Best Bets: Hormel plans a Spam-tastic weekend

Published 10:38 am Thursday, July 28, 2016

Prepare for a Spam-packed couple of days as Hormel Foods Corp. celebrates its 125th anniversary with several community events. With a variety of events, there will be plenty of reasons to go out with family and friends.

1. Hormel Foods 125th Anniversary food truck frenzy

6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday around Austin

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Several Hormel Foods brands will hide their food trucks around Austin, and you have to find them. Stay updated on the Hormel Foods social media accounts for clues leading up to Thursday’s hunt. Post a photo from each truck or vehicle you find using #Hormel125 to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to be entered to win a giveaway full of Hormel Foods products.

2. Spam Museum ribbon cutting

9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday at the Spam Museum

Hormel will officially welcome the Spam Museum to Austin and kick off an eventful day celebrating the 125th anniversary of the company with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the museum.

3. Hormel Foods Corporation 125th anniversary celebration

3 to 10 p.m. Friday downtown Austin, between the Mower County Jail and Justice Center and into the park by Mill Pond.

A community celebration will take place on Friday with award-winning entertainment, food and activities for the whole family. Events on the main stage include: welcome/opening at 3 p.m., Band 125 at 3:15 p.m., Sunny Anderson at 4:25 p.m., Kat Perkins at 7:25 p.m., The Band Perry at 8:30 p.m., Fireworks at 10 p.m. Events on the side stage include: Shapeshift at 3:45 p.m. and 5:15 p.m., Salsa Del Soul at 5:45 p.m., Band 125 at 6:50 p.m., Shapeshift at 8:10 p.m. Events on the Community Stage include: TC Road Crew at 3 p.m., The Magic of Adam Perry at 3:30 p.m., Mariachi Agullas de Ellis Middle School at 3:45 p.m., TC Road Crew at 4:15 p.m., The Magic of Adam Perry at 4:45 p.m., TC Road Crew at 5 p.m., The Bazillions at 5:30 p.m., The Magic of Adam Perry at 6:20 p.m., Molly Kate Kestner at 6:30 p.m., TC Road Crew at 7:30 p.m.

4. Hormel Foods Film fest

3 to 6 p.m. Friday at the Historic Paramount Theater

A free, family-friendly screening of the Hormel Foods Film Fest at the Paramount Theater. The film will feature highlights and commercials from Hormel Food brands of the past and present. Concessions will be available for purchase at the Paramount.

5. The Hormel Institute Open House

Noon on Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Hormel Institute

A free tour of the newly constructed east addition of 20 laboratories and the Ray Live Learning Center. Attendees can park along the 16th Avenue Northeast in front of The Hormel Institute or the parking lots on the east or west side. Enter through the main lobby of west side. For more information, call 507-433-8804.