AURORA – Citywide rummage sales Friday will start a weekend of fun in Aurora with its annual Gala Days celebration.

The sales will run all day starting at 9 a.m., with details available on the Aurora Gala Days Facebook page.

Wrpaping up Friday activities, bingo will be held from 7:30-9 p.m. at the community center.

A packed Saturday

Saturday begins with a fun run 5K, with registration at 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. in the community center. The race starts at 8 a.m. with a children’s fun run to follow at Front Street and Hill Avenue. The bloodmobile will be on Broadway Avenue from 8 a.m. to noon, and an American Legion pancake feed at Little Hall will satisfy hungry visitors from 8-10 a.m. All day, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., be sure to check out vendors and inflatables in the park.

At 10 a.m., car and motorcycle show registration starts at Lemke’s Bar and Grill with the show beginning at noon and awards presented at 2:30 p.m. Also at 10 a.m., parade participants will line up, and volleyball teams will register and managers meet at the west end of the park. The tournament starts at noon.

Before the start of the parade, kids will show off their decorated rides in a bike parade starting at 10:45 a.m. The traditional parade starts at 11 a.m. with the National Anthem.

“This year we decided to theme the parade, ‘Aurora: Rising Star on the Prairie,’ because of the growth in our town,” Gala Days chairman Pat Tingle said.

Entertainers

Following the parade, much of the action is at or near the city park with several entertainers. The Zoo Man will perform on the park stage at noon and 1:30 p.m.

Tingle said that the Zoo Man and tractor pedal pull, starting at 2:30 p.m., are some of most popular children’s events. Zoo Man presents different kinds of reptiles, including snakes, turtles and lizards.

The park stage will also feature Mr. Electro Magic at 3 p.m. and a kids karaoke competition for those ages 6-14 years from 5-6:30 p.m.

On the main stage are Tommy Edwin at 12:45 p.m., Bryan Michael at 2:15 p.m., and HD Dual at 3:45 p.m. The adult karaoke finals are from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the main stage.

Other fun

A photo booth will be set up from noon to 4 p.m. At 1 p.m. both a beanbag tournament in front of Lemke’s Bar and Grill and canvas painting start.

Canvas painting has limited space, and participants must sign up at the information booth.

There is a $20 charge for beanbag teams; bring your own partner. Registration starts at 12:30 p.m. prior to the first toss.

Pig out, dance it off

Multiple food options will be available throughout the weekend. Hotdogs to pork loin and prime rib sandwiches will all be for sale in the park. Other items will include more carnival foods such as deep fried Oreo’s and onions.

The second annual homemade pie contest starts at 4:30 p.m. This year’s special guest judge is anchor Ahtra Elnashar from the KDLT morning show.

Ending the night is a street dance featuring Avenger Joe with special guest Kaila Dakota. The dance is a fundraiser for the Aurora Fire Department and runs at 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Tingle said that tickets can be purchased beforehand from fireman, at Lemke’s Bar and Grill or the Quickstop for $10 per couple. Ticket prices will double at the door, to $10 per person. The dance will be on the main stage on Broadway Avenue.

Gala day shirts plus a koozie cost $20. Visitors are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs, but no coolers are allowed at the street dance.