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LANESBORO — Speeches, music, food, fishing and, of course, bicycling will be part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Root River State Trail on Friday through Sunday.
Towns participating are Fountain, Lanesboro, Whalan, Peterson, Rushford, Houston, Preston and Harmony.
Events will begin with talks by state leaders such as Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr and Explore Minnesota tourism director John Erdman from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday next to the Lanesboro Museum along the trail. There will be an ice cream social with free malts and shakes and entertainment by the Irish Minstrels.
Other activities include:
• The National Trout Center will be open in Preston, where there also will be music, tours of the historic grain elevator and an Amish market.
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• Peterson will offer a view of farm life and wildlife along the trail from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. You can watch sheep being sheared and see wildlife such as eagles and snakes.
• Harmony will have trail fitness fest stations for families between 9 a.m and noon Saturday on the Harmony Preston Valley Trail between Harmony and Preston. Trail-inspired art will be on display from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Harmony trailhead visitor center. And there will be a disc golf clinic from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the trailhead.
• Whalan will have a bike safety and family fun event from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Activities include a safety booth, free string cheese, helmet and bike safety, apple tasting and apple bobbing. Popcorn, hot dogs and brats will be given away by the American Legion.
• Rushford has an ExpoCulinaria, an experience of tastes, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at Hoiland Mill. There also will be a jazz concert.
• Fountain will have a coffee social from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday at the Fillmore County History Center. The museum will be open for tours.
• Houston's Fall Family Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
• Those biking the trail can support Habitat for Humanity with a $20 donation. Stations will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in Preston, Lanesboro and Rushford.
