Although the event will be smaller than in other years, Ellendale Days July 16-19 will be a time for the community to come together.

“We’re giving people in town an opportunity to get together and reunite with neighbors and meet your new neighbors — just a chance to unite as a town and spend that time together,” said Cindi Bartness, who has been involved with Ellendale Days for 20 years.

Bartness is also involved with the Ellendale-Geneva Sportsmen’s Club, the group that runs the parade in Ellendale, which will be at 4 p.m. Saturday.

The events begin Thursday when Maggio’s Pizza will serve tacos in the Ellendale Municipal Liquor Store at 6 p.m., and Luverne’s Concertina band will perform there until 10 p.m.

Friday’s events will cap off with karaoke and a DJ outside the liquor store from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Various local talent will perform there from 7 to 8 p.m. Food will be available at the Methodist Church taco supper hosted by the youth group from 4 to 7:30 p.m., and the Sportsmen’s Club food stand will be open 4-10 p.m.

Saturday will begin with a farmer’s market in the park and a Lions white elephant sale at Pioneer Seed. The event is similar to a rummage sale, and there will likely be garage sales across town Saturday morning. There will be a T-ball tournament, carnival games and a food wagon at Entel Field from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Memories Car Club car show will be at that same time.

A Texas hold ‘em tournament will begin at the liquor store at 12:30 p.m.

After the parade at 4 p.m., there will be a pork chop supper hosted by the Commercial Club at the Community Building from 5 to 7 p.m. The firemen’s pedal tractor pull will be from 6 to 8 p.m. by the Community Building.

Saturday will end with a teen dance by the Community Building from 9 p.m. to midnight and a street dance with music by Rocket Dawg from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

The Lions Club dunk tank will be by the liquor store from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The events will wrap up Sunday with a pancake breakfast at the community building from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Lions will host the tractor pull, and they’ll have a food wagon near the school bus garage starting at noon.

“A lot of it is just to touch base with each other because everything’s so busy. You work, and most people, of course, work out of town. It’s a time for people to just touch base with one another again — visit with each other when they don’t get the time during the week,” said Cali Davis, who helps plan Ellendale Days and is a member of the commercial Club.