GARDEN CITY – Raspberry Days is underway in Garden City and there have been activities throughout the week but there is still plenty to experience and take in, including their famous raspberry shakes. The shakes are specialty items found in most eateries along the Bear Lake Blvd., the main drag of Garden City. The celebration will finish on Saturday, August 9.
Since 1984, Raspberry Days has grown from a simple craft fair to a three-day event of entertainment, a parade, rodeos, dances, fireworks, fun runs, and more.
Felony Brothers will be one of the bands playing this weekend at Raspberry Days.
A big part of the activities happens on Friday, Aug. 8, and Saturday, Aug. 9, at Heritage Park. Friday there was a Kids Fishing Tournament. The Main Festival and Fair starts at 10 a.m. and runs until 8 p.m. with vendors and food trucks lined up to sell their goods both Friday and Saturday. The festival and fair will include vendors from Bear Lake Valley and some from out of town.
The Pickleball Tournament will take place on both Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Cornhole Tournament sponsored by Tim’s Custom Boards starts at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and continues Saturday at 6:30 p.m. There is a $20 per person entry fee. And Bingo will take place on Friday from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the park west of the stage.
Raspberry Days’ officials do not allow smoking or pets in the park.
The annual pie eating contest will be held at the main festival stage from 11 a.m. until noon on Friday at the concert stage. There is an entry fee of $10, cash only, and all entries will receive a T-shirt. Prizes will be awarded from Chad’s Raspberry Products, the sponsor of the contest.
Live music will begin on Friday at 12 noon with the Rich High School Band. From noon until 2 p.m. The Ravens Band will play their brand of pop, rock, blues and country hit songs of the 70s from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. followed by the Felony Brothers Concert from at 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The Felony Brothers specialize in Southern Rock.
Friday activities end with the Laketown Rodeo to be held at the rodeo arena located at 275 E. 250 S. in Laketown. The action begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate or on their website.
Saturday, Aug. 9, activities begin with a 5K Run at 8 a.m. at Laketown Park. The Kids Fishing tournament will begin at 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. at the Heritage Park Pond.
Bear Lake Raspberry Days Pie Eating Contest is a big hit on both Friday and Saturday.
Zumba will be from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. lead by Carolina Linkogle at Heritage Park. Bingo will be held from 10:30 a.m. until noon.
The Golf Scramble will take place from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Bear Lake Golf Course, located 4 miles North of Garden City. The four-person scramble will have a shotgun arrangement.
Holidae Band, a Cache Valley a rock/popup, will play on Saturday at 11 a.m.
The Family Place will have activities and crafts from noon until 3 p.m.
The Saddle Strings band will play their brand of Country Music starting at 2 p.m.
The last night of the Laketown Rodeo will begin at 7:30 p.m. and the weekend activities will wind down with the ever-popular Lighted Boat Parade, provided by the Bear Lake Yacht Club, at 9 p.m. The parade will take place between the Bear Lake Marina and Ideal Beach.
The firework show will start around 10 p.m. to finish off the three-day event.