Water fights, giant tomatoes, fireworks, ski show

Hometown picnic features all kinds of fun

The eighth annual Dover-Kansasville picnic will take place Saturday, Aug. 24, at Eagle Lake County Park.

The picnic is put on by the Dover-Kansasville Betterment Committee and starts at noon at the park – located on Church Road between highways 11 and A, just west of Highway 75.

Among the activities for the day-long event:

• Barrel-blasting water fights, where two-person teams can blast water at an empty beer barrel and try to blast it into the opponents’ zone. Sign up at the picnic; competition begins at 2:30 p.m.

• The Largest Tomato Contest will accept entries at the Welcome Tent between noon and 4 p.m. In March, free German Giant tomato seeds were handed out to Dover residents, with an invitation to compete in the “Largest Tomato Contest” at the annual Picnic. Whether the German Giants were successful or not, any homegrown tomato can be entered, so bring in your biggest fresh-picked produce.

• Besides a Petting Pen filled with friendly farm animals for children to pet, Racine County Deputy K-9 Officer Friday will be on hand from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Children will also have games and bouncy houses available from noon to 4:30 p.m.

• Other returning favorites include Dover historical exhibits, antique tractors, the “Where the Heck is Kansasville” t-shirt stand and live music will also be available. The Union Grove Village Drum Circle will perform from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., and the Dukes of Dover from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

      • A food court will feature free root beer floats and vendors such as “Our Dogs Don’t Bite,” Uncle Harry’s Frozen Custard and the Dead Manns Saloon cold beer stand.

• The Burlington Aquaducks will perform from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the Venetian Boat Parade/Unity Circle to follow. Best-decorated boat will win $100 from Dover resident and Union Grove Subway owner, Mario Denoto.

To close out the celebration, the Eagle Lake Management District will sponsor a fireworks show, set to begin at about 8:30 p.m.

For more information, to volunteer or to participate in any of the picnic events, call Marie Frederick at (262) 497-3270.