As the summer continues, so do the small town festivals. Residents of Mower, Fillmore, and Dodge Counties and the surrounding areas will have their choice of three small town festivals to attend this weekend.

Uff-Da Days

Thursday, July 12 – Sunday, July 15

Ostrander may be small, but it is home to the festival with the most memorable name: Uff-Da Days, which will be held this year from July 12-15.

The event begins on Thursday with a 5K walk/run at City Park, and while several festivals are holding their parades on Saturday and Sunday, this year’s Uff-Da Days Grand Parade will be held Friday evening.

Saturday will be a day of competition, with volleyball and bean bag tournaments and tractor pulls scheduled throughout the day. A street dance featuring Spin Drive DJ will be held Saturday evening.

And what better way is there to cap off an eventful weekend than a cook off?

Think you won’t have fun during this festival? Uff da!

Uff Da Days Schedule

Times and events are subject to change.

• July 12

5K Walk/Run – Pavilion in Ostrander City Park, 7 p.m.

• July 13

Grand Parade – along Minnesota Street, County Road Three and Robert Street, 7:30 p.m.

Watermelon Feed – City Park, immediately following Parade

• July 14

Freewill Donation Breakfast – Community Center, 7-11 a.m.

Co-ed Volleyball Tournament – Next to City Park, 9 a.m.

Kids Carnival Activities – City Park, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Antique Tractor Pull – north edge of town, 11 a.m.

Kid’s Pedal Tractor Pull – City Park, 2 p.m.

Bean Bag Tournament – Lund Park, 3-7 p.m.

Street Dance featuring Spin Drive DJ – Main Street, 8 p.m. to midnight

• July 15

Community Church Service, 8:30 a.m.

Sandwich, Pie and Ice Cream Social – Trinity Lutheran Church, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mud Bogs – north edge of town, 1 p.m.

Cook Off – Pavilion at City Park, 2:30 p.m.

Rose Creek Days

Friday, July 13 – Sunday, July 15

Drawing several thousand visitors each year to the town of roughly 400 people, Rose Creek Days will be held from July 13-15 this year.

Several tournaments will be held throughout the weekend, including softball, volleyball and bean bag tournaments.

Visitors can enjoy live music at The Creek Friday and Saturday evening.

Hungry visitors can get concessions at Rose Creek City Park or get a Windsor chop from the Rose Creek Fire Department on Saturday evening.

Don’t forget to attend the annual car show on Sunday.

It’s a weekend of fun in a small town not far from Austin.

Rose Creek Days Schedule

Times and events are subject to change.

• Friday, July 13

Concessions Stand in the Park

14th Annual Black Socks Kickball Tournament (10 and under), 4 p.m.

14th Annual Black Socks Kickball Tournament (15 and under), 5 p.m.

14th Annual Black Socks Kickball Tournament (Open Class), 7 p.m.

Fireman’s Water Fight – Ulven’s Hardware, 8 p.m.

Entertainment at The Creek

• Saturday, July 14

Concessions Stand in the Park

16th Annual Tess Landherr 5K Memorial Walk, 8 a.m.

Softball Tournament, 8 a.m.

Vendor Fair – Rose Creek City Park, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tractor and Truck Pull, 10 a.m.

Southland FFA Tractor Show, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bean Bag Tournament – The Creek

Volleyball – The Creek, 2 p.m.

Rose Creek Fire Department Windsor Chop Supper – Rose Creek City Park, 5-8 p.m.

Performance by Negative Waves – The Creek, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

• Sunday, July 15

Concessions Stand in the Park

Softball Tournament, 8 a.m.

Car Show, noon to 3 p.m.

Hayfield Chicken Fry

Friday, July 13 – Saturday, July 14

The Hayfield Fire Department will hold its annual Chicken Fry on July 13-14.

The successor to the larger Hayfield Hay Days celebration, the Hayfield Chicken Fry will begin with the co-ed softball tournament on Friday. The Field of Flags will be on display in honor of area veterans.

The annual Parade will be held Saturday afternoon and the festivities will end with a dusk fireworks display.

And, of course, there will be plenty of delicious fried chicken to eat. Proceeds from the chicken sales go toward the Hayfield Fire Department and the Hayfield American Legion.

