Has your mouth been watering for a delicious apple dumpling available during Elroy’s Apple Dumpling Day Fest? Your wait is almost over.
The annual Apple Dumpling Day Fest is quickly approaching. This year’s festival, being put on by the Elroy Lions Club with help from other area organizations, will be held Sept. 7 in Schultz Park at the south edge of Elroy.
Scheduled events include: a pancake breakfast, Lions runs, coed softball tournament, coed volleyball tournament, a horseshoe tournament, a bean bag toss tournament, craft booths, inflatables for the kids, and a free kids pedal pull.
The day begins with a pancake breakfast at the Lions Den Food Stand from 7-10 a.m. The public is invited to begin the day with some delicious hot pancakes and sausages while watching the hustle and bustle of runners preparing for their respective events.
Next are the numerous Lions Runs.
The longest of the runs will be the full marathon (the Big Apple Marathon). For runners not ready to tackle a full 26 mile marathon, there is the 13 mile half-marathon (The Sliced Apple half-marathon). Both the marathon and half-marathon races begin at 8 a.m.
The next run is a 5K run/walk. (Apple Dumpling Dash) Shortly after the guns go off to start the marathon and half-marathon races the 5k run/walkbegins. The Lions Club encourages all area citizens to get out for some good exercise and participate in this fun event. Get your friends together and walk in groups.
The final runs are the kids runs. These races will take place around 10 a.m. There are prizes for all children who participate. Also, participants in all races receive a free apple dumpling. Runners can get more information at www.appledumplingdayraces.com
The races are only one of many activities going on at Schultz Park that day. The park should be bustling with activity all day long. Also going on throughout the day, beginning at 9 a.m., will be inflatable bouncy activities for kids of all ages. These come to us by way of Space Walk Inflatables of Reedsburg, and are brought to us thanks to donations from area organizations and businesses. Because of these donations, they will be free of charge.
Another children’s activity will be a Kiddie Pedal Pull. Kindschi Pedal Pulls of Loganville puts on a fantastic pedal pull for children that will be free. Many children will be attempting to qualify for the state pull. However, local children are also invited to enter as well. Registration for the free pull starts at 10:30 a.m., and the pull will begin at 11:30 a.m. near the Lions Food Den.
The Elroy Boy Scouts will also have numerous games and activities for children to take part in.
While the kids are enjoying one of these activities adults can check out the crafters who will display and sell their work.
If you are a crafter and would like to take part in Apple Dumpling Day, the Lions are charging no fee for bringing crafts to Schultz Park and setting up a booth. You will need to furnish your own table, chairs, and other equipment you might need.
Over on the ball field the Elroy Fair Board’s coed softball tournament will be taking place. All teams must have at least five men and five women on the field. This is always a fun tournament not only to play in, but to watch as well. Teams interested in participating can contact Mitch at 608-381-1554.
On the other end of the park the Lions are hoping to have a coed volleyball tournament taking place. The tournament is being set up by the Elroy Ambulance Service. Teams interested in participating can contact Amanda Morris at 608-434-1004.
Horseshoe throwers will also have the opportunity to participate in a horseshoe tournament at the horseshoe pits just behind the Lions stand. The tournament will begin at 11 a.m. near the Lions food stand. Registration will take place just prior to the beginning of the tournament. The cost is $20 per two-person team, and will have a 100% payback.
The beanbag tournament will be near the front of the Lions Food Stand. It will also feature two person teams. Registration will take place just prior to the the tournament with only a $10 registration fee and a 100% payback. The tournament will also begin at 11 a.m.
Everybody has fun playing the bean bag toss game. It is a sport that nearly anyone of any age, with any level of athletic ability can participate in. Why not get your wife, girlfriend, husband, neighbor, friend, son, daughter, cousin, coworker, or whoever and come on down to join in the fun.
Since all of this is taking place near the Lions Food Den, it would be a great time for lunch served by the Elroy Lions Club. They will be serving burgers, brats, hot dogs, cheese fries, chili cheese fries, and apple dumplings for dessert. A trip to the park for some of the great food and an apple dumpling is a must.
Besides hosting the breakfast and the numerous activities, the Lions will also be serving food from 11 a.m. until late afternoon. The Ambulance Service may also serve walking tacos.
Whether you like being an active participant, or would rather watch from the sidelines, there will be something for kids of all ages (and adults as well) at this year’s Elroy Apple Dumpling Day Fest. The Lions hope to see a great turnout of Elroy area citizens as well as people from around the area.
