Brooklyn celebrates 175th anniversary

BROOKLYN -- The 2025 Brooklyn Flag Festival will mark the town’s 175th birthday.

The anniversary birthday festival kicks off Thursday, June 12 with a meal on the Brooklyn Museum Lawn. The Brooklyn Sons of American Legion will be serving chili cheese dogs.

Many other activities are planned throughout the four days of family-fun activities that include a parade, hot dog and hamburger eating contests, kiddie games, concerts, a bags tournament, a 5K run and walk, a pedal pull, a vendor show, races, Bingo and a community play.

Thursday, June 12

5 p.m. — Sons of the American Legion meal on the Museum lawn.

5:30 p.m. — Kiddie parade from the funeral home to the museum.

6 p.m. — Cake and ice cream served on the Museum lawn.

7 p.m. — Little Miss and Mister Brooklyn contest (Bring a lawn chair and head downtown).

7:30 p.m. — Brooklyn’s Got Talent and wine slushies downtown.

Friday, June 13

9 a.m. — Brooklyn Opera House golf fundraiser at BVCC.

11 a.m. — 6 p.m. — The annual Kiwanis barbecue chicken dinner at the Catholic Church parking lot.

7 p.m. — 175 years of Brooklyn community play at the Brooklyn Opera House.

7:15 p.m. — Races at the Brooklyn Raceway.

8 p.m. — Fireman’s Ball at Front Street Tap — Jonah Seymour opens at 8 p.m. with TOASt3R at 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 14

7:30 a.m. — 5K Run and walk at BGM School.

10 a.m. — Parade on Jackson Street (To enter, check in at Mills and East Des Moines at 9 a.m.).

11 a.m. — Flag raising at Avenue of Flags.

11 a.m. — 2 p.m. — Ruritans Grill, food trucks, wine slushies, two obstacle courses, Ninja run, castle inflatable, mini golf, bubble cannon, multi-sport, face painting, dunk tank, archery, Iowa Corn trailer and Zounds the Clown.

12 — 2 p.m. — Bingo.

1 p.m. — Pedal Pull (sign up at 12:30 p.m.).

1 p.m. — Bags tournament and live music on Front Street.

1 — 4 p.m. — Vendor Show on Jackson Street.

1 — 4 p.m. — Live music by Late Shift and hot dog and hamburger eating contests at the MJM Community Center.

1 — 5 p.m. — BGM Hall of Pride open for viewing (enter through the elementary cafeteria).

5 p.m. — 175 years of Brooklyn community play at the Brooklyn Opera House.

7 p.m. — The Pork Tornadoes and Tyler Richton and the High Bank Boys at Brooklyn’s Southside ball field. Post-concert party at the Front Street Tap. (A shuttle will run between downtown and the ball field for parking).

During concert — beard and mustache contest.

Sunday, June 15

8 a.m. — 3 p.m. — Ruritans Car Show at Landes Park (Registration at 9 a.m. with judging from 11 a.m. — 1:30 p.m. and awards at 3 p.m.).

9 a.m. — Ecumenical church service at MJM Community Center.

1 — 3 p.m. — Bingo — MJM Community Center.

2 p.m. — 175 years of Brooklyn community play at the Brooklyn Opera House.