Hayfield Chicken Fry Schedule

Times and events are subject to change.

• Friday, July 13

Field of Flags

Co-Ed Softball Tournament

• Saturday, July 14

Parade, 2 p.m.

Fireworks, dusk

Schedule of Events

Friday, July 13

• Junkdrawer Technology: Cardboard Creations – Pizza Box Guitar, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Austin Public Library. Sign-up required – limited to 12 participants. For more information or to sign up, call 507-433-2391.

• Independence Day Dinner, noon to 1 p.m. at the Mower County Senior Center. Come – bring a friend – and continue the celebration of our independence. Enjoy a dinner of bbq beef, potato salad, baked beans, and dessert for $8 (members) or $9 (non-members). Entertainment sponsored by Primrose Retirement Community. To reserve your spot or for more information, stop by the Senior Center front desk or call 507-433-2370.

• “Leaving Iowa,” 7 p.m. at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College.  Summerset Theatre production. Don Browning, a middle-aged writer, returns home and decides to finally take his father’s ashes to his childhood home, as requested. But when Don discovers Grandma’s house is now a grocery store, he begins traveling across Iowa in search of a proper resting place.  As he drives those familiar roads, the story shifts back and forth from the present to memories of the annual, torturous vacations of Don’s youth. Ultimately, Don’s existential journey leads him to reconcile his past and present at an unpredictable and perfect final destination. For more information or tickets, go to www.summersettheatre.org.

• Austin Greyhounds vs. Miesville Mudhens, 8 p.m. at Marcusen Park. Go, Greyhounds! For more information, go to www.austingreyhoundsbaseball.com.

• Eco-Blitz! Waste Week, at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. Free family events – enjoy activities and guest presenters throughout the week and have fun learning about what happens to our waste. For more information, call 507-437-7519.

Saturday, July 14

• Cedar River Archery Club 3D “Super Shoot,” 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cedar River Archery Club. 60 3D targets in a competitive experience. All experience levels welcome. Cost is $15 for members, $20 for non-members. The mission of the Cedar River Archery Club is to perpetuate, foster, and direct the practice of archer for youth and adults alike in the city of Austin and surrounding areas, in accordance with high spirit, safety, and the honorable tradition of this most ancient sport. For more information, 507-438-7619.

• Open Art Hour – Painting Rocks, 10:30 a.m. at the Austin Public Library. Bring your own favorite rock or use one provided by the library. All paint and other supplies provided to turn your rocks into works of art. For more information, call 507-433-2391.

• Spruce Up Austin Yard and Garden Tour, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at various locations around Austin. Annual self-guided tour of privately-owned yards and gardens around Austin. Tickets $10 in advance or $12 on day of tour.  Tickets available at Berg’s Nursery, Dolan’s Landscape, Hardy Geranium, and SuperFresh Garden Center.

• Co-ed Mixer Hosted by MN Southbound Rollers, 6 p.m. at Packer Arena. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/SouthernMNRollerDerbyGirls/.

• “Leaving Iowa,” 7 p.m. at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College.

• Sola Fide Observatory Viewing, 9-10 p.m. at the Sola Fide Observatory. Learn about the night sky from our local experts. For more information, go to www.hormelnaturecenter.org or call 507-437-7519.

• Austin Park and Recreation Men’s D/E Softball Tournament, at Todd Park. For more information, call 507-433-1881.

• Eco-Blitz! Waste Week, at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. Free family events – enjoy activities and guest presenters throughout the week and have fun learning about what happens to our waste. For more information, call 507-437-7519.

Sunday, July 15

• Cedar River Archery Club 3D “Super Shoot,” 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cedar River Archery Club. 60 3D targets in a competitive experience. All experience levels welcome. Cost is $15 for members, $20 for non-members. The mission of the Cedar River Archery Club is to perpetuate, foster, and direct the practice of archer for youth and adults alike in the city of Austin and surrounding areas, in accordance with high spirit, safety, and the honorable tradition of this most ancient sport. For more information, 507-438-7619.

• “Leaving Iowa,” 2 p.m. at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College.