2015 Eyota Days Offers a Celebration Filled with Food, Fun, and Activities

Eyota Days is a week-long event that brings the residents of Eyota and the surrounding area together for good time full of food, fun, and activities for people of all ages.  The 37th annual Eyota Days celebration began on Monday, July 13th and continued through Sunday, July 19th.  For the majority of the week, the weather was hot and sunny, with rain only appearing on Thursday.

The festivities began on Monday with the posting of the first clue for the Treasure Hunt.  Daily clues were placed at City Hall, until Cole and Olivia Distad found the treasure on Thursday at the Freedom Park ball field on the center field fence.  Also on Monday, the Summer Arts Camp began at the Dover-Eyota High School and ran throughout the week.

On Tuesday, the Eyota Farmer’s Market was held at West Side Park and had a record breaking fifteen vendors.  Also that evening was the Cruisin’ Tuesday Burger Night at the Eyota American Legion.

Wednesday was Church Night and Track Night.  The Faith United Methodist Praise Band provided music for churchgoers.  At West Side Park, kids ages five through twelve competed against each other in races from a fifty-yard dash to a mile run.  Following the races was the Home Run Derby with cash prizes for the winners.

Thursday’s rain did little to disrupt the Eyota Days activities.  Family Bingo occurred at the American Legion and Movie Night still went as scheduled at Peace Lutheran Church, showing the film “Soul Surfer.”  The movie screen only had to be moved inside due to the weather.

Friday was Family Fun Night.  A full dinner was offered for five dollars a plate for hungry families.  The quarter carnival began at 6:00 p.m., offering many games and prizes.  Hayrides went throughout town and the band Diversion provided live music.  Diversion is a Rochester-based group made up of young musicians between the ages of ten and thirteen.

Also on Friday, Mayor Tyrel Clark announced Kathy Gust as the Eyota Citizen of the Year.  Besides leading the Eyota Days Committee, Gust is active in the school carnival and the Dover-Eyota Eagles foundation.  “The community of Eyota is very lucky to have her,” Clark stated to the crowd.

At 7:00 p.m., the Eyota Days Road Race began.  Participants could compete in either the 5K run or the family 2 mile run or walk.  The 5K run awarded prizes to the top male and female in multiple age groups, as well as the faster runners overall.  The male overall winner was Doran Clark and the female overall winner was Katie Lehmann.  An award was also given to the family who provided the most participants in the family 2 mile run or walk.  The evening was wrapped up with music by Heaser Productions at the Green Door.

Saturday events began early, with the men’s and women’s Slow Pitch Softball Tournaments and the co-ed Volleyball Tournament beginning at 8:00 a.m.  Also at 8:00 a.m., the Kids Obstacle Run began at Peace Lutheran Church.  The street market opened at 10:00 a.m. and offered antiques, crafts, and produce.  The Eyota Days Parade began at 11:00 a.m. and was led by the Grand Marshals, the 2015 Dover-Eyota girls basketball state champions, followed by the first place finishers in the Rochesterfest Parade, the Dover-Eyota Marching Band.

For lunch, the Eyota Volunteer Ambulance offered a Chicken Feed for eat in or carry out.  The country group, the Bandanas, provided music to listen to while people ate.  In the afternoon, a Frisbee Golf Tournament occurred in West Side Park.  A Minnesota Twins Youth Baseball Camp was offered free for kids ages six to sixteen at the Dover-Eyota High School.  The 2nd annual 3 on 3 Bucket Bash Basketball Tournament filled the parking lot at Peace Lutheran Church.  In the evening, the band Diesel Drive played at the street dance at the Eyota American Legion.

Sunday began with an all you can eat Dad’s Belgian Waffle Breakfast at the Eyota Legion, benefiting the Eyota Wonder Workers 4-H club.  Outside the Legion, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church hosted a Community Ecumenical Sunday Worship service.  Later in the day, classic cars from around the region arrived outside City Hall for the 11th annual Eyota Days Car Show.  After the car show, the Green Door hosted the 10th annual Custom Bike Show, accompanied by music provided by DJ Allen Reed.

The 2015 Eyota Days celebration could not have been possible without the donations of countless area sponsors and the hard work of the Eyota Days Committee.