By Lori Ehde
The St. Paul Winter Carnival crew will join the line-up of entries in the 2002 version of the Buffalo Days Parade and weekend celebrations.
The Fire King Vulcanus Rex and his Krewe of 40 will parade down Main Street Saturday in their 1932 Luverne Fire Engine.
Part of the reason for their visit is to promote the St. Paul Winter Carnival, but it’s also the 70th anniversary of the fire engine that is a symbol of Vulcanus Rex and his Krewe.
The St. Paul group will visit the Minnesota Veterans Home and Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center after the Parade. It will also form a team in the World Famous Buffalo Chip Throwing Contest at the City Park, beginning at 2 p.m.
Luverne’s annual Buffalo Days celebration officially begins Friday with a 6:30 p.m. Cruise In at the Magnolia Steak House with 50s and 60s music by Larry Goebel.
Also beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday is the 5K and 10K run and walk sponsored by the Luverne Community Hospital. The family version of the event starts at 6:30, the 12 and younger half-mile race starts at 7 p.m., and the 5 and 10K walk and run begins at 7:15 p.m. Registration for all events is at the Rock County Community Pool and Fitness Center.
Saturday kicks off with a Buffalo Bike and Run starting at 8 a.m. at the Pool and Fitness Center. One-, two- or three-person teams will bike eight miles, participate in a four-mile trail run and complete a two- and one-half-mile road run ending at the pool.
The Red Cross will serve Belgian waffles at the American Legion downtown from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
The parade route will start at the fairgrounds at 10 a.m. and turn from Freeman east down Main Street and then north on Oakley to Lincoln Street.
Arts in the Park, featuring 150 booths by vendors from seven states will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Luverne City Park.
The Luverne Elementary School choir will start the afternoon entertainment with the "Buffalo Days" song written by Emily Lodine Overgaard. Other entertainment includes shows by the "Zoo Man" and a presentation by the Spotlight Dancers.
A musical group from Central and South America will offer music throughout the day near the shelterhouse.
Herman Motor will again sponsor the auto show, and other usual popular attractions will include the Tae Kwon Do demonstrations, kid's tractor pull and, of course, the Buffalo Chip Throwing Contest at 2 p.m.
On Sunday, the Luverne Chamber of Commerce will serve more than 1,300 free buffalo burgers at the Blue Mounds State Park starting at 11:30 a.m.
Also on Sunday, the Luverne airport will host the Skydive Adventure demonstration throughout the day.
Buffalo Days visitors can stop at local historical attractions throughout the weekend. The Hinkly House and Holy Trinity Church will be open from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Carnegie Cultural Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.