Labor Day weekend is coming to Kanawha

KANAWHA - Labor Day is coming up, which means the city of Kanawha's Labor Day weekend celebration is right around the corner. Events will take place on Thursday the 28th and Friday the 29th in the lead-up to the official start of the celebration on Saturday, August 30 and will continue through the weekend until Labor Day Monday, September 1.

On Thursday, the Over 30 vs Under 30 softball game will take place at the city ball diamond at 6 p.m., while on Friday, the Light the Night 5k glow walk will start in front of Town Tap on Main Street at 8 p.m. The glow walk has a $10 registration fee and it is recommended to wear bright clothing, while glow sticks will be provided.

Saturday, August 30 begins with a pancake breakfast at the City Park shelter house from 6:30 to 10 a.m. At 8:30 a.m., the tractor ride will depart from West 3rd Street and is estimated to return to City Park at 3 p.m. At 10 a.m. will be a pickleball tournament at the City Park tennis courts with food from the Olde Creamery food truck provided as well. 

Finally, at 7 p.m., a concert will be held at the ball diamond featuring live music from the band "Show Me Your Hits," from Minneapolis following open-mic community karaoke. Gates open at 6 p.m. and food provided by Red, White, and Brew and well as beer, pop, and water will be available on-site.

On Sunday, August 31, morning church services are heading outdoors. Two hundred attendees are expected for the 9:30 event at Water Tower Park on Sunday, August 31. The four participating congregations will provide live music and share worship presentations. The message will be given by Casey Simmons of the Kanawha Lutheran Church. Refreshments will follow the hour-long service. In the event of bad weather, the worship service will be at Kanawha Lutheran Church. 

At noon is the bean bag tournament at Town Tap on Main Street. Competitors will draw for a partner at the start of the event. Contact Calvin Lang at 641-425-9197 for additional information.

At 5 p.m. at City Park, there will be the Little Miss and Mr. Kanawha pageant followed by the Miss Kanawha Queen Coronation for graduating senior students. Following the pageant is the Tallest Cornstalk contest with trophies to be awarded for youth and adult classes. A free-will donation pork loin meal will be provided by the Kanawha Youth Activity group during these events.

The pancake breakfast will end earlier at 9 a.m. on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 1 in order to prepare for the Labor Day Parade at 10 a.m. This year's grand marshals are Mike and Bonnie Johnson. Following the parade, multiple fair events will open up at 11 a.m., including inflatables, a dunk tank, temporary tattoo booths, the kids train, a corn pit, and Jonathan May's Magic Show. 

Music in the park will run at this time while preparations will be made for the Kanawha Car Klassic car show on Main Street. The car show will allow cars, bikes, tractors, and trucks and entrants are to line up after the parade. The People's Choice winners per-category will be announced at 2 p.m.

At noon is a kids Icee eating contest, followed by the adult hot dog eating contest. Registrations for the kids power pedal tractor pull will start at 12:30 p.m. in front of the post office on Main Street, with the competition starting at 1 p.m. At 1:30 p.m. will be a cribbage tournament at the fire station.

Kanawha invites everyone to join in on the fun and would like to thank their generous volunteers and sponsors for all of their contributions to the event.