RIGHT- LSB’s “Abe Lincoln” and Sue Carnahan, also the Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival chair, greet attendees during the 2018 parade. The 2019 Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival parade is Saturday, May 18 in downtown Tama. Photo/News-Herald file

Plans for the 35th Annual Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival are underway with the celebration taking place this year May 15 -18.

Merriam’s Midway Carnival will be up and ready to go on Wednesday, May 15, and kicks off the festival with rides and games for everyone!

“Popcorn with Police” takes place on Thursday, May 16, from 5-7 p.m. at the Tama Civic Center. This event is a chance to enjoy free popcorn with local law enforcement agencies and is sponsored by Tama County Supporting Kids in Prevention (SKIP.).

Friday

On Friday, May 17, the festival really kicks into high gear with multiple entertainment options! A brownie sundae bar, which is a fundraiser for the South Tama Technicians is being held at the Civic Center from 5 to 7 p.m. This newly formed club at South Tama High School is raising funds for a trip to Disney World next year, and would appreciate your support!

Don’t miss the free entertainment taking place in the fire station ambulance bay all evening on Friday the 17th. The Tri County Community band opens the entertainment at 6 p.m, followed by the Tama Citizen of the Year award, presented by the Tama Firefighters at 7 p.m.

Harding Street Singers will entertain you starting at 7:15, and the night wraps up with a performance from the South Tama County Middle School and High School Jazz Bands staring at 7:30.

Put on your dancing shoes and head to The Tama Pump on 3rd street for the street dance, also on Friday, May 17. Music and dancing will start at 6:30 p.m.with the very popular band “Final Mix”on stage at 8 p.m. and playing until 11p.m.

Saturday

Saturday events will be kicked off with a 5K run/walk.

Early registration starts at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, and the race starts at 8 a.m. from the Tama Civic Center, 305 Siegel St. There is a new route for the run which will take runners over the historic Lincoln Highway Bridge.

This event is sponsored by the Charley Townsley Memorial and the STC Cross County Team. Please consider participating in this fun event!

Don’t miss the annual pancake breakfast put on by the Tama Fire Department in the fire station! Pancakes will be served from 7 – 9:30 a.m. for a free will donation.

Stop in also at the Tama Toledo Eagles club for a bloody mary bar starting at 8 a.m.

The annual parade will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, running a route starting at 5th and Siegel, going south to 3rd St, east on 3rd to Harmon, then north on Harmon to 4th St., finishing up at 4th and McClellan. Bands, Shriner’s and local businesses come out in force to provide this excellent parade for the community.

If you would like to be involved in the parade, please contact Byron Witt at 641-751-4830.

The free entertainment in front of the Tama Civic Center kicks off at noon with a performance from the Iowa Steel Band. This is a group from the University of Iowa and they are performing as part of a joint sponsorship from the Wieting Theatre.

This group will be very entertaining and should not be missed!

At 1 p.m. Gail’s Academy of Dance will take the stage, showcasing the talent of many of our local kids. At 2 p.m. the popular “My Fellow Americans” will take the stage to wrap up the day.

If you want to take a break from the entertainment there will be a bean bag tournament at the Tama-Toledo Eagles Club starting at 2 p.m. Registration for this tournament starts right after the parade.

In addition, there will be a wing eating contest at the Town Pump right after the parade!

A new event, an Abe Lincoln photo booth will be taking place on the Civic Center grounds from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. This event is a fundraiser for the Lincoln Highway Bridge Park committee.

For the Kids

Free kid’s activities are also on the schedule! Tom Terrific, a balloon artist, will be strolling the grounds around the Civic Center from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. making his balloon creations available. Barb Jacobs will be on the Civic Center grounds from noon- 4 p.m.drawing caricatures. Kids Tattoos will be provided by Tama County Public Heath and Home care from 1-3 p.m. and kid’s water fights will be held on Siegel Street in front of the Library beginning at 1 p.m..

The ever-popular Sandhill nickel scramble will wrap up kids events at 4 p.m.

If you have any questions about entertainment, please contact Sue Carnahan at 641-484-4620 or 515-971-7488.

You can also check out the festivals facebook page,Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival and 5K Run for more details on events and happenings.

The Tama Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the Tama-Toledo community and our local businesses for supporting the festival for the past 35 years, and would like to ask for its continued support in the future. The Chamber works very hard to provide this festival for the community and to keep most of it free of charge. Please thank a Chamber Member when you see them for their support of the Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival and all the community events that they provide.