Vintage vehicle cross over the historic Lincoln Highway Bridge on East 5th Street in Tama, Iowa - the original rout of the nation's first transcontinental highway.The 103-year-old bridge is the centerpiece of the annual festival set for today and Saturday, May 20 and 21 in downtown Tama. News-Herald file photo/John Speer

Back for it’s 32nd year is the Tama Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival this weekend, Friday and Saturday, May 20 and 21. Double that for Merriam’s Midway Carnival sponsored by the Tama Firefighters Association – the carnival returns for it’s 64th consecutive date in Tama.

The event is sponsored by the Tama-Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce.

Events get under way on Friday with an ice cream social and vendor fair in the Tama Civic Center and wine and cheese tasting at the Eagles Club. The Tri-County Band plays in the Tama Fire Station beginning at 6 p.m. and Byron Witt will be honored by Firefighters as the Tama Citizen of the Year at 7 p.m. followed by entertainment by South Tama High School’ss Harding Street Singers and Jazz Band.

Saturday starts out with the firefighters pancake breakfast, a 5K?Run and at 10 a..m, the grand parade through downtown.

Following the parade, there’s free entertainments on the stage in front of the Civic Center on Siegel Street, lots of children’s activities and several food vendors.

The Eagles is hosting their annual Bean Bag Tournament, there’s kids water fights and the Sand Hill Nickel Scramble at the Civic Center.

Also, among the many other activities, the Iowa League of Heroes are making a return appearance and, look out – the Grout Museum Snakes Alive exhibit is coming too.