West Concord celebrates Survival Days July 20-23

Four days of fun are scheduled for West Concord next week as the annual Survival Days gets under way on Thursday, July 20, continuing through Sunday, July 23.
Dodge County police, firefighters, and EMS personnel will be taking to the softball field at 7 p.m. on Thursday for the annual Guns vs. Hoses event.Stop by to take in the friendly bantering between the teams and maybe even see some great softball. As usual, donations will be accepted when the firefighter’s boot is passed and all donations will go to Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention.
Survival Days activities start in earnest on Friday beginning with coffee and homemade donuts from 7 to 11 a.m. at the American Legion. City wide garage sales begin at 8 a.m. and continue throughout the day. The West Concord Historical Society will be having an open house from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.
Friday night is a big night with food stands and the Beer Garden opening at 5 p.m., a 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament starting at 5:30 p.m., a Garden Tractor Pull at 6 p.m. and Bean Bag Tournament at 7 p.m. with registration at 6:30 p.m.
Lions Park will be the location at 6:30 p.m. for the presentation of the Mayor’s Key, Miss West Concord Pageant, and the announcement of the Citizen of the Year and the Baby Contest winners. In case of rain the event will be at Trinity Church.
There will be live music under the big tent from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. with admission of $10 or a Survival Days Button. Fireworks begin at 10 p.m.
On Saturday the Meat Smoking Competition begins at 7 a.m. in front of the Gochnauer Dairy Barn with the judging at 4 p.m.
The Fire Department will be serving a Burrito Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. and the Scott Hodgman Class Car Show & Bike Show will be on Main Street.
The Softball Tournament starts at 8 a.m. and the Sandpit Volleyball Tournament at 9 a.m. Also at 9 a.m. the LaMae’s Bright Light 5k starts with registration at 8 a.m. The event begins and ends at Lions Park.
For the kids, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be a Fun on the Farm Petting Zoo at the Gochnauer Dairy Barn and kids activities and a bounce house on the east side of the mini storage. At 11:30 a.m. there will be a Treasure Hunt at the swimming pool for ages 2-12 and at 1 p.m. the library program at Lions Park will feature the Rad Zoo.
An Antique Tractor Pull is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. south of the Gochnauer Barn.
Food stands will open at 11 a.m. and the Beer Garden at 2 p.m. There will be Adult Bingo, hosted by the West Concord Historical Society, from 2 to 4 p.m. under the Big Tent and the Rochester Rough Riders “Mud Bog” is scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m. at the old football practice field.
Evening activities include the Excavator Rodeo at 7:30 p.m. and the dance under the tent featuring Lost Highway w/Travis Thamert, from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Beer Garden closes at 1 a.m.
The weekend wraps up on Sunday with the American Legion Breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. at the Legion Hall, softball and volleyball tournaments resuming at 9 a.m., a community worship service at 9:30 a.m. at Lions Park, the Trinity Lutheran Pie and Ice Cream Social under the tent from noon to 3 p.m., the Grand Parade beginning at 1 p.m., the annual firefighters Water Fight at 2 p.m. and music under the Big Tent from 2 to 4 p.m. featuring CCB Jazz.
Survival Days buttons are available at all West Concord businesses.