Every year, Grand Meadow’s Meadowfest is one of the biggest little-town celebrations around.

From Friday, June 24, to Sunday, June 26, visitors will get the staple of events they’ve come to expect, along with a few new ones.

Greg Lamp, lead coordinator of Meadowfest, is excited about a new event: Mud’n in the Meadow. The event, hosted by the Rochester Rough Riders, will feature several categories of truck races in the mud.

Lamp said Meadowfest draws a lot of people because of its variety. According to him, it’s not all beer and bratwursts.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find at least one event on here that somebody wouldn’t be interested in,” he said.

Though there’s a beer garden and music all weekend long, there’s athletics, games, cookouts, art and history, too.

Something historically unique about Grand Meadow is the Grand Army of the Republic Hall, which is only one of two GARs in Minnesota. Formerly a meeting place for Civil War veterans, it now features some historic artifacts; and this year is special, as it’s the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Among all the activities, Lamp and the organizers have incorporated plenty of children’s events. As a Meadowfest coordinator since 2000, Lamp has always tried to incorporate family events. This year, Lamp said a puppet show by Z Puppets Rosenschnoz may be one of the best family events, as adults may want to watch, too. According to him, the quality is Muppet-class.

“It’s a pretty high class show,” Lamp said. “It’s not just a couple of dorks with some hand puppets.”

Among the show, kids also get a money sand pile, candy bar bingo, a toy horse race and water fights. Other Meadowfest events include a church dinner, market in the park, pool tournament, Texas Hold-Em, beanbag tournaments, water fight, parade, car show and a 5-K run/walk.

“It’s a good, clean family fun,” Lamp said. “We certainly enjoy having people come from out of town.”

Meadowfest schedule of events

Friday, June 24
—Pool tournament, Grumpy’s Saloon, Fri., Sat., Sun.
—Grand Meadow Fire Department beer garden, music, food and fun, noon-12:30 a.m. Fri., Sat. and Sun.
—Kids’ fun night, 7-8 p.m., GM School Cafeteria

Saturday, June 25
—5K run/walk, 8:30 a.m., GM school, half mile for kids, 10 a.m., school track.
—Coffee and bake sale, 8:30-11 p.m., GM Community Center.
—GM marketplace and craft fair, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Veterans’ Memorial Park.
—Pool tournament, Grumpy’s Saloon, Fri., Sat., Sun.
—Car show, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., business center parking lot.
—Grand Army of the Republic Hall open house, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., South Main.
—Co-ed volleyball tournament, GM City Park.
—Chicken BBQ and silent auctions, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., EMS building, $7.50.
—Kids’ games and rides, noon-6 p.m., Veterans’ Memorial Park
—Grand Meadow Fire Department beer garden, music, food and fun, noon-12:30 a.m. Fri., Sat. and Sun.
—Texas Hold-Em tournament, 1 p.m.
—City parade, 2 p.m.
—Candy bar bingo, horse races, 3 p.m., beer garden, downtown.
—Mud’n in the Meadow, 3:30 p.m., NW edge of town.
—Kids’ pedal pull, 3:30 p.m., Veterans’ Memorial Park.
—Money sand pile, 3:30 p.m., Veterans’ Memorial Park.
—Bingo, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Assisted Living.

Sunday, June 26
—Pool tournament, Grumpy’s Saloon, Fri., Sat., Sun.
—Church dinner, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Catholic Church Hall.
—Grand Meadow Fire Department beer garden, music, food and fun, noon-12:30 a.m. Fri., Sat. and Sun.
—Kids’ water fights, 1 p.m., by the volleyball courts.
—Grand Army of the Republic Hall open house, 1-3 p.m., South Main.
—Beanbag bash, 1 p.m. sign-up, 2 p.m. start, beer barden, $30 entry fee, $500 payout.
—FCCLA babysitting, 7-10 p.m., school gym.