Buffalo Days June 3-5The Luverne Chamber of Commerce announced its plans for the 21st annual Buffalo Days celebration.This year the event is Friday through Sunday, June 3-5.Friday: The activities begin on Friday with the 11th annual Cruise-In for antique and classic cars at 6:30 p.m. at the Magnolia Steak House.Friday will also include a 5K and 10K run at 7:15 p.m. and a kids’ run at 7:00 p.m.The Fabulous Talisman will perform at the Palace Theatre both Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 7:30 p.m.Saturday: A Belgium Waffle feed, sponsored by the American Red Cross, will begin at 7:00 a.m. at the American Legion Hall, followed by the Buffalo Days Parade beginning at 10:00 a.m.The annual Art in the Park will also begin at 10:00 a.m. There are currently more than 100 vendors signed up for the event.Food booths and entertainment will be abundant, and the annual buffalo chip throwing contest will begin at 2:00 p.m.The auto show will also be at the city park from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Baseball events, including alumni games, a homerun derby and a youth pitching contest, will be at Redbird Field from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.Sunday: The weekend’s activities conclude with the free buffalo burgers at the Blue Mounds State Park. The buffalo feed also serves as the park’s 2005 annual open house.The Luverne Chamber estimates that the annual event draws in excess of 10,000 visitors to Luverne for the weekend.Riverbend Striders set date for Volksmarch in LuverneThe Riverbend Striders Volksmarch Club of Mankato is planning a Luverne walk as part of an 11-event bus trip highlighted by a walk to the Crazy Horse Monument in the Black Hills on Saturday, June 6.The Luverne walk, a 10K route or 6.2 miles, will take place on Wednesday, June 1, and will involve 40 walkers from Madison, Wisconsin.The Riverbend Striders set up self-guided walks in communities throughout the area. In Luverne the start/finish is located at the Comfort Inn.All of the information for the walk, which includes registration log and cards, maps and directions, is in the walk box which may be obtained from the staff at the registration desk.If you would like to join the Madison walkers, their estimated time of arrival is between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m.The group will walk, eat and then head for Mitchell, where some of them may walk another 10K that evening.If you would like more information, you can contact Audrey von Holt at 507-625-5375 or by e-mail at eavonholt@charter.net.State fair prepares for their amateur contestPerformers from around the Midwest are fine-tuning their talents for the 33rd annual Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest.Prizes will be awarded to the first through third place winners in three divisions, with a total prize purse of $7,445.Categories include the Open Division for all ages, Teen Division for ages 13-18, and Preteen Division for ages 12 and under.Auditions for the contest run Monday, July 18, through Thursday, July 21, and Monday, July 25, through Sunday, July 31, at the Bandshell on the fairgrounds.The auditions will begin at 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Semi-finalists will be selected to perform during the Minnesota State Fair.According to the event organizers, the semifinals will be held nightly at the Bandshell. Winners from the semifinals will compete in the finals at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, at the Grandstand.If you would like to see how your talent rates, contact the talent contest info line at 651-288-4395, or e-mail them at entertainment@mnstatefair.org.The Minnesota State Fair will be Thursday, Aug. 25, through Labor Day, Sept 5.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com
