The Suring Labor Day Celebration will bring back several menu favorites to celebrate the holiday weekend.
Popular events include a Friday night Truck Pull at Veterans Memorial Park, a Tractor Pull on Saturday, a Demolition Derby on Sunday, and a Parade down Main Street on Monday.
Combine food, games, music and shopping opportunities and you have something to meet almost everyone's needs.
“It's a weekend that brings together a lot of alumni…” said Katie Kagel, marketing director for the gala. “It's like a homecoming for people.”
Here's a closer look at some of what's on offer at the 94th annual event, which supports many community activities throughout the year.
Truck and tractor towing
The 4X4 Truck Towing will begin with the WUMPA Truck Towingers on Friday at 7pm, starting with three local classes (up to 5,500 pounds, 5,505-7,000 pounds, and 8,000 pounds gasoline or diesel), followed by the heavy trucks.
The tractor pull will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday with a variety of categories including pace pull, open pull and, if time permits, team pull.
Tickets for these two pulls are $8, with children ages 7 and under admitted free.
Starting at 7pm on Saturday night, farm and NEW class tractors will show off their pulling capabilities, followed by a school bus towing. Tickets for the evening's event are $10, with free admission for those 7 and under.
The Demolition Derby begins at noon on Sunday and features a variety of classes including compact cars, midsize cars, large cars, limited edition cars, vans, pickup trucks, etc. Admission is $10, with children 7 and under admitted free.
Chili Cook-Off
Tasters will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite dish at the chili competition, which will be held in the Salling Fire Station Garage on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wristbands cost $5 per person and allow samples from multiple attendees, usually 10-15 people.
They also sell ice cream for those who want to cool their mouths between meals.
More Food
Brat fries will be available at the Thuring Library on Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and pies and ice cream will be served at the park's food stand from 10:30 a.m. on Labor Day.
Booyahs will be served at 11 a.m. Monday at the American Legion Hall, while the Salling Lions Club meat raffle is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Monday.
Food stands will be serving a variety of dishes to satisfy your appetite every day of the celebration.
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Purchase Opportunity
The buy and sell swap meet begins at 8 a.m. Saturday on the lawn along Ehlinger Street at Legends Trailside, just off Main Street, with local goods, crafts and more for sale.
Meanwhile, Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 206 Burk St., will host a flea market Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Friends of the Sling Library will host a book sale selling bagged books in the Learning Center room at Sling Village Hall, 604 E. Main St., Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
music
Ken & Chris and the JD Pickers will be rocking American Legion Local 283 on Friday night from 7-10pm, while Positive Energy DJs and Karaoke will be available at Veterans Memorial Park from 8pm.
On Saturday night, Red Maple DJ Services will be playing music in the park from 8 p.m.
On Sunday, JD Pickers will play in the park from 1-5pm and Homegrown's JT Crocker will play at the beer stand from 6pm.
The Wilburs will cap off the celebration with a beer stand in the park starting at noon Monday.
Activities of the Sling Area Historical Society
The Suring Museum, located at 639 Main St., will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Sling Area Historical Society will also be hosting a Painted Rock Hunt for kids on Saturday. Date-marked painted rocks will be hidden along the route of the Sling Labor Day Parade. Bring a rock to the museum to receive a free Nifty Cone certificate. There is a $10 reward per rock. Limit three per person.
The Historical Society's annual alumni dinner begins Sunday at 11 a.m. at Romy's on Kelly Lake. Registration for the dinner closed Aug. 25.
For more information, call Helen Heimerl at 920-842-2400 or Adelaide Boettcher at 920-842-2041.
Other Activities
One of the area's largest Labor Day parades begins Monday at 10 a.m. This year's theme is Oktoberfest, and anyone who wants to take part in the parade can line up near the Sling School for free.
Robert and Pat Broetzman will serve as grand marshals for the Maple Valley Parade, and Al de Puitt will be honored as Saling's Citizen of the Year.
The Pulaski High School band will be one of many taking part in the parade, performing its own piece on the band stand at 11 a.m.
