The summer is winding down and children everywhere are trying to soak up every last ounce of summer as the school year approaches. In Wells there is one last hurrah &045; the annual town festival called Kernel Days. The festival, celebrating the agricultural heritage of city, starts today and runs until Sunday with events every day.

&uot;It’s a good and fun family event,&uot; said Darin Magnuson, President of the Wells Chamber of Commerce. &uot;We have lots of things to do &045; food vendors, a carnival, games and, of course, the corn.&uot;

The festival was started 51 years ago and was named Kernel days because a corn processing plant in town gave away free corn for the celebration. The free corn is a festival highlight. On Sunday afternoon after a &uot;giant&uot; parade at noon, two tons of corn will be brought from Blue Earth and will be given to Kernel days attendees from 1:45-5 p.m.

This year’s event will include volleyball, softball, cribbage and three-on-three basketball tournaments. There will also be a carnival every night during the festival and during the day on Saturday and Sunday. The carnival will have rides, food and games, and by buying a $12 armband, carnival attendees can have unlimited rides.

For the children, there will be two big events: a Little Miss Kernel Pageant and a Barta Pedal Pull. The pedal pull will be much like a tractor tow, but instead contestants will try to pull as much weight as they can by pedaling.

Two dances, the Teen Dance on Friday and the Fireman’s Street Dance Saturday, will highlight the nightlife for the festival.

Sunday is the final day of Kernel Days and will be capped of with a &uot;giant&uot; parade at noon. Free corn will be served after in Thompson Park and a free concert will be given at 3:30 p.m. by the group The Singin’ Safari.

&uot;It’s a big weekend for the chamber,&uot; said Magnuson. &uot;It takes a lot of people and a lot of work, but it is a great time and it’s great to be there.&uot;

Thursday, Aug. 22

– Carnival, 6-9 p.m..

– Little Miss Kernel Days Pageant,7:00 p.m..

Friday, Aug. 23

– Carnival opens, 5 p.m.

– Teen Dance, 8-11 p.m..

Saturday, Aug. 24

– Barta Pedal Pull, 11 a.m.

– Carnival opens, noon

– Spotlight Dancers, 7 p.m..

– Fireman’s Street Dance, 8:30 p.m.- ???

Sunday, Aug. 25

– V.F.W. pancake breakfast

– Giant Parade,noon

– Free sweet corn at Thompson Park,1:45-5 p.m.

– Carnival opens, 1:00 p.m.

– Free concert by ‘The Singin’ Safari,’ 3:30 p.m..