65th annual Fiesta has something for everyone

Fiesta Days celebrates its 65th anniversary this week, continuing the annual summer festival initiated by former Montevideo Mayor Roland Aaker in 1946.

As always, there will be activities and events for people of all ages.

This year’s week-long Fiesta Days got underway Sunday morning with a fly-in breakfast at the airport, sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Associa­tion, and the Flashback Car Show organized by the Scenic Valley Cruisers car enthusiasts.

Activities continued Monday with Business After Hours at the VFW in Southtown Plaza, at which the Fiesta board, reigning Fiesta royalty and junior royalty, and this year’s queen candidates were introduced. Joining the four queen candidates introduced to the public Tuesday last week was Miranda Kostboth, daughter of Jeff and Laura Schultz. The event was sponsored by Minnwest Bank.

Tuesday activities included candidate interviews on KDMA radio, and a bike rodeo at the Fine Arts Center parking lot sponsored by the Montevideo police, fire and ambulance departments.

The pace picked up Wednesday as the senior coronation, dinner and dance took place at the community center in Southtown Plaza, followed by the Prime Timer ice cream social with the Fiesta royalty and candidates at the community center.

That night, the 25th annual CROP Walk got underway at Smith Park at 5:15, followed by food provided by El Paraiso Latino and an interfaith worship celebration sponsored by local churches. The First Congrega­tional United Church of Christ received special recognition for its leadership and involvement with the CROP Walk during the past quarter century.

Many more events are planned today (Thursday), including the annual book sale at the library from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The community picnic begins at the Smith Park log cabin at 5 p.m. and goes until 7 p.m. Registration for the Kiddie Parade begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the parade at 6 p.m. and the Fiesta junior royalty coronation at 6:45 p.m. There will be kiddie games and a tug of war featuring the Montevideo police and fire departments from 7:30 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Friday is Community Ed Kids Day, with activities planned from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. at a variety of locations around Montevideo. The library book sale continues from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The reigning royalty, Fiesta board, candidates and visiting royalty will be at the VFW for the taco feed, which begins at 4:30 p.m. Races at the Fiesta City Speedway will close out the day’s activities beginning at 7 p.m.

Activities will get under way early on Saturday with a Belgian waffle breakfast from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the community center and the tennis tournament at the Park Avenue courts, which starts at 8 a.m. The Fiesta City Golf Tournament begins at 9 a.m at The Crossings golf club. The Riverfest Rendezvous runs from 8 a.m. until noon at Lagoon Park. Other activities in the park include the annual Lions duck race and live music and concessions. New this year is the Amazing Fiesta Race scavenger hunt, which will begin at 11 a.m. There will be free pony and train rides in Smith Park from noon until 4 p.m.

The annual firemen’s dance and fundraiser will be at the VFW this year from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m., as will be the firemen’s water fights, which begin at 2 p.m. International ceremonies and the ambassador’s reception and dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. at The Crossings. Reservations are required.

Sunday will be busy, as well. Activities get under way at 11 a.m. when The Milwaukee Road Heritage Center hosts an open house and hobo festival lasting until 3 p.m. at the historic depot and railroad park. The Grande Day Parade steps off at 1 p.m. and will follow the same route as last year, down Main Street and then north on Parkway Drive past Smith Park. Fiesta Days will come to an end Sunday with the coronation of the new royalty at the Fine Arts Center at 4 p.m.