Posted: Aug. 13, 2009

Muskego — With American flags flying, and red, white and blue everywhere, this year's Muskego Community Festival parade will pay proud tribute to the 50th anniversary of Muskego Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8171.

The theme of the parade - to be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 30, the closing day of the festival - will be "VFW 50 Years of Service with Honor." The parade will begin at Janesville and Lannon roads, go west on Janesville and then south on Racine Avenue to the festival grounds.

The annual parade is one of the centerpieces of the Muskego Community Festival, which will be held Thursday to Sunday, Aug. 27 to 30, on the festival grounds at Racine Avenue and Pioneer Drive. Carnival rides, musical entertainment, food and special events will be offered all four days.

This year's event also will include the first Muskego Teen Idol contest. Semifinals will be Thursday, with the finals Aug. 28.

Other special events include magic shows, an antique tractor show with demonstrations, jump rope making and dancing.

Festival Chairman Scott Lago said this is the first time the festival will run four days. Last year, organizers had the carnival rides set up on Thursday, and this year they added the Teen Idol entertainment. That first evening will be Family Night; no alcoholic beverages will be available and not all the food vendors will be open yet.

The festival's band roster has been revamped, too.

"This year we went out of our way to see that the top bands in the Milwaukee are playing all three nights," Lago said.

Geoff Landon & The Wolf Pack, specializing in new and old country music, will make its debut, as will fellow country band Country Storm.

The top 40s rock band Rhythm Method will be back after many years, Lago said.

An added attraction for the kids will be magic shows Friday through Sunday, a balloon give-away Aug. 30 and a face-painter.

Admission will be free. Parking will be accessible from Racine Avenue. Preferred parking will be $3; handicapped-accessible parking will be available. Street parking will be available.

 

Jane Ford-Stewart

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Aug. 27, Family Night

Enter from Settlement Centre or Pioneer Drive.

Family Night is alcohol free with rides and limited food.

• 6 to10 p.m., Calkins Midway Family Night wristband special, $16

• 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Muskego Teen Idol semifinals (east tent)

Aug. 28

• 5 p.m., opening ceremony

• 5 to 7 p.m., music by Joe Richter (food court)

• 6:30 and 8 p.m., The Dennis DeBondt Magic Show

• 7 to 11:30 p.m., music by Rhythm Method (east tent)

• 7 to 11 p.m., music by Geoff Landon & The Wolf Pack (west tent)

Aug. 29

• Noon, grounds open

• 1 to 5 p.m., carnival wristband special, $16

• 1 to 2 p.m., Maxine's Dance Studio & MAJK Dance & Gymnastics (west tent)

• 1 to 4 p.m., antique tractor display/thrashing demo/jump rope making (Settlement Centre)

• 3 to 6 p.m., Anita's Dance Companies (east tent)

• 3 to 7 p.m., music by Country Storm (food court)

• 5:30, 7 and 8:30 p.m., The Dennis DeBondt Magic Show

• 6:30 p.m., Muskego Teen Idol finals (east tent)

• 7 to 11 p.m., music by The Toys (west tent)

• 9 to 11:30 p.m., Light Up: A Tribute to Styx (east tent)

Aug. 30

• Noon, grounds open

• 11 a.m., festival parade

• 1:15 to 2 p.m., Anita's Dance Center Show with Radio Disney Dancers (east tent)

• 1 to 4 p.m., antique tractor display/thrashing demo/jump rope making (Settlement Centre)

• 1:30, 3 and 4:30 p.m., The Dennis DeBondt Magic Show

• 2:30 to 6 p.m., music by Bobby Way & the Wayouts (east tent)

• 3 to 7 p.m. music by Alter Ego (west tent)

• 8 p.m. festival closes