This year, those new things include Wood Carving Demonstrations by Scott Hendershott on Saturday, behind Young’s Store, a Youth Magician, Brady Grove, who will perform on Main Street, right after the parade, and a Mixed Doubles Tennis Tournament at the newly renovated tennis courts on Sunday afternoon.

The theme this year, “Walkin’ the Walk,” revolves around the completion and dedication of the Steve Holmes Memorial Walking Path, a project that has been in the works for more than ten years…even before the path had a name.

FRIDAY

Friday, September 30^th, begins bright and early for members of the media, with live broadcasts from the Wheel Bar beginning at 6am. Media personnel from several states will be promoting the Goose Festival activities during that time.

At noon, there will be a lunch, open to all, served by the Senior Citizens at the Spruce Valley Community Center. The Senior Goose Walk begins at 1:30. The Beer Garden and serving of pork sandwiches by the Sportsmen’s Club will open at 3pm, and continue throughout the entire Goose Festival. The Opening Ceremony and Memorial Walk Dedication will take place at the American Legion Memorial Park at 3:30pm, followed immediately by the “Board Walk” Races on Main Street. The American Legion Auxiliary will serve supper from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. There’s BINGO at the American Legion beginning at 6pm, followed by a dance. You can also dance to the music of Krome at the Wheel bar beginning at 9pm.

SATURDAY

Saturday, October 1^st, has several all-day events, which include the Craft and Flea Market at the Davidson Building, the Woodcarving Demonstrations behind Young’s Store, the GMR Art Club Booth and Craft Activities in the Border State Bank drive through. A morning bake sale by United Lutheran Ladies can be found at the Community Center, and you can stay for morning coffee and a noon meal by the Thief Lake Church. The Hone Run Derby begins at 10:30am at the Middle River School, and the Women of Today sponsored bike races begin at 11am on the corner of 3^rd Street and Park Avenue. Rentertainment also begins at 11am.

The Goose Festival Parade starts at 12:30pm, with line-up beginning at the school at 10am and judging from 11am to 11:45. After-Parade events include the magician on Main Street, BINGO by the Flying V Relay for Life Team at the Fire Hall, the Antique Car and Tractor Show at the Memorial Park next to the water tower and the Firemen’s Open House.

Ramblin’ Fever will play for your dancing and listening pleasure at the Legion from 1:30 to 4:30pm, or you can dance to Chute 7 at the Wheel at 2pm. Other events of the day include the Pet Show and Contest on Main Street at 2:30pm, and the Kiddie Quarter Scramble at the Volleyball Courts at 3:30pm. 5pm is the starting time for BINGO at the Legion, the Goose Cook Off at the shelter on Main Street and the Goose Calling Contest, also at the shelter.

An evening of dancing includes a Teen Dance for grades 7 through 12 from 7-11pm at the Middle River School, dancing at the American Legion and at the Wheel (Krome).

SUNDAY

9am Sunday morning, October 2^nd, marks the starting time for the Blood Pressure Clinic and Open House by the Middle River EMTs at the Fire Hall, as well as the Pancake Breakfast, sponsored by Border State Bank, at the Community Center. The breakfast is free with the Goose Fest button.

There will be a Polka Mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, beginning at 9:45am, and the Community Church Service will be held at First Lutheran Church at 11am.

The North Country Horsemen have a busy day planned with a Game Day with Obstacle Course beginning at 10am, and Mutton Bustin’ at 1pm. As usual, the events are held at the Ornquist Arena, just west of town.

1pm is also the start time for the Mixed Doubles Tennis Tournaments, the Tractor Pull next to the Farmer’s Co-op Grain and Seed Elevator, and the Music Jam at the American Legion.

ALL WEEK

This year’s Middle River Community Theatre Goose Festival production is “Rumors” by Neil Simon. You won’t want to miss the hilarious antics of four couples who come to celebrate the tenth anniversary of a deputy New York City mayor and his wife. Mishap follows mishap, adding to the hilarity, becoming more and more crazy with each line. Performances actually begin before the Goose Festival, running from Tuesday, September 27^th, through Sunday October 2^nd. All performances begin at 7:30pm except for the Sunday matinee, which begins at 4pm. MRCT would like to encourage Middle River locals to attend the earlier performances, if possible, so that more tourists can have the opportunity to see the play on the weekend.

YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS IT!

As always, committee members have been hard at work to bring you the best festival around. There’s something for everyone at the Middle River Goose Festival. So, pack up your families and head to town for a weekend of great events, great games, great food, great fine arts, great visiting….the list goes on. As Tony the Tiger would say, “It’s gonna be Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat!” You might even have an opportunity to do some hunting!

This episode piqued my awareness of other clinkers at Thief Lake and in successive days, I witnessed young birds in the tall spruces near headquarters seemingly auditioning, with varying degrees of success, for the part of warblers in a woodland musical. Later in the week, I noticed the alarmed yelps of Canada goose goslings. Though difficult to say from my vantage point, I could only imagine the terror they experienced as they experienced their first flight, wondering how the landing thing was going to work. And I am reminded of the squawking of crow families heard earlier in the summer as they first ventured from the nest, keeping from no one within earshot their insecurity and complaining to attentive parents about the menu (or lack of it). There seems to be no end of examples of young critters finding their voices. Their persistence in learning their sounds is admirable, even if the actual voicing of their plight sometimes has the quality of fingernails on a chalkboard.

As many of you are aware, Milly is an accomplished pianist/organist who has played in local congregations for Sunday services and at many a wedding and funeral over the years. To keep the rust at bay, she plays often. But even the best of the best hit an occasional clinker. I am reminded of the organist in the church I grew up in. What a dear devoted soul she was. She did have one particular habit in her playing, though, that resulted in a clinker magnified. That being, if she hit a sour note, she immediately would go back and attempt to fix it. If there is one thing that will suck the collective air from the lungs of a congregation, it is an organist who holds their commitment to getting it right just a little too close. Owning one’s mistakes is honorable, but the timing of that claim to ownership makes a difference.

Musicians aren’t the only ones who own clinkers. Writers pen many, and their culpability is multiplied by the stark truth that they not only composed the dud but presented it as well. For the writer, be it a succession of tortured metaphors or jokes that are not really funny or the like, some of these clinkers can be every bit as grating as the musical version. I have personally found that writing with blinders on is a hazardous occupation. It will eventually lead to the production of words that hurt, harm, insult, divide, or demean. The stench off the page of such compositions is like that of a sweaty tee-shirt that has been peeled off and left on the floor of the bathroom to age for a couple of days (if you will pardon the tortured metaphor). Written clinkers are a product of a fascination with self, and the only antidote is a sincere plea for forgiveness from the readers.

But as I listen to the geese on the lake this fine morning, they don’t seem to be all wound up in asking for forgiveness. Instead, the young among them are fervently trying to “get it right” with their vocals. They won’t give up until they do so. And when they do, the goose music will be perfect.

Live well,
Randy Prachar, Minnesota DNR