CHAMOIS  — Chamois Day committee members Becca Mehmert and Dawna Keilholz said this year’s event on Saturday will feature the addition of a pulled pork contest as well as a bingo scavenger hunt. The Chamois Day committee provided pork butts to three local businesses, Backmann Transportation, Checkerboard Café and Bakehouse, and Clark’s Smoking and Grillin’ Meats, for the competition. Pulled Pork from the contest can be sampled at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, and the winner will be announced on the main stage with the parade winners.

Bingo Scavenger Hunt cards will be available all day at the raffle booth near Heritage Community Bank. Prizes will be given to all participants while supplies last.

This year’s theme, “One Town, Many Friends,” was evidenced at last Saturday’s pre-Chamois Day city cleanup. “The town cleanup was amazing,” said Keilholz. “I counted about 25 people (who) came out and helped.” Citizens with brooms, shovels, weed-eaters, leaf-blowers, and a tractor spent several hours grooming Main Street and the city park, among other areas.

This Saturday’s 24th annual Chamois Day celebration will begin with opening ceremonies at 10 a.m., followed immediately by the PTO Parade. This year’s parade theme is “Chamois Businesses, Past and Present.” 

Pre-K through 12 will have themed floats in the parade, and the Pirate Pride Marching Band will play the National Anthem. Floats will be judged in the following groups: pre-K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

Kids’ competition events will run from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. and include an egg toss, water balloon toss, and three-legged race. Carnival games will also be available for children between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. (while prizes last).

A washer tournament by C-Town Storage will begin at noon; sign-up is required prior to the beginning of the tournament. A cornhole tournament will be held at the same location immediately after the washers. Sign-up for the cornhole tournament begins at 1 p.m.

The Broken Arrow Band will play a mixture of old and new country, bluegrass, and old-time fiddle tunes on the main stage from 1-3 p.m. 

PTO Parade winners and the pulled pork contest winner will be announced at 3:15 p.m., followed by the raffle drawings.

This year’s raffles will be slightly different than in previous years. Instead of having separate boys’ and girls’ raffles, there will be one consolidated children’s raffle. Tickets for the children’s and adult raffles will be $1 each or six for $5. In addition to the standard adult raffle, the committee has added a large raffle with “big-ticket” items. Those tickets will be $10 each or six for $50. Large raffle prizes include a Cabela’s 36-inch flat-top grill, a 50-inch Vizio TV, a hunting blind with two chairs, and a Nintendo Switch Lite hand-held game console. 

Raffle tickets can be purchased at the booth next to Heritage Community Bank between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

This year’s celebration features 20 vendors with various goods and services. There will be no Little Miss/Little Mr. contests. 

At the Townley House Museum, from noon to 3, enjoy free tours, check out the covered wagon on loan from Joe Keilholz, and a honey ice cream social. Steve Rost & the Rost Family Singers will perform. Books on sale include “History of Chamois,” “Farmhouses,” and “Wonder Weddings.” 

Free hayrides will take you around town, including to the beautiful Riverside Park by the Missouri River and the Old School on the Hill. No events or activities are planned at the park, but parking will be available there.

In addition to offerings by members of the senior (pulled pork, pork burgers, pork nachos) and junior (Dippin’ Dots) classes, food will be available from Assumption Catholic Church (pies and drinks), the Masonic Lodge (brats, hot dogs, and chili) north of the railroad tracks, Sweet Bee’s shaved ice, Jerry’s Stop & Go, Checkerboard Cafe, and Red Cow Bakery (Catholic Church Parking Lot).

Other merchants planning to open on Saturday are Old School on the Hill, Chamois Ag Supply, C-Town Storage, and Bug’s Ink.

Public restrooms will be available at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Hall, Masonic Lodge, Riverside Park, Chamois Lions Building, and the Methodist Church, and port-a-potties will be placed at Jerry’s Stop & Go and the post office.

The Chamois Day Committee thanked Chamois R-1 PTO, Heritage Community Bank, Sean Hackmann, RTE Morrison and Linn, Sydenstricker, Bug’s Ink, Mark Mehmert, Dale Hackmann, DJ Keilholz, Rube Cramer, and everyone who volunteered their time to make it a great day.

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