Annual Kid Day celebration is set for July 14 to 17 in Benson
The Benson community is set to celebrate its 91st annual Kid Day, Saturday and Sunday, July 14-17 with a number of activities also taking place in the days leading up to Kid Day weekend. The theme of this year’s Kid Day is “Fun For All Ages” and the featured event of Kid Day, the Kid Day Parade, is set for 10 a.m., Saturday, July 16.
• The Kid Day Medallion Hunt is set to begin Monday, July 11 and continue each day through Friday, July 15, or until the Medallion is found. The clues will be available daily on the front door of the Library, on KSCR from 7-9 a.m. each day, and on the Benson Kid Day Facebook page. The top prize for the youth who finds the Kid Day Medallion is $100.
• Krazy Daze in Benson is set to take place Thursday, July 14, and local businesses will be offering sidewalk sales and special offers. Look for ads in upcoming Monitor-News editions for great Krazy Daze deals. Market Days/Craft vendors will also be set up in the Railroad Park from 3-5:30 p.m., Thursday, July 14.
The next day, Friday, July 15 will include a Ranch Rodeo at the Shamrock Hest Riding Arena at 6:30 p.m., and a street dance at Patrick’s Bar and Grill from 8:30 p.m-12:30 a.m.
Also on Friday, July 15 is a special performance by Lori Dokken and Friends, entitled “I Am Woman...Hear Me Roar” at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets are still available through Community Education.
Kid Day buttons on sale
Kid Day buttons are currently on sale through Benson Girls Scouts, or at Do-Mats, Super Valu, and First Security State Bank. They feature the 2021 outgoing Kid Day King and Queen.
King and Queen coronation
The annual Kid Day King and Queen selection will be the same as the last few years with no interview process and no float to pull in parades. King and Queen Kid Day coronation is set to take place at about 3:15 p.m., Saturday, July 16 at Roosevelt Park, immediately after the Kid Day Carnival. Area youth, ages 8-12, had until late June to register.
The new Kid Day King and Queen will be asked to attend at least four area parades. The parents will need to provide their own vehicle to drive in the parade; however, a set of magnetic signs will be provided to use on the vehicle that say “Benson Kid Day Royalty”, and for each of the first four parades (excluding next year’ Kid Day parade), the king and queen’s parents will be provided with $25 per parade to help defray costs incurred, provided they attend the parade.
Parade lineup a little different again
The 91st annual Benson Kid Day Parade is extending an open invitation for entries in the parade this year. Organizations, clubs, churches, businesses and royalty from area towns are welcome to be a part of the Benson Kid Day parade and festivities.
The divisions for the parade this year are: doll buggies/strollers, character representation for ages 6 and under, character representation for ages 7 and above, group so 2-3 persons; tries, bikes and scooters; motorized groups and mini floats; and community floats.
There will be no judging this year. During Kid Day, participants should arrive between 9:15-9:30 a.m. in the new parking lot where the old Junior High building used to sit. Someone will be there to check you in and direct you to the right spot. The senior high parking lot will not be a line up area.
Entries for the parade should be in by 5 p.m., Thursday, July 14, if possible. The parade begins at 10 a.m. There is no age limit to be in the parade. Every child, 12 and under, in the parade, will receive a generous bag of candy with a commemorative Kid Day plastic cup and $5 in Carnival tickets.
Several lucky children will find a “golden ticket” worth at least $25 in local gift cards. Be sure to stop and get your cup of goodies at the end of the parade.
If you do not get your registration in for the parade, the kids are still encouraged to enter the day of the parade. And, since it is Kid Day, they are keeping up with the tradition that there will be no political entries in the Kid Day parade.
If you have any questions about the parade, contact Roger Ebnet at 320-424-3733 or email bensonkidday@gmail.com
Kid Day activities Saturday, July 16
• The Kid Day parade kicks off a full day of activities on Kid Day, Saturday, July 17. The start of the 91st annual Benson Kid Day parade is 10 a.m.
• The annual free rides on the Fire Truck will go from 11 a.m.-noon at the Benson Fire Hall.
• The Kid Day Carnival is set for 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, July 16 at Roosevelt Park in Benson. The carnival will include plenty of inflatables, Carnival games, face painting, food, and more fun. All tickets are priced $1 each and all games require one ticket. Also included in the Kid Day Carnival is a dunk tank booth sponsored by the Benson softball team for $1.
Food vendors will include the DeGraff Fire Department, Benson-KMS gymnastics, Benson-KMS tennis, Go Set Ready Coffee, 4-H Food Stand, Music Boosters, and Curbside Treats.
• The Amazing Race contest, in memory of Cory Braaten, is scheduled to begin at noon, Saturday.
• The Kid Day coronation program will take place at 3:15 p.m., Saturday at the Roosevelt Park Gazebo.
• The Benson Outdoor Aquatic Center is hosting free swimming for kids 18 and under from 3-8 p.m.
• An adult Bean Bag Tourney is set to begin at 2 p.m. at Patrick’s Bar and Grill in Benson.
• The Kids ‘n Cars Car Show and Cruise is set from 3-7 p.m., Saturday at Ambush Park. The Car Show Awards ceremony is set for 7 p.m., followed by the annual Car Cruise at about 7:30 p.m., followed by Burnouts at Track Bar and Grill.
Kid Day activities Sunday, July 17
• Sunday’s events include a fly-in pancake breakfast at the Benson Airport from 7 a.m.-noon. This event is hosted by the Benson Area gymnastics program. This is a free will offering event. Plane rides and Life Link III Medical Helicopter tours will also be available.
Other events for Sunday, July 17 include the inaugural Putt, Chip, and Drive golf contest for kids in grades 1-8 at 10 a.m. at the golf course (there are no fees and plenty of prizes), and the “Polka in the Park” event with Marie and the Boys from 1:30-4 p.m. at Roosevelt Park.
• Among the sponsors of Benson’s Kid Day celebration is the City of Benson and the Benson Area Community Foundation. For more information, you can “like” the Benson Kid Day Celebration Facebook page and watch for further details in the Swift County Monitor-News leading up to Kid Day weekend.
Benson Kid Day 2022 schedule
Thursday, July 14
Krazy Daze at Benson businesses
Market Day/Craft Vendors in Railroad Park 3-5:30 p.m.
Friday, July 15
Ranch Rodeo at Shamrock Hest Riding Arena 6:30 p.m.
“I Am Woman...Hear Me Roar” at PAC 7 p.m.
Patrick’s Street Dance 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 16
Kid Day Parade lineup 9:15-9:30 a.m.
Kid Day Parade 10 a.m.
Free Firetruck rides 11 a.m.-noon
Kid Day Carnival 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Amazing Race contest begins Noon
Patrick’s Adult Bean Bag Tourney 2 p.m.
Free swimming at outdoor pool for 18 and under 3-8 p.m.
Kid Day Coronation 3:15 p.m.
Kids ‘n Cars Car Show 3-7 p.m.
Car Show Awards 7 p.m.
Car Cruise followed by Burnouts at Track Bar 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 17
Fly-in pancake breakfast at Airport with plane rides-
helicopter tours (sponsored by gymnastics) 7 a.m.-noon
Youth (grades 1-8) Putt, Chip and Drive 10 a.m.
“Polka in the Park” (Marie and the Boys) 1:30-4 p.m.
