A member of Ide Gymnastics does the splits in the air during the Brighton Whoopee Days Parade Saturday, June 15. (Andy Hallman/The Union)

BRIGHTON – Brighton held its annual Whoopee Days celebration Friday through Sunday, June 14-16.

Rosemary Pacha, one of the organizers of the event, said the event went well and that the weather was perfect for the festivities on Saturday. That morning began bright and early with the Whoopee Walk, where participants could opt to walk one mile or two, and finish their journey by taking in breakfast made by the Brighton Lions Club.

The Lions Club didn’t stop there. As soon as breakfast was over, club members got busy preparing for lunch and dinner, and the group served hungry visitors continuously until 9 p.m.

The fun began Friday night with the Bill Riley Talent Show, and live music at CaMander’s Bar & Grill. The main event Saturday morning was the Whoopee Days parade, and that was followed by a series of whoopie pie-themed events. Children competed by trying to balance a whoopie pie on a spoon as they carried it back and forth without dropping it. There was also a whoopie pie-eating contest, where participants ate as many whoopie pies as they could in one minute.

Pacha explained that, for those who have not had the pleasure of trying one, a whoopie pie is a soft chocolate cookie with cream filling.

“The story is that they were made in Maine and Pennsylvania, and the kids would yell ‘whoopee’ because they were their favorite,” Pacha said.

Brighton has hosted a town celebration since 1910, and in those days it was known as Booster Days.

“It was a potluck for when the farmers finished their crops,” Pacha said.

In 1920, Brighton got its first paved street, and the town celebrated by hosting both its typical potluck and a street dance.

“They said, ‘Whoopee, we have a paved street!’” Pacha said. “And it’s been called Whoopee Days ever since.”

Pacha said the organizers are thankful that Fairfield Hy-Vee donated all the whoopie pies used in this year’s contests and games.

Another highlight from the weekend was a Brighton reunion, intended for anyone who went to school in Brighton or who used to live in Brighton. Pacha said this included a 70th class reunion, attended by locals Russ and Jane Whitaker.

Carnival games kept children entertained in the downtown, and a mud run that afternoon drew a big crowd. The weekend also saw a car show, street dance and corn hole tournament. On Sunday, the event concluded with an ecumenical church service.