Literally, something for everyone to do this weekend

With this weekend jam packed with things for people of all ages and interests to do, there will no reason for anyone in the vicinity of Crookston to complain of boredom on Saturday and Sunday. In fact, there are so many activities and events going on that anyone who is able to take them all in could be compared to a marathon runner.
    Saturday's happenings include:
   

• King of Trails Fall Market Day – From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., vendors will be selling a large variety of items such as antiques, arts and crafts, collectibles, farm produce, bake sale items, garage sale items, fresh flowers and food at the Crookston Sports Center Event Arena.  City-wide garage sales will also take place throughout the day, with a map handout listing the locations available at 6 p.m. Friday at Crookston gas stations and also at the marketplace Saturday.
    The Red River Valley Shows is also participating in Market Day, with vendors and other activities. Amish communities from Fertile and Gonvick areas will be on hand with furniture, cabinets and other wood works for sale. A petting zoo with several animals, a team of miniature horses giving wagon rides, and a raffle for a mare and her foal are among the attractions. Pie and ice cream will also be served.
    This is a chance for those who haven't yet visited the newly refurbished building to check it out.
    Highway 75 was designated as the Historic King of Trails by the state legislature in 2002, and designated a Minnesota Scenic Byway in 2004.  Crookston’s Marketplace will be one of many held that day along the route, promoted as “400 miles of great bargains.”
   

• First annual Russell Rocks Foundation 5k Run, Memory Walk, Golf Scramble and Bonfire – This is a full day's worth of activities, beginning with the 5k run at the University of Minnesota, Crookston Gazebo. Registration is at 7:30 a.m., with the run set to begin at 8 a.m. The $15 registration fee includes t-shirts and water. Runners of all ages are welcome to participate. Contact Jaclyn Martin at 280-1713 or  martins@gra.midco.net to pre-register.
    Registration for the golf scramble will be at 9:30 a.m. at Minakwa Country Club, with a shotgun start set for 10 a.m. The registration fee of $25 per person (four-person teams)  includes green fees, t-shirt and a meal ticket at UMC following the tournament. Pre-register with Martin, but call Minakwa to reserve carts. There will be contests and games on the course with prizes following the scramble.
    Back at the UMC Gazebo, more activities and a memory walk will take place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.  The day will conclude with a bonfire from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in Central Park.
    All proceeds from the event go to the Russell Rocks Foundation for suicide awareness.
   

• First annual Crookston Firefighters Lake Country 250-mile Motorcycle Fun Ride – Registration for this premiere event, with all proceeds benefitting the American Diabetes Association Camp Sioux, begins at 10:30 a.m. at Arby's Restaurant in Crookston. Registration is $10 per rider and $5 per passenger. The ride leaves at 11:30 a.m. sharp and will return to Crookston for supper at the American Legion Hall in Crookston following the day's ride.
   

• Second annual Team Hope Walk/Run for Huntington's Disease begins with at 9 a.m. and the walk/run at 10 a.m. at the Lincoln Drive Park warming house, 120 Euclid Ave. in Grand Forks. Visit www.npa-hdsa.com or contact Char Brekken in Crookston at  289-2006 for more information.
   

• A Wild West Fundraiser benefitting St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Fertile is set for 3 p.m. to midnight at the Polk County Fairgrounds in Fertile, with many western-themed activities taking place, including a pig roast, hay and horse rides, mechanical bull, jail and bail, general store, bingo, kid-friendly train rides, live and silent auction, and a dance from 8 p.m. to midnight.
  

• The 8th Street String Quartet will provide a free concert at 7 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium at UMC. See more on this in Friday's Times.
   

Sunday brings even more entertainment:
   

• Pioneer Days at the Polk County Museum – From noon to 5 p.m., the museum grounds will be buzzing with activities to close out the season, including horse and buggy rides, fry bread making and selling, wheat weaving, demonstrations by Valley Woodcarvers, other historical demonstrations, crafts for sale and food served in the Centennial Building. At 2 p.m., there will be a worship service/hymn sing in Hafslo Church.
   

• Sixth annual Red River Valley Sugarbeet Museum Harvest Festival – This museums's grounds will also be hopping Sunday, beginning with a roast pork and potato salad dinner served at 11:30 a.m. and the grounds opening at 10:30 a.m.  Numerous pieces of sugarbeet equipment – very old, old, and a little old – will be on display, including a newly restored JD 430 harvester. Wheat will be threshed using a steam engine and threshing machine. Sugarbeets will also be harvested using vintage equipment.
    The RRV Sugarbeet Museum is located on Fairfax Avenue, near the intersection of Highway 2 and behind the Military Memorial.
   

• Youth Sportsman Day – This annual event for kids up to age 18 provides an afternoon of fun and educational shooting events at the Crookston Gun Club. See page 3 for a detailed story on this.