By Alan Dale Editor-in-Chief
An event that has been around for a couple of decades, the Vandalia Prairie Days celebration will return this weekend.
Starting at 7 a.m. Saturday and running through the evening, Prairie Days kicks off with the Fall 5K with registration set for 6:15 to 6:45 at the YMCA, 309 South Main Street.
From there, vendor booths will open on State Street at 10am
Other events and attractions include:
• 10:30 a.m. Sale of LaFemme Pie – Historic Church
• Parade at 11:00 (line-up at 10:00 at South School)
• 11:30 a.m. Dedication of the Mural/Recognition of the Firefighters of the Area
• Bingo at 12:30 (until 2:30 p.m.)
• 12:30 p.m. Children’s area/Games/Bounce Houses (until 4:00 p.m.)
• 12:30 p.m. Snow cones/Cotton Candy
• 1:00 p.m. Pony/zoo rides (until 4:00 p.m.)
• 1 p.m. Horseshoe tournament (registration 12-2 p.m.) at Horseshoe Park
• 1 p.m. Wagon Hunt (until 3 p.m.) in the Historical Society Park
• 1 p.m. Corn Hole Tournament at Horseshoe Park
• 4 p.m. Bubble Bus (main street/railway) until 5 p.m
• 4:30 p.m. Cruise by car (park on State Street, enter from Main Street)
• 5:30 p.m. Joey Wray Band (main stage) (until 7:00 p.m.)
• 8 p.m. Blacktop Mojo Band (main stage) (until 10 p.m.)
Vandalia City Clerk Brandie Gay confirmed the event began in 2000.
“It was originally known as the Vandalia Brick Skidding Contest,” Gay said. “Because there were seven big brick plants within 60 miles. The brick drift started in 1979. It would (have) a crowd of over a thousand people.
“Prairie Days was made to bring large numbers to Vandalia to support our local community and celebrate our heritage.”
