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The city’s annual homecoming and celebration of neighborly communion returns next week with three full days of entertainment and activities culminating in a glittering parade.
Western Days’ 55th rendition kicks off June 20 with familiar festivities, class reunions and community involvement leading to its Mardi Gras themed parade Saturday morning, “Boots, Beads and Bling,” courtesy of the Elgin Chamber of Commerce and city of Elgin.
The first day of the weekend-long affair will match the fan-favorite carnival rides and attractions with a Family Foam Hoe Down, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Elgin Memorial Park. Foam will rain down across the dance floor with arcade games and a water tag obstacle course set up to entertain and cool off attendees.
Day two tees off with the Western Days Golf Tournament, 9 a.m. at the ShadowGlen Golf Course. A bloody Mary bar, golf gamble raffle and award ceremony will extend the fun on the greens into the evening’s Wild, Wild Western Pub Crawl.
Tour the city’s watering holes and collect Western gear along the way, starting at Veterans Memorial Park June 21, lasting from 6 to 10 p.m. Participating locations include Lightnin’ Bar, El Maguey, Millies On Main and a pop-up from Rising Sun Vineyards at The Clever Tiger. A $50 wristband includes three free drink tickets, a koozie, custom shirt and themed items to use at the photo ops spread out across the stops.
The June 22 Grand Parade will start its tour down on Main Street at 10 a.m. Cash prizes for the spectacle of floats will be given to the best overall, most unique, most interactive and other entries.
Park festivities will continue throughout the afternoon as custom craft vendors and food trucks line Elgin Memorial Park’s pathways. Kids activities and game tournaments will be backed by a lineup of live music performances until 4 p.m.
A s tempe r at ur e s steadily rise, it’s recommended for festival goers to come equipped with a tent and cooler stocked with water.
More information and event registration can be found at https://www.elgintxchamber. com/western- days-2024/.
