By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Hoisington's Labor Day Celebration is now less than two weeks away. The fun will begin on Friday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. with the Thunder in the Wetlands Go Kart Nationals and the Community BBQ and Beer Garden, both at Bicentennial Park. Hoisington Chamber Director Karen Baldyga said that Friday is also the deadline for entering a float in the Labor Day Parade.
"This year we're celebrating the 128th Annual Labor Day Parade in Hoisington," she said. "It is one of the largest parades in all of Kansas. This year, we have a new contest called the mini-float contest. It's open to anyone who has a golf cart or a UTV that would like to decorate it."
Registration for the mini-float contest is $10, and all money collected will be awarded to the top three winners. The parade will again feature a contest for large floats with the winner receiving $250.
Hoisington's Main Street will be closed from 3 p.m. Sunday to 3 p.m. Monday. That will allow for Sunday's Street Dance beginning at 8 p.m. Jadynce Jean will be followed by Homebrew for the musical entertainment. Food vendors will be available beginning around 6 pm. Admission is $10 for anyone 21 years of age or older, $5 for anyone under 21, and free for children four years of age or younger. Admission to the Street Dance or tickets for the beer garden must be purchased with cash.
"We will have water and pop as well," Baldyga said. "This year, we're adding a few different flavors to the beer so we'll have maybe a couple seltzers or like a margarita."
A hamburger feed at the Hoisington Columbus Club runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Labor Day, and the Craven Cardinal Car Show begins at 12:30 p.m. at the City Building, 109 E. 1st Street.
The theme for the mini-floats contest is "Magical." CLICK HERE for parade entry forms.