Wrenshall Brickyard Days is ‘ready to rumble’

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The summer spotlight turns to Wrenshall this weekend as the historic little community hosts its annual Brickyard Days celebration Friday and Saturday, Aug. 3-4.

According to long-time community resident and former mayor Hugh Line, the popular small town summer event was first organized by the Wrenshall Development Corporation in 1985 as a means of raising money to build what was to be the town’s first and only restaurant, The Brickyard. The celebration proved so successful that it has gone on long after the restaurant was built. Today it continues to be an opportunity for residents of the community and surrounding areas to come together for a good time and a chance for local groups – particularly from the school – to fund raise for the upcoming year’s projects.

“Pretty much everyone gets involved,” said Brickyard Days committee member Dean Wallin. “The entire town is looking shiny for this weekend’s events. The streets have been painted and the lawns have been mowed. The city is absolutely behind this celebration, and the county provided us with grant money to purchase banners for it.”

Kicking things off for this year’s celebration, the city park will be the venue for Friday afternoon’s and evening’s events, which run from 3-7 p.m. Crafters and vendors will display their wares, and there will be games and activities for the entire family. Food and treats will be available, and there will also be a classic car show which is open to all. Eleven trophies will be awarded, and entrants must sign up in the park by 3 p.m.

At 7:30 p.m. Friday, the Wrenshall Brickyard Days Celebration will present “The Wrenshall Rumble,” featuring Rock ’n Roll Wrestling, in the high school gym.

“If you’re looking at having fun, this is great entertainment,” said local organizer Jack Eudy.

Eudy said among the featured acts during the night’s performance will be Micro Midget Wrestling, including a couple of wrestlers who appear on the television reality show, “Hulk Hogan’s Midget Wrestling.” Also on the bill, said Eudy, is the American/World Wrestling Federation’s world-renowned star, “Honky Tonk Man,” a fan favorite wrestler and Elvis impersonator, as well as the notorious Buck “Rock ’n Roll” Zumhofe, wrestling’s self-proclaimed original rock and roller.

The night will include five to six individual matches, topped off by the “Royal Rumble,” where all of the wrestlers get in the ring at once in a battle for the belt.

“It certainly won’t be dull!” said Eudy.

Tickets will be available at Wrenshall businesses or by email at brickyarddays@msn.com.

Saturday’s fun will go from dawn ’til dusk, starting with a pancake breakfast at First Presbyterian Church from 7:30-10 a.m. After breakfast, be sure to take in the Wrenshall Area Historical Display, also at the church.

Registration for the free Kids Fun Run gets under way from 8-9 a.m. at the Wrenshall One Stop Market. Parents must register children prior to the 9 a.m. run. Registration will also be open at that time for the 5K Run/Walk and the One-Mile Run/Walk. Participants can also register online at www.brickyard5K.zapevent.com. All race events will begin at the Brickyard Restaurant.

A pie sale will be ongoing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wrenshall City Hall, a fundraiser for the local sixth-grade class.

Lineup for the Brickyard Days parade starts at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the school parking lot, with the parade slated to start at 11 a.m. All entries are welcome. Grand marshals for this year’s Brickyard Days parade are long-time residents Olive Krueger and Margaret Bellieux.

Signup for the annual Horseshoe Tournament is due no later than 11 a.m. at the Boneyard Bar and Grill, with the tournament following the parade at noon.

Also beginning after the parade and continuing up until 1:15 p.m. will be dance demonstrations in the park by the school’s new competition dance team, “The Showstoppers,” as well as other area dancers. The Wrenshall Fire Department will host an open house and truck display until 2 p.m., complete with free ice cream for the family.

Bingo will begin following the parade at the Silverbrook Town Hall and continue until 2 p.m.

The incredible artistry of up-and-coming magician Jacob Roeber will feature a new and larger show at this year’s celebration, running from 1:30-2:15 p.m. in the park.

Everyone is invited to watch their local fire department compete in skill challenges during the popular Firefighters Challenge in the park from 2-3 p.m. The Wrenshall All-Class Get Together is scheduled for the front yard of the One Stop, and all students past and present are invited to stop by and meet with old friends and classmates from 5-7 p.m.

Three-on-Three basketball action will take place all day at Wrenshall School; anyone interested in participating can contact brickyarddays@msn.com for more information.

Other all-day activities in the park will include kids’ games and crafts, a barbeque tent, crazy hairstyles by the Wrenshall Cheer Team, prizes and raffles, a dunk tank, Sno Cones and bake sale by the Wrenshall track team, music and entertainment by Lorren Lindevig and crafters and vendors. A magazine/glossy paper collection will take place at city hall throughout the day, sponsored by the Wrenshall School Parent Board.

Top the day off by dancing the night away to live music by “Basement Sessions” at the Boneyard Bar and Grill beginning at 9 p.m.

Tags: carlton county, wrenshall, entertainment