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A Good Time Starts In Lester Prairie
Lester Prairie offers year-round festivities that have something of interest for everyone.
Community members take great joy in planning the events from Prairie Days in the summer, baseball tournaments, and garage sale day, to the Holiday Celebration that features baked goods and Santa.
Prairie Days
Prairie Days, in mid-June, are three days of entertainment which vary from year to year. The event is sponsored by the Prairie Days committee and community volunteers.
Some of the bigger events include a carnival, kiddie parade, kid games, evening dances with live music, softball games, walk/run, volleyball, horseshoes, and an annual basketball tournament, called the Bulldog Shoot-Out. The shoot-out takes place in the Lester Prairie school gym and draws more than 70 teams from the area, some from as far away as St. Cloud. Both men’s and women’s divisions in elementary, junior high, B-squad, high school, and post-high school compete.
If you work up an appetite playing or watching basketball, the Lions and the fire department make sure there is enough food on hand, including burgers and hot dogs, as well as beer and other cold beverages.
Saturday of Prairie Days features a demolition derby and a parade, with fireworks provided by First Community Bank of Lester Prairie.
An outdoor church service, followed by a matching funds breakfast are on Sunday.
Prairie Days is a fundraising project for the Lester Prairie Fire Department, Lester Prairie Relief Association, and other worthy local projects.
Prairie Days coronation
The Lester Prairie royalty coronation, conducted by the Lester Prairie Ambassador Program, is another highlight of Prairie Days.
Coronation takes place Saturday in the Lester Prairie High School gym, but the program lasts all year long. The program is open to young women under the age of 22, who are at least high school seniors. Candidates are judged on personality, community involvement, academic achievement, and future plans.
Candidates participate in the Prairie Days parade before the three new ambassadors are named. The royalty then goes on to represent the community of Lester Prairie at parades, fundraisers, and coronations in other communities during their year-long reign.
Prairie Days Committee
To be involved in the planning and the production of Prairie Days, you are welcome to join the Prairie Days Committee. Meeting dates and times vary.
For more information, contact Scott Christenson at (320) 395-2172
Baseball for all
Young boys and girls of Lester Prairie can keep busy during the summer months by joining the Youth Baseball/Softball program. This program is sponsored by the Lions Club, Lester Prairie Fire Department Relief Association, the Lester Prairie Business Association, New Germany Commercial Club, and Hollywood Booster Club. The program has been in the community for more than 20 years.
The league, part of the Waconia Community Education, Crow River Youth Baseball, and Crow River Fast Pitch, is staffed by coaches and receives funding from registration fees, as well. The fees range between $15 to $35. The league generally has 13 to 14 teams a year, and is available to ages preschoolers to 18.
Registration begins in March, and the games begin the end of May. The season concludes at the end of July. For more information, contact Lisa Feltmann at (320) 395-4162 or go to www.lpbaseball-softball.org.
American Legion baseball is available for boys ages 15-18. The program is sponsored by Ray Kirkpatrick Legion Post 463 and has been in operation since 1982. The team plays against other Legion teams in the area. No fees are required to participate. Necessary funds are raised through fundraising events.
Members are provided full uniforms and catcher’s equipment. For more information, contact Mark Detlefsen at (320) 395-2813.
Garage Sale Day
The third Saturday in September is Garage Sale Day in Lester Prairie. Garage Sale Day is a tradition dating back to 1980. Lester Prairie has more than 100 garage sales to choose from, and the sales are between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Flyers, with the locations of the sales, are available at local businesses. Local organizations run a food stand in downtown Lester Prairie to help hungry shoppers along the way.
For more information about Garage Sale Day, contact Charlotte Ehrke at (320) 395-2097.
Holiday Celebration
The first Sunday in December is always exciting for the community because that’s when Santa Claus comes to Lester Prairie’s Holiday Celebration. The event features a dinner, music, arts and crafts for children, and of course, a chance to visit with Santa and pose for pictures.
Children are given gift bags from the Lester Prairie Lions Club. A bake sale to raise money for the After Prom Party is also part of the Holiday Celebration.
The business association has contributed refreshments and decorations for the event, and many of the activities take place in the Lester Prairie High School gymnasium.
Sponsorship for the celebration comes from several groups, including the Lester Prairie Business Association, and the Lester Prairie Lions.
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