COOK- As the annual Cook Timber Days celebration has evolved in recent years, revelers have come to expect a host of favorite activities, this year scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday June 9, 10, and 11, and they won’t be disappointed this time around.
Old ladies and young women alike will once again be able to swoon to the musical musings of Sean Wallin’s Elvis Presley tribute show in the park on Saturday, motor sports enthusiasts will line River St. for the intensely competitive lawnmower races on Sunday, and downtown Cook will be packed for the annual big wrap-up, the parade on Sunday, led this year by grand marshal Danny Brinker.
But the organizing committee has worked in a few new wrinkles this year, too.
The annual Friends of the Library book sale will usher in the festivities beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, this year inside the Cook Public Library.
Arts, crafts, food and beverage vendors will open for business in and near the park at noon and will be available all three days of the event. Take a shot at soaking some of your favorite Cook-area personalities in the dunk tank that will also be in business throughout the weekend.
Area firefighters will test their skills against each other on Friday in the firefighters challenge, and the first of two days of bean bag competition will kick off Friday evening on the Old Muni patio as well.
New to the Friday evening schedule this year is a 5K benefit glow run and walk sponsored by Vergie Hegg Hospice Partners. Those who registered by May 28 were guaranteed a t-shirt and swag bag, but race day registrations will be accepted at the Cook Community Center. The fun run kicks off at 7 p.m.
Saturday is the busiest, most hectic day of the festival, and revelers can start the day off with the culinary talents of the Cook Fire Department as they host a pancake breakfast at the fire hall from 8-11 a.m.
Keep your eyes open this year for a big tent in the city park that will house a celebration of the industry that spawned the event, a selection of items illustrating the history of the timber industry. The park will also be home to the always popular pet show, followed by the magic show. Those with a competitive streak may want to take in Bingo at the Cook Community Center at 1 p.m.
The classic car show will begin downtown at noon on Saturday, and after it’s over classic will give way to contemporary high tech with a demonstration by the North Woods School “Bear Bots” robotics team. After Sean Wallin’s Elvis act in the park, a fireworks display at the Doug Johnson Recreation Area will top off the day’s events.
On Sunday, the focus in the park shifts from Elvis to Jesus with a church service at the gazebo at 11:30 a.m. River Street will come alive with the roar of lawnmower racing at 12:30 p.m., and a drum and bugle corps performance will follow at 2 p.m. in the park. The big Timber Days parade gets underway at 3 p.m., and those who bought Timber Days raffle tickets will want to head back to the park following the parade for the prize drawing.
A complete schedule of activities, times and locations can be found on page 3B in this week’s paper.