Batavia Days? tractor pull set on new night

BATAVIA ? Plans are in place for the annual Batavia Days July 8-10.

The celebration for the small town on the western edge of the Jefferson County border gets under way the evening of July 8 with the Cardinal school archery club serving a spaghetti dinner from 5-7 p.m. in the Batavia Community Center.

The dinner will be followed by entertainment featuring three comedians and Ultimate Karaoke from 7-11 p.m. in the city?s pavilion, adjacent to the community center, said Tycene Weber, member of the Batavia Days Committee.

A softball tournament also will be getting under way the evening of July 8.

July 9 activities include a parade, craft show, car show, tractor pull, children?s games and pedal pull and much more, said Weber.

The day kicks off early with breakfast served from 6-9 a.m. at the Batavia Masonic Lodge.

At 8 a.m., the softball tournament resumes, and the vendor fair and craft show, with Cedar Valley Winery and about 20 other participants, opens and continues until 2 p.m.

Contestants in the barbecue cook-off will need to register and pay the $10 entry fee by 9 a.m. and have their beef brisket, pulled pork or pork ribs ready for the licensed judges at 3 p.m.

Judging will be based on presentation, smoke penetration, texture and taste.

Pre-registration for the cook-off is available from 5-8 p.m. Friday at the Creeseville Café in Batavia. For additional information, call Travis Jay at 641-226-2297.

Also on July 9, Batavia City Hall will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., where guests can sign up for door prizes.

The parade steps off at 10 a.m. to make its way through downtown Batavia.

After the parade, the Batavia Fire Department will be serving brats and hot dogs, games for children will be set up, the car show will get under way and the Batavia Library book sale will open.

Sign-in for the tractor pull is set for 11 a.m. behind the Batavia BP gas station and convenience store, with the pull beginning at noon. Members of the Fairfield FFA Chapter are scheduled to serve a meal at noon.

Weber said the tractor pull was moved from its traditional Friday to a Saturday for the first time to accommodate participants who travel from out of town.

Also at noon, a children?s pedal tractor pull sponsored by the Batavia Lions Club gets under way in the pavilion, while a cute baby contest is held inside the community center.

Decorated potato contest judging is set for 1 p.m. in the community center, followed by the ugly cake contest judging at 1 p.m.

Weber said the ugly cake contest is a new event this year.

Golf cart races are set to begin at 2 p.m. Weber said blindfolded drivers will try to make their way through an obstacle course by following directions given by their partners.

The Batavia Days Committee will be serving a meal from 4:30-7 p.m. in the community center, while the Batavia TTT hosts an ice cream social from 4:30-7 p.m. in the pavilion.

Evening entertainment will feature the band American Pie from 7-9 p.m., followed by Justice Band from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

July 10 will wrap up the celebration with the final rounds of the softball tournament and a mud volleyball tournament.

Weber said sign-up for mud volleyball is at 11 a.m. behind the Batavia BP, with a $35 fee per team. She added each team must have three girls on the court at all times.

Anyone interested in participating in the contests or tournaments or having a free booth during the vendor craft show should contact Weber at 919-4442.