It all begins this weekend in Adams with the 2002 Dairy Days celebration.

For three days, all Mower County eyes will be upon the self-proclaimed "dairy capital of the world."

Sunday's 1 p.m. parade will attract the largest crowds, but a full schedule of events in Adams City Park, including a tractor pull, will be big draws, also.

Then, the celebration-ending cow milking contest Sunday night is another sure-fire crowd-pleaser.

The summertime celebrations are an opportunity for communities to show-off their pride as well as for everyone to have fun.

The parade through the town takes the place of family front porches today and provides relatives, friends and strangers a chance to "rub elbows" and renew old friendships or make new acquaintances.

Other summertime celebrations in the area this summer include:

Austin: Spam Museum Grand Opening June 15-16, Freedom Fest July 4-7

Blooming Prairie: Old Fashioned 4th of July 3-4

Brownsdale: Fire Department Pork Feed, July 27

Grand Meadow: MeadowFest,

June 28-30

Hayfield: Hey Days, July 18-21

Johnsburg: Johnsburg Jamboree, July 14

LeRoy: SummerFest Days, July 18-21

Lyle: Old Fashioned 4th of July, June 29-30

Ostrander: Uf Dah Day, Aug. 3 (tentative)

Racine: Tom and Shelly Kraetsch's

Burr Oak Buffalo Fest, July 20-21; the Root River Antique Power Association's Steam Engine Show July 19-21

St. Ansgar, Iowa: Town and Country Day,

June 29

Stacyville, Iowa: Brat Daze, July 27

Spring Valley: Wilder Festival, Aug. 16-18

Waltham: Sweetcorn Day,

Aug. 17 (tentative)

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com