The Suggestion Box- Near North Happenings This Weekend (10-7-16)

The Suggestion Box- Near North Happenings This  Weekend (10-7-16)
N3 Entertainment Squadron
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"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill--several thrills?”- L.M. Montgomery ’Anne of Green Gables’

Well, folks we are now plunged into October at N3 World Headquarters and Pumpkin Palace and we’re focusing on a couple of outdoor events that beckon all comers. Small town Homecoming is always a treat and...

...in White Cloud they like it so much these ever resilient revelers  once continued on with the festivities despite not being able to field a team one year.

It’s Grant’s turn to host one of the River Country Chamber’s events and a weekend filled with everything from scarecrow sightings (much preferable to clown sightings) to onion eating to beers and BBQ await those who plan on spending some time in our southernmost city.

So get ready to find some family fun folks. Here’s what’s on tap:

Like parades? Well you have a couple coming to the Near North this weekend.

Friday ,as we said, is homecoming in the Cloud and the festivities will begin with a parade through the downtown area. The procession begins at 5:30pm and will end at the football field where the team will be taking on Morley Stanwood. If you’re a fan of marching bands this is an opportunity to see one of our area’s finest perform. The White Cloud band under the direction of Jamie Denslow has been wowing homecoming attendees for his entire tenure as ‘Leader of the Band’ (Kudos to Dan Fogelberg) and this year’s version promises to not disappoint.

Side note: Just before the take-off for runners and walkers at the trail run during Trail Town Mr. D. peeled off the band from their practice on the field and brought them to the fence to inspire the participants with a rousing version of the White Cloud fight song.

Nicely done, sir.

Parade #2 will be in Grant where the inaugural Harvest Moon Festival will be in full bloom all weekend.

The parade begins at 10:30am but the festivities for this, the third in the triumvirate of festivals River Country Chamber has gifted our area with this fall, will begin on Friday and continue through Sunday.

Friday the Kids Carnival opens up at 3pm and runs until 9pm. It will return Saturday (10am-9pm) and Sunday (11am-5pm) and is geared toward the 12 and under crowd.
Arts and Crafts and the accompanying food vendors will be open each day beginning at 3pm Friday as well and the Farmers Market will also be offering their harvest wares all three days.

Old Iron Bar & Grill will be hosting a BBQ competition beginning at 9am Saturday and if you’ve ever sampled the goods at this establishment it’s easy to see why they’re at the forefront of any BBQing business. They’re also hosting an outdoor beer garden both Saturday and Sunday from 11am to closing time.

There will be hay wagon rides and pumpkin decorating and a number of other events taking place in the area around Front & Main but for a unique competition I would make plans to witness the onion eating contest being held at 6pm.

An onion can make people cry but there's never been a vegetable that can make people laugh. -Will Rogers

Yes folks, onions can indeed make one cry but these tears can easily be erased with the $100 first prize that will be putting a C-note in the pocket of whoever can consume the most of these delectable.

Scarecrow: I haven’t got a brain, only straw
Dorothy: How can you talk if you haven’t got a brain?
Scarecrow: I don’t know….But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking don’t they?

Yes, Scarecrow, and yet we keep electing them.

Oops. Editorial comment aside there’s a bodacious scarecrow contest being held during Harvest Moon and there are some doozies out there. Voting continues through Sunday and to get a list of where these men and women of straw are waiting to entice your ballot here’s the list.

Ok folks this is your last chance for an autumnal, outside, small town event for our area and given the success of the Logging Fest and Trail Town we’re hoping the same kind of crowds will turn out and visit the town  some call the ‘onion capital of the world’ to enjoy the festivities abounding in our county’s Gateway City.