Albertville Friendly City Days Turns 25: A Look at the Week's Events

Yes, it’s back. And this year, it’s celebrating 25 years of, well, “awesome.”

Albertville Friendly City Days is what it is because it has something for everyone, organizers say. Patrons and those who have attended each of the 25 years are quick to agree.

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. 

Throughout the weekend

• 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. Most sales will roll through Friday, with some trickling into Saturday. We have a map and complete rundown from Wednesday’s Patch posts.

• 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. Discount ride tickets are available at several local businesses, including DJ’s Ace Hardware, Casey’s, Coborn’s, Geez Sports Bar, Heidi’s Market, Little Dukes, the 152 Club, Neighbors and our new friends at Center Cut Meats. Take advantage of these deals!

• Local music will be held, live, in Central Park, beginning at 6 p.m. Several St. Michael and Albertville garage bands 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 Tournament begins at 4:30 p.m. at  STMA Middle School West and

• 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 softball fields.

• A youth baseball (see, something for every age) tourney begins at 6 p.m. at the ball 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 the Shane Martin Band, live, beginning at 8 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, and the old time hockey tourney kicks off at 10 a.m., rounding out tournament action.

• The AFCD 5K, sponsored by the STMA High School Coaches Association, begins at 9 a.m. The race begins and ends at Stadium. This is a competitive route and will be very fun. Prepare for the heat, as temps are forecast to be well into the 70s by race time Saturday morning.

• 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. Also, there’s a pizza and wing eating “exhibition” and contest at 11:30 a.m. In its debut last year, it was a huge hit with the crowd.

• The Pedal Tractor Pull, a kid favorite, is set for 11 a.m. near the basketball court.

• New this year, the Raptor Center will have a program in Central Park. We promise it won’t interfere with any of the rides.

• 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 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), and the KRWC Road Show.

• BACK 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.

• Grab root beer floats from the from 2 p.m. until about 4 p.m., then join them for a “Meet the Candidates Spaghetti Dinner” beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the St. Albert Parish Center.

• The night ends with a slate of music on the entertainment stage, including performances by Switched at Birth and Iron Horse, both on the Central Park area.

 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 , 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!