Greg Lamp signs up for a raffle to win a Civil War chess at the Grand Army of the Republic Hall in Grand Meadow last year. The hall, one of only two still remaining in Minnesota, was open during Meadowfest 2011. -- Herald file photo

Grand Meadow’s 2012 town festival may be bigger than anybody has ever seen in the past.

Meadowfest 2012, which will be from June 22 to 24, will also serve as the town’s sesquicentennial celebration. And according to 12-year Meadowfest committee member Greg Lamp, the community has done its homework for this one.

“In addition to the traditional events, we’ve got quite a number of additional events coming,” Lamp said, and added that 2012 will host nearly twice as many activities as last year.

With the myriad events returning — such as a car show, mud bog, and dozens of kids’ games — committee members have spent seven years bringing in some of the most interesting events they could find.

Several of those events are very fitting, as well, as they focus on Civil War history. An Abe Lincoln impersonator will speak at Grand Meadow’s Grand Army of the Republic Hall — a piece of Civil War history itself. Furthermore, a cemetery walk will feature actors portraying some of Grand Meadow’s most famous and influential figures. Committee members have even rounded up a vintage baseball game between the Rochester Roosters and the GM Nine.

Lamp said Grand Meadow’s celebrations have always focused on family fun, which is why Meadowfest features so many events for kids and people of all ages. Furthermore, every 25th year marks the crowning of Miss Grand Meadow and Miss Jr. Grand Meadow on opening night of the celebration.

While Lamp said not every event is officially set, Meadowfest will likely kick off again with a car show starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 22. As always, events will carry the festival late into the afternoon Sunday, but that’s not all.

Lamp said this year’s Fourth of July fireworks will be twice as spectacular. For up-to-date information, go to cityofgrandmeadow.com/meadowfest.