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Meadowfest 2011 wasn’t even partway through Saturday’s schedule and organizers were already looking to Meadowfest 2012.

“I would love to make it bigger next year. We plan to add on every year and hope to fill this entire park,” said Kathy Young, one of the event’s organizers.

The city park was the center of events Saturday morning and afternoon at Meadowfest. An arts and craft festival was held in the park for the first time alongside inflatable games for the youth.

“This is our first year for the craft show, and we’ve really expanded this year,” Paul said. “I just really wanted something for more people to get out and do at the park.”

Kathy said she hopes the park at Meadowfest will become a central location for people to congregate.

“I love that the kids come up here and they are full of energy and full of smiles and get to use this stuff all day long,” said Kathy Paul, one of the Meadowfest organizers.

“It’s a great place for people to bring their families and have fun for all,” she added. “It’s something to keep busy all day.”

After a start of about 15 vendors Saturday, Paul plans to expand the craftshow and potentially add some more entertainment in the park.

The fourth annual Meadowfest Car Show was also held at the park.

“We don’t have the judging — the professional judging,” said Brian Hanson, on the of the car show’s organizers. “It’s a free, no entry show. Just come and show what you got.”

That’s not to say each the 30-plus car owners left empty handed.

First, second and third place prices were given out strictly on a popular vote. Hanson noted many of the cars seemed deserving of the prizes.

“There’s a lot of nice cars here this year,” he said.

He was also glad to see a lot of new cars along with the usual, local car owners.

It wasn’t all about the new at Meadowfest. The Grand Army of the Republic Hall, booth post No. 130, was open to the public; and this year was special, as it’s the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

The hall opened in the late 1891 as a club for Civil War veterans. The hall served as a forerunner to the VFW and Legion for Civil War veterans.

Along with Litchfield, GAR is one of only two remaining halls left in the state and is a national historic site.

“To have one in the middle of rural Minnesota is kind of a big deal,” said Dustin Heckman, executive director of the Mower County Historical Society.

Heckman described many of the people in the GAR as the movers and shakers of the local community.

“A lot of them were heavy players in the game of Grand Meadow,” Heckman said.