Stockyard Days 2019 - A Special Section published by Lillie Suburban Newspapers
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‘Party till the cows come home’ at Stockyard Days
It’s time for New Brighton’s annual festival, Stockyard Days, celebrating the city and its 19th century roots as livestock grounds.
From Aug. 3 to 12, residents and regional visitors will have a chance to join in on nine days of fun and games, happening primarily in Long Lake Regional Park, located at 1500 Old Highway 8.
Now in its 38th year, Stockyard Days has become a cherished tradition, full of vendors and events that festivalgoers enjoy year after year, like the Antique Car Run and Duck Race. The organizing committee strives to deliver a consistently excellent event, while also testing out new ideas.
So, come see for yourself — this year will bring back plenty of tried-and-true favorites, while also giving longtime festivalgoers something new to look forward to.
Grand Parade
Stockyard Days will start off with a bang on Saturday, Aug. 3, as the Grand Parade takes off at 3 p.m.
Folks are encouraged to show up a little early to secure a good vantage point from their lawn chairs, as the route fills up fast.
The parade will follow the same path as it has in former years, beginning on First Avenue near St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Marchers will head west on Tenth Street, then turn south to pass City Hall. Next, the route turns west onto Eighth Street, then south onto Eighth Avenue, eventually joining back up with Old Highway 8 and ending at the intersection at Fourth Street.
The New Brighton Lions Club will be honored as this year’s parade grand marshal, in recognition of their contribution to the new Lions Park, an accessible playground located in Long Lake Regional Park.
Parade festivities will wrap up with a post-parade party at the Eagles Club on Old Highway 8, where Stockyard Days will receive royalty from the Winter Carnival and other festivals, according to organizer Brian Vickery.
“They’re going to have two bands there,” says Vickery, of the not-to-be-missed event. “And all kinds of food and beer.”
A week of friendly competitions
The festival continues throughout the week, with bike, golf and softball tournaments happening on Sunday, Aug. 4, and Wednesday, Aug. 7.
On Sunday, festivalgoers who were sitting all day Saturday watching the parade can get in on the action with a bike race and golf tournament. The New Brighton Stockyard Days Criterium bike race will happen all day, with different divisions running from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information and to register, visit www.pjwracing.com/new-brighton-racer-info.
The Corral Open Golf Tournament will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Brightwood Hills Golf Course, 1975 Silver Lake Road NW. For more information and to register, visit www.stockyarddays.org/golf-tournament.
Then, on Wednesday, it’s time to wind up for the pitch with the Denny Ross Memorial softball tournament at 6 p.m., followed by the Orv Kraus Memorial softball tournament at 7 p.m. Both events will take place at Lions Park, located within Long Lake Regional Park.
Stockyard weekend
revs up
The festival revs up again the weekend of Friday, Aug. 9, through Sunday, Aug. 11, with three event-heavy days to help residents blow off some steam after another week of work.
Wayne & the Boys will take the stage in Long Lake Regional Park starting at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The “boys” are actually a variety of musical technologies, allowing Wayne to give a full-band sound as just one man. Festivalgoers can watch the magic, while also visiting with craft and food vendors throughout the evening.
Meanwhile, children of all ages can stay entertained on a variety of inflatables, which will be present all three days of the festival.
Friday night will close out with more live music by festival favorite GB Leighton, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Stockyard Saturday
Stockyard Saturday, Aug. 10, is the busiest day of the festival. Events are packed in from dawn ‘til dusk, starting early at Long Lake Park with 5K and 10K runs at 8 a.m. For more information about the races, visit www.stockyarddays.org/5-10k.
For those already missing the Grand Parade, the Kiddie Parade at 10 a.m. is sure to please. Children are encouraged to dress in their favorite costumes, decorate their bikes if they’re bringing one and strut their stuff through the festival grounds at Long Lake Regional Park. Costumes are not required, but there will be prizes for the two best dressed kids, as well as a coloring contest for those 7 and under.
True to New Brighton’s roots, Stockyard Days wouldn’t be complete without a visit from four-legged friends. On Saturday and Sunday there will be a petting zoo set up from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Throughout the weekend, Core Pet Zone will also be at the festival with rescue dogs for visitors to play with, get to know and maybe even take home.
The Antique Car Run, a festival favorite, will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Dozens of collector vehicles will parade from the town of New London, over 100 miles west of New Brighton, to end at Long Lake Regional Park.
Stockyard winds down
The festival will start to wind down on Sunday, Aug. 11, before coming to a close with an ambassador coronation event on Monday, Aug. 12.
Sunday starts at 8 a.m. back at Long Lake Regional Park with food and craft vendors, plus a bonus car show and swap meet.
Bingo will be around the entire weekend, starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday, and the karaoke contest — a perennial favorite — will run from noon to 4:30 p.m. The Duck Race and water ski show will both take place at noon, at Creekview Park and the Long Lake Regional Park beach, respectively.
The festival will then wrap up at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 12, with another celebration of New Brighton’s current community. Festival ambassadors will be crowned at St. Anthony Village High School, 3303 33rd Ave. NE in St. Anthony.
Click here for more information on the many Stockyard Days activities!