The bounce houses will be back at the park from Saturday through Monday, and kids can climb and roll as much as they like with the purchase of a $5 daily wristband.
A bean bag tournament will begin on Saturday at 4pm, followed by face painting and a magician to entertain the kids at noon on Sunday, followed by a Kids Money Hunt.
There will also be fireworks at 9pm on Sunday.
The funds raised will support the organization
Funds raised at the Labor Day Celebration will be donated to various organizations, including the Salling Antique Tractor Pull, Salling FFA Alumni, Salling American Legion, Salling Lions Club, Salling Sportsman's Club, Salling Area Historical Society, Baking on the 45th Parallel, school groups, Friends of the Salling Library and local churches.
Event Schedule
Friday, August 30
8am to 4pm – Mount Olive Church Flea Market – Bourke Street
9:00am to 5:00pm, – Friends of the Thring Library Book Sale (also held on Saturdays) at Village Hall Learning Center
9:30am to 3:30pm Brat Fry at the Salling Library on Main Street
4pm to 6pm – Weighing in a 4×4 Truck Tow Truck
5pm – Food stand opens
7pm – 4×4 Truck Pull, $8 for ages 8 and up, free for ages 7 and under.
7pm – Ken & Chris with JD Pickers performing live at American Legion Hall
8pm – Positive Energy DJ/Karaoke at a Beer Stand
Saturday, August 31
From 7:30 a.m. Tractor weighing on tow truck
8AM: Buy – Sell – Exchange on Ehringer Street (crafts, flea market, etc.)
8:30am – 2pm: Mount Olive Church Flea Market – Bourke Street
9:00am to 2:00pm – Friends of Suring Library Book Sale at Village Hall Learning Center. Bag sales, $5 per bag of books.
10:00 AM – Food stand opens
10:00am to 4:00pm – Sling Area Historical Society Museum Opens, Main Street
10:00 AM – Tractor Pull, $8 for ages 8 and up, free for ages 7 and under.
11am to 8pm – Bounce house, $5 wristband for unlimited bounce every day
11:00am to 1:00pm – There will be a chili cook-off at the Suring Fire Department Garage. Bring your favorite Nesco chili and participate. Samplers will receive wristbands for $5. Ice cream will also be available for purchase.
2:30pm to 3:30pm – Register for the Boots & Mugs Bean Bag Tourney at the Suring American Legion Hall, starting at 4 p.m.
5pm – Farm Tractors and New Hot Agriculture Classes Join Truck Pulling
7pm – Farm and new hot farm tractor pull. $10 for ages 8 and up, free for ages 7 and under.
8pm – Red Maple DJ Service, music at the beer stand
September 1st (Sunday)
8:00am to 10:30am – Register for the Demolition Derby
10:30am~ Food stand opens
11am to 8pm – Bounce house, $5 wristband for unlimited bounce every day
Noon – Demolition Derby, $10 for ages 8 and up, free for ages 7 and under.
Noon – Sling Homecoming Dinner and Lunch at Romy's Holiday Inn. Arrival at 11:30 a.m. Meal served at noon. Deadline to register is August 20th.
1pm to 5pm – JD Pickers, Beer Stand Music
6pm to 10pm – JT Crocker, Beer Stand Music
9pm – firework
Monday, September 2
10:00 AM – The theme of the 94th Annual Labor Day Parade is “Oktoberfest – Celebrating German Heritage.” The Thuring School will march in the parade. Grand Marshals: Robert and Pat Brotzman, Town of Maple Valley, Village of Thuring, Citizen of the Year: Al DePuit
10:00 AM – Food stand opens
10:30am~ Pies and ice cream at a food stand
11:00am to 2:00pm – Bounce house, $5 wristband for unlimited bounce every day
11:00 AM – The Pulaski High School Band performs on the bandstand
11:00 AM – Booya in the Legionnaires' Hall after the parade
11:30am~ Sling Lions Club Meat Raffle
Noon – Award Ceremony
Noon – Magician with face paint
Noon – Wilbur Brothers, Beer Stand Music
1pm – Kids Money Hunt, two age groups (1-5 and 6-10)