Lester Prairie knows how to have fun

By Roz Kohls
Staff Writer

Festivities are planned throughout the year in Lester Prairie to satisfy anyone’s cravings for fun, food, shopping, sports and more.

From the annual town celebration in the summer, to Santa Claus coming to town in December, residents of Lester Prairie have plenty of things to do. All celebrations are locally planned by members of the community to bring residents together for a good time.

Prairie Days

Prairie Days, in mid-June, are three days of entertainment which vary from year to year. The event is put on by the Prairie Days committee and community volunteers.

Some of the bigger events include a carnival with rides, kiddie parade, kid games, evening dances with live music, softball games, walk/run, volleyball, horseshoes, and an annual basketball tournament, called the Bulldog Shoot-Out. The shoot-out takes place in the Lester Prairie school gym and draws more than 70 teams from the area, some from as far away as St. Cloud. Both men and women’s divisions in elementary, junior high, B-squad, high school, and post-high school compete.

If you work up an appetite playing or watching basketball, the Lions and the fire department make sure there is enough food on hand, including burgers, hot dogs, as well as beer and other cold beverages.

Saturday of Prairie Days features a demolition derby and a parade, with fireworks provided by First Community Bank of Lester Prairie.

An outdoor church service, followed by a matching funds breakfast are on Sunday.

Prairie Days is a fund raising project for the Lester Prairie Fire Department, Lester Prairie Relief Association, and other worthy local projects.

Prairie Days coronation

The Lester Prairie royalty coronation, conducted by the Lester Prairie Ambassador Program, is another highlight of Prairie Days.

Coronation takes place Saturday in the Lester Prairie High School gym, but the program lasts all year long. The program is open to young women under the age of 22, who are at least high school seniors. Candidates are judged on personality, community involvement, academic achievement, and future plans.

Candidates participate in the Prairie Days parade before the three new ambassadors are named. The royalty then goes on to representthe community of Lester Prairie at parades, fund raisers, and coronations in other communities during their year-long reign.

Prairie Days Committee

To be involved in planning and producing Prairie Days, you can join the Prairie Days Committee. It meets monthly on the second Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m. at the fire hall in Lester Prairie.

For more information, contact LaJean Hoof at (320) 395-2615.

Baseball for all

Young boys and girls of Lester Prairie can keep busy during the summer months by joining Little League. The Little League baseball program is sponsored by the Lions Club, Lester Prairie Fire Department Relief Association, New Germany Commercial Club, and Hollywood Booster Club. The program has been in the community for more than 20 years.

The league, part of the Waconia Community Education, Crow River Youth Baseball, and Crow River Fast Pitch, is staffed by volunteer umpires and coaches and receives funding from registration fees, as well. The fees range between $15 to $35. The league generally has 13 to 14 teams a year, covering a wide age span.

Registration begins in March and the games begin the end of May. The season ends at the beginning of August. For further information, contact Lisa Feltmann at (320) 395-4162.

American Legion baseball is available for boys age 15-18. The program is sponsored by Ray Kirkpatrick Legion Post 463 and has been in operation since 1982. The team plays against other Legion teams in the area. No fees are required to participate. Necessary funds are raised through fund raising events.

Members are provided full uniforms and catcher’s equipment. For more information, contact Mark Detlefsen at (320) 395-2813.

Garage Sale Day

Bargain shoppers keep their calendars open the third Saturday in September for Garage Sale Day in Lester Prairie. Garage Sale Day is a tradition dating back to 1980. Lester Prairie has more than 100 garage sales to choose from and the sales are between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Flyers with the locations of the sales are available at local businesses. Local organizations run a food stand in downtown Lester Prairie to help hungry shoppers along the way.

For more information about Garage Sale Day, contact Charlotte Ehrke at (320) 395-2097.

Holiday Celebration

Santa Claus comes to Lester Prairie’s Holiday Celebration, the first Friday in December. The event features a dinner, music, arts and crafts for children, and of course a chance to visit with Santa and pose for pictures.

Children are given gift bags from the Lester Prairie Lions. A bake sale to raise funds for the After Prom Party is also part of the Holiday Celebration.

The business association has contributed refreshments and decorations for the event, and many of the activities take place in the city hall.

Sponsorship for the celebration comes from several groups, including the Lester Prairie Business Association, the Lester Prairie Lions, and the City.