Albertville Friendly City Days: A Complete Guide to the 2011 Celebration

As the hum of garage doors opening flooded the community around 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, the message was clear. 

Albertville Friendly City Days have arrived. 

Kicking off with the City-Wide Garage Sale at 8 a.m. Wednesday (most sales continue through Friday afternoon, some into Saturday), and concluding with the coronation of Miss Albertville and two Albertville Princesses, along with a Junior Court on Sunday afternoon, "Friendly City Days" take this community by storm each year. 

For the kids, there are carnival rides, games and the huge Grand Day parade. For adults, there are deals on food, drinks in the park and musical acts Friday and Saturday evening. 

Here's a day-by-day breakdown of the "official" start of summer in Albertville and St. Michael. 

TODAY

• City-Wide Garage Sale begins with more than 50 sales held around the community. Check out _ on St. Michael Patch, which has a list, map and some highlighted sales. Most sales run until about 4 p.m. tonight. 

• Restuarant deals: Neighbors is welcoming all kids under 12 to eat FREE, and several other restaurants in town will being dining specials today, running throught he weekend. 

• Discount Ride Tickets: Available at local businesses such as DJ's Ace, Emma's Express, Highland Bank, Lake Community Bank, Premier Bank, Sunoco, Little Dukes and more, you can save up to 20 percent on the carnival rides if you buy tickets from these outlets before the carnival starts Thursday afternoon. 

THURSDAY

• The City-Wide Garage Sale continues, with most doors opening by 8 a.m. 

• This is the day the kids have been waiting for - the carnival, featuring Midwest Rides, will open gates at 3 p.m. Tickets are available on site beginning Thursday afternoon, as well. 

• Christian music will be held, live, in Central Park, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Several St. Michael and Albertville churches will participate. 

FRIDAY

• The festival really gets rolling as events take over the Central Park. The Blue Line Club (hockey boosters) will have their pork chop dinner, beginning at 4 p.m. Add some corn on the cob to that, offered by St. Michael-Albertville Rotary. 

• Friday means SPORTS: The Old Time Hockey Tournament begins at 4 p.m. at the hockey arena. The Annette Leuer Girls' Softball Touranment begins at 4:30 p.m. at  STMA Middle School West and STMA High School.

• St. Michael and Albertville will square off, represented by their city councils and staff members, in a kickball game. That begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Park softball fields.

•One of the largest Upper Midwest men’s slowpitch softball tournaments begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday night at the Central Park Fields. Check out the local and regional teams in action. These are some of the best the sport has to offer.

• BOB 106.1 FM will be live from Central Park, all the way up to  SECTION 30, live, beginning at 8:30 p.m. on the Central Park Entertainment Stage.

• The skies above Albertville will light up at about 10 p.m., as the Foxtailers snowmobile club sponsors another big display. (Note: This will be held Saturday night in case of rain).

SATURDAY

• Any remaining garage sales wrap up.

• The softball tournaments continue, as does the old time hockey tourney.

• The AFCD 5K, sponsored by the STMA High School Coaches Association, begins at 9 a.m. The race begins and ends at STMA Middle School West Stadium.

• The Co-Ed Volleyball Tournament begins at 9 a.m. at the 152 Club, across the street from the park/carnival.

• The Albertville Fire Department welcomes everyone to its annual open house. This is a huge event, featuring inflatables, a CPR class, Gonzo the Clown, a little bit of lunch and the annual KIDS Parade. And, of course, the big, red fire trucks will be on display.

• At noon, the open house is taken over by the battle of the local fire departments. Hanover, St. Michael and Albertville will compete in a skills competition at the fire hall. Anyone is welcome to watch.

• A host of kid-friendly activities take over the Central Park Lions Pavilion, including sash making (Albertville Royalty), Fair Hair and Toddler Town (MOMS Club), root beer floats (Royalty), and the KRWC Road Show.

• NEW this year is a Bicycle Stunt Show, which will be held at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. on Main Street, just east of the park.

• The night ends with a slate of music on the entertainment stage, including performances by the School of Rock “Road Crew” teen bands, Shane Martin and Twin Cities' favorite G.B. Leighton.

 SUNDAY

• Sports continue, including the softball tournaments, a women’s volleyball tournament (152 Club), and the hockey tournament.

• The Grand Day Parade, led by Albertville Citizens of the Year Ed and Sara Hackenmueller, owners of , begins at 1:30 p.m. More than 120 entries are included in this year’s parade.

• The coronation of Miss Albertville and the senior and junior royalty is set for 4 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center in St. Michael Albertville High School.

There are other events scheduled. Check the PDF attached to this article for the complete breakdown.

Please, remember to celebrate safely!