By Tim Arnett
LAGRO,Indiana – The 19th annual Lagro Good Ole’ Days starts on Thursday and there are a few new things to do at the festival this year. The Good Ole’ Days start Thursday at with a BBQ Pork Dinner at 5 pm. A hot dog eating and watermelon eating contest starts at 6 and 7 pm, respectively, which will be followed by a large version of the game Kerplunk at 7:30. The free circus, which was a big hit last year, will be back every day with a performance at 6 pm on Thursday, 7 pm on Friday and two performances on Saturday at 11 am and 7 pm.
On Friday, the Lagro Community Church rummage and bake sale begins at 9 am with a Park Board Fish Fry to follow at 5 pm. The traditional iron skillet throwing contest takes place at 7 pm and Peru artist Carlissa Luse performs from 6:30 until 7:30 pm. The band Top Shelf also reruns to the good Ole’ Days on the west stage starting at 8 pm.
On Saturday, the Lagro Fair Board breakfast runs from 7 until 10 am before a town-wide rummage sale begins at 9. The full list of events on Saturday include a garden and tractor pull starting at 10 am, a horse shoe pitching contest at 10:30 am, hamburger eating contest at 12 noon, corn hole contest starting at 12:30 with the royalty contest winners also being crowned at the same time. One of the two big events of festival is the parade and the line up starts at 2 pm at the Celotex building with the procession starting at 3.
Also taking place on Saturday and brand new this year is swimming pool kickball, which is essentially slip ‘n slide kickball. The MT Dew Boys also take to the East Stage Saturday starting at 4 pm followed by the car, truck and motorcycle show from 5 until 8 pm. At dusk on Saturday, the annual fireworks display begins and artist TJ Gabet takes to the West Stage from 8 until 11 pm.
The parade might be a big deal, but Lagro Clerk-Treasurer Kristie Bone says that for many the highlight of the Good Ole’ Days is the mud volleyball tournament on Sunday starting at 11 am on Kerr Locks Field. Kristie Bone.
Bone said that teams can sign up at the information booth during the festival or right before the tournament begins on Sunday morning.