WELLS ­— Wells is once again hosting its annual Kernel Days celebration this weekend.

The Little Miss Kernel program will start at 7 p.m. tonight in the United South Central auditorium, priming area residents for the slew of activities planned for Friday and Saturday.

Wells Federal Bank will provide area residents with a free lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in its parking lot.

Many of the weekends events will take place at Half Moon Park. Communities Fighting Student Hunger will have a dunk tank at the park from 5 to 9 p.m. at the park. The park will also host nine different inflatables which are open to all ages, a petting zoo, Lions Club bingo, food stands, a beer garden and a volleyball tournament. The Wells Sings contest will be at 6:30 p.m. on Bevcomm stage with the Walking Eagles band following at 8 p.m. A fireworks show will wrap up the evening at 10 p.m. Helicopter rides will also be available starting at 6 p.m. Take off is from the area east of the skate park. Rides will resume at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Up to three people can go up per ride which lasts six to eight minutes.

Saturday’s events are split between downtown Wells and Half Moon Park.

The Maple Valley Classic Car Show will start at 8 a.m. downtown. The Farmers Market will be open in the morning and Wells American Legion will host a cribbage tournament at 1 p.m. The Wells Kernel Days parade will be led by Grand Marshal Cindy Prange at 5 p.m.

Inflatables, Lions Club bingo, food stands and the volleyball tournament will continue on Saturday at Half Moon Park. On Saturday, the park will also host a softball tournament, a farm implement and auto expo, a state-sanctioned tractor pull and a Reptile Amphibian Discovery Zoo show. Bevcomm Stage will be open once again for the UPDS dance showcase at 1 p.m. and for speaker Al Batt at 7 p.m.

A street dance sponsored by the Wells Area Jaycees featuring the band Pop Rocks starts at 9 p.m. in the municipal parking lot and will close out the night’s activities.

The Wells Depot Museum will have special hours during the celebration. The site will also host speakers John Teskey and Brian Wesley at 1 p.m. Friday and John’s Concertina Music Concert at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Kernel Days will come to a close on Sunday. In addition to the Wells Museum being open for part of the day, the VFW will host a pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to noon and the Wells Golf Course will host the 5th annual Kernel Days Golf Tournament, which will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Schedule of Events

Thursday, Aug. 13 

7 p.m.: Little Miss Kernel Program, USC Auditorium

 

Friday, Aug. 14

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.:  Wells Depot Museum open

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Wells Federal Bank free lunch, parking lot

1 p.m.: Speakers at Wells Depot Museum

2 to 4 p.m.: 55+ Lions Club Bingo, Broadway Apartments

5 p.m.: Steve Klingbeil Gospel Singers, Half Moon Park

5 p.m.: Petting zoo, Half Moon Park

5 p.m. Lions Bingo, food stands and beer garden opens

5 to 9 p.m.: Communities Fighting Student Hunger Dunk Tank, Half Moon Park

5 to 10 p.m.: Inflatables for all ages, Half Moon Park

6 p.m.: Helicopter rides, east side of skate park

6 p.m.: Free ice cream by Peoples State Bank, Half Moon Park

6 p.m.: Kiddie parade, Half Moon Park

6 p.m. Volleyball tournament, Half Moon Park

6 p.m. Tractor races and events, Half Moon Park

6:30 p.m.: Wells Sings Contest, Bevcomm Stage

7 to 9 p.m.: Free cookies and lemonade by Paragon State Bank, Half Moon Park

8 p.m.: “Walking Eagles” band, Bevcomm Stage

10 p.m.:  Fireworks, Half Moon Park

 

Saturday, Aug. 15

8 a.m.: Maple Valley Classic Car Show, downtown

8 a.m.: Softball tournament, Half Moon Park

8 a.m.: Volleyball tournament, Half Moon Park

9 to 10 a.m.: Cupcake Contest entry, judging to follow

9 to 10 a.m.: Duct Tape Contest entry, judging to follow

9 a.m. to noon: Farmers Market open, downtown

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Farm equipment and auto expo, Half Moon Park

10 a.m.: State sanctioned Kid Power Pedal Tractor Pull, Half Moon Park

10 a.m.: Lions Bingo, food stands and beer garden opens

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Wells Depot Museum open

10 a.m. to 8 p.m.: Inflatables for all ages, Half Moon Park

11:30 a.m.: Reptile Amphibian Discovery  Zoo Show, Half Moon Park

1 p.m.: Helicopter rides, east side of skate park

1 p.m.: UPDS Dance Showcase, Bevcomm Stage

1 p.m.: Cribbage tournament, Wells American Legion

1 p.m.: John’s Concertina Music, Wells Depot Museum

2 p.m.: Coins in the Sand Hunt, Half Moon Park

3 p.m.: Jim Lawrence Orchestra, Parkview Care Center

3:30 p.m.: Classic Car Cruise around town

5 p.m.: Kernel Days Parade, downtown

7 p.m.: Speaker Al Batt, Bevcomm Stage

9 p.m.: Wells Area Jaycees present “Pop Rocks” Band, Wells Municipal parking lot

 

Sunday, Aug. 16

7 a.m. to noon: VFW Pancake Breakfast, VFW

9:30 a.m. 5th Annual Kernel Days Golf Tournament, Wells Golf Course

Noon to 4 p.m.: Wells Depot Museum open