Area briefs

The Nisswa Area Historical Society will sponsor the third annual Pioneer Day at Pioneer Village, Main Street, Nisswa, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 28. Community residents and visitors are invited and there is no entry fee.

The schedule for this event is noon to 1:45 p.m. special music and 2 p.m. interviews of Nisswa area pioneers by host Jim Dullum. Accordionist Harold Herboldt will open with special accordion music and Pat Dullum will lead the crowd in a sing-along. The Crystalites, a quartet of area singers, will perform songs of yesteryear.

Old-time demonstrations will be given by Becky Savey, spinning; Berniece Hinkie, yarn dolls; Al Milliman, iron forging; and Thane French, rope making (weather permitting). Complimentary coffee donated by Adirondack will be available in The Barn-turned coffee house for the day. Video tapes of pioneer family interviews will be played in the Summer Kitchen. The food tent will sell hot dogs, brats, pie, ice cream and beverages.

Highlight of the 2004 Pioneer Day is a popular attraction at farm events today -- a "one-lunger" or "hit-n-miss" engine. This is an early gasoline engine, commonly used as a water pump; some early wells would have a windmill that could have a "hit-n-miss" engine connected when there was no wind.

The Nisswa Area Historical Society is a 501(c) (3) organization committed to preserving the history of Nisswa. For more information, call 963-3570.

Fund-raising dance set in Crosby

CROSBY -- The Hallett Community Center Foundation will hold a "Back to the '50s" fund-raising dance 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Hallett Community Center Arena in Crosby.

The featured act will be the Front Fenders, a top show band from Fargo, N.D. Cash bars and concessions will be available. Families are welcome.

For more information go to www.hallettcenter.com.

Christian drama group set for Heritage Days

CROSBY -- The emerging drama group SAVING FACE will perform between music sets 7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday at Crosby Memorial Park as part of Heritage Days.

SAVING FACE includes actors from area church youth groups.

Kandiyohi County Fair deemed a success

WILLMAR (AP) -- The Kandiyohi County Fair was a success, at least judged by the attendance of 23,000 people over the fair's four-day run.

Fair Secretary Paul Bredeson said preliminary figures indicate that number was about 1,000 higher than it was a year ago.

"The grounds were really full all the time the way it seemed," he said. "We're always lucky when we have good weather to go with it."

The fair closed Saturday night. The carnival packed up on Sunday, and fair officials will started their cleanup Monday.

The fair's grandstand shows went well, he said. In particular, the Saturday night demolition derby was popular.

Organizers usually hope to have 40 to 50 cars, and they had more than 80 on Saturday, he said.

Some of the fair's competitive exhibits were busier than usual, too, Bredeson said.