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Beginning today, North Branch invites everybody to come and enjoy the 2023 Midsummer Celebration.

There is a carnival in Central Park that opens at 4pm. Over at the Legion, there is bingo under the big tent with a $500 jackpot.  The Legion will also be hosting a meat raffle and a gun raffle Thursday (tonight).

Friday there is bingo again as well as a designer purse bingo under the tent.  “Two Shots Down” will then play at the street dance in the evening.

Saturday starts with a kiddie olympics held at River Walk Park (just north of downtown on Hwy 61.  Registration for the olympics begins at 8:30am and events start at 9am sharp.  This is for kids pre-school through 12 years old.  

There is a community free lunch back at the big tent that runs from 11am to 1 pm.

Saturday also will have a kiddie parade at noon that starts at City Hall parking lot.  Registration is at 11:30am and this year’s theme is Super Heroes.

The fire department will once again hold their annual water fight on Elm Street at 1pm.  Be prepared to get a tad bit wet.

“Stimulus Package” will perform at the street dance under the tent Saturday evening, admission $10.

Sunday will be the grand day parade beginning at 2pm and it meanders along Main Street. Michelle Still, profiled in this paper last week, is the Grand Marshal this year.

Finally the drawings for raffles will take place Sunday.  All during the festival, you can purchase raffle tickets at the Legion for $5. Sundays drawings will include a $1,200 Hungry Farmer gift card, a $600 Peterson’s gift card, a $300 County Market gift card.  You do not need to be present to win.

Lots of stuff to take in but it’s just the beginning of town festival season.

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