed by a Magic Show with Alan Skogerbo.

A community open art show will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Meadows Assisted Living. Contact Marceil Skifter at (507) 754-5554 for more information.

A variety of food choices will be available for the crowds at Meadow Fest. A lunch will be served by the Grand Meadow United Church. A Chicken Fry for $6 with proceeds going towards the Fourth of July Fireworks will be offered at Boonies on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Chicken Fry is famous at Meadow Fest. According to Fran Baudoin, many of the parade units arrive to line up three hours early and head over to Boonies to chow down at the Chicken Fry.

Sunday begins with an ecumenical church service at 10 a.m. at the Grand Meadow School gymnasium. Following the church service, the Grand Meadow Catholic Church will serve beef sandwiches, beans, salad and dessert from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Golden Age Center. Horse Races will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Firemen's Tent. Bring a full-size candy bar to participate. A candy bar is also needed to play Candy Bar Bingo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the high school commons.

Water fights sponsored by the Grand Meadow Fire Department begin at 1 p.m. at the city park with cash prizes for the winning team. Horse shoe pitch will start with singles at 10 a.m. on Sunday at the Grand Meadow City Park. Doubles will start at 1 p.m. The activities wind down Sunday with the final event of a Martial Arts demo at 3 p.m. at the high school gym. Several Grand Meadow class reunions will be held during Meadow Fest and the Baudoins say many classmates want to be riding in the parade representing their home town.

Sheila Donnelly can be reached at 434-2233 or by e-mail at :mailto:newsroom@austindailyherald.com