The Farm & City Days Celebration in New Richland July 9-12 is a time to bring family and friends together.

“I think the committee’s goal would be to make it more family and friend orientated. It’s a time in a small community when family and friends come home. It’s kind of a reunion,” said Amy Ihrke, chairwoman of the Farm & City Days committee.

Carnival rides and concessions on Broadway Avenue will begin the celebration on Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. This will continue from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday.

“I think we’ve every year tried to make sure that there’s events that cover all the age groups,” Ihrke said.

One of the main events Friday is the “New Richland Idol” contest at the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva High School gym, not at the Legion Hall like last year. There is a $4 admission fee to watch the talent show beginning at 7 p.m. There will also be a fish and steak fry at the American Legion from 5:30 to 8 p.m., and Lions Bingo in City Park from 6 to 9 p.m.

The New Richland Fire Department will host a street dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday with the Murphy Brothers performing. The Farm & City Days committee will host a street dance from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday with music by the Blue Ringers. Admission to both is $5.

Five-dollar buttons are available for admission into a pancake breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the American Legion and into the Saturday street dance. Admission is $5 to each of these events separately.

Saturday is the busiest day of the celebration. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., there will be an antique car show on Broadway Avenue near City Hall. The public will vote to choose their top 25 vehicles. An open house will be held to celebrate the150-year anniversary of New Richland Township at the Washburn Hotel.

Other events Saturday include a horseshoe tournament at Legion Field at 9:30 a.m., Kid’s Amazing Race at 1 p.m. and the parade at 5 p.m.

One new event will be the best farmer’s tan contest, a fundraiser for Farm & City Days. The pictures of about four contestants in a white tank top will be taped to a jar, and people vote by putting money in the jars. The jars will be at the pancake breakfast and the “New Richland Idol” competition, and the winner will ride on a float in the parade and he or she will win a bag of corn seed, tanning sessions and a John Deere T-shirt or hat.

Events will continue Sunday with a community worship service at City Park at 10:30 a.m., a pork sandwich meal at 11:30 a.m., and kickball, softball and volleyball at Legion Field at noon.

“I think that our goal is just to make it something fun, and I think we’re really lucky that we can still hold events in our town,” Ihrke said.