Homemade ice cream, open-air bingo, carnival rides, talent show and don’t forget Saturday’s parade and three days of carnival rides. Yes, Osage County’s first fair of the season, Melvern Sunflower Days and 4-H Fair, starts this week at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, and ends Saturday, on the first day of summer.
All 4-H and FFA exhibits are to be entered Thursday morning at Melvern Community Center, which will also be the venue for the evening baby show beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday’s events will end with a local talent show at 8 p.m. in Melvern City Park. Contact George Alexander at 785-549-3419 to register for the talent show or for more information.
Livestock judging begins Friday, and the evening’s entertainment will be karaoke in the city park.
Saturday’s fun begins with a hearty breakfast, a pancake feed hosted by the youth group at Community Church of God. Kids will then want to head to the ball diamonds for races, beginning at 9 a.m. After lunch, old fashioned games for kids of all ages will start around 12:30 p.m.
Parade lineup begins at 6:15 p.m. Saturday, featuring the 2014 state champs Marais des Cygnes Valley High School basketball team as grand marshals of the parade. The parade theme this year is “Celebrating Sports and Outdoor Recreation.” The parade will also feature a crowd favorite, the Topeka Cruz Line Drummers.
Around 9 p.m., it’ll be time for boot scootin’ as DJ Ben Chapman fires up the tunes for an evening dance. A downtown fireworks display will be the finale of the fair, after the dance.
Fairgoers will also be able to enjoy some Sunflower Days traditions each day of the fair: Bingo games hosted by the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary begin at 8 p.m.; scoops of homemade ice cream will be available in the park each evening. Amusement rides and entertainment will be provided daily by LeWellen Rides.
Here’s the 2014 Sunflower Days’ schedule:
Thursday, June 19
- 10:30 a.m. – All 4-H/FFA exhibits including livestock must be entered at Melvern Community Center.
- 1 p.m. – Judging of halls will commence.
- 6:30 p.m. – Baby show held at the Melvern Community Center.
- 7 p.m. – Homemade ice cream will be served at the city park.
- 8 p.m. – Talent show contest in the city park; cash prizes awarded, contact George Alexander at 785-549-3419.
Friday, June 20
- 8 a.m. – Registration for hand pets, rabbits and fowl.
- 5 p.m. – Livestock judging begins.
- 7 p.m. – Homemade ice cream in city park.
- 8 p.m. – Karaoke night.
Saturday, June 21
- 7 a.m.-9 a.m. – Pancake feed hosted by Community Church of God youth group.
- 9 a.m. – Kids races at Melvern ball diamonds.
- 12 -1 p.m. – All 4-H exhibits released.
- 12:30 p.m. – Registration for old fashioned games and turtle races at city park. (Bring your own turtles).
- 1-3 p.m. – Old fashioned games in city park.
- 6:15 p.m. – Parade line-up and register at Marais des Cygnes Valley school; cash prizes for floats, with the theme “Celebrating Sports and Outdoor Recreation”. Grand marshals are the MdCV boys basketball team, 2014 state champs. Also featuring Topeka Cruz Line Drummers.
- 7 p.m. – Parade begins
- 8 p.m. – Homemade ice cream in city park.
- 9 p.m.-11 p.m. – Dance by D.J. music-Ben Chapman
- 11 p.m. – Fireworks
Amusement rides and entertainment provided by LeWellen Rides. Bingo at 8 p.m. each evening hosted by the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary.
The 2014 Osage County fairbook, published by Frontier Extension District, is available here.