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PHOTOS: Willmar Fests 2022 - Wednesday and Thursday

Photos from the first days of Willmar Fest 2022!

Firefighters battle it out in the fireman challenge while children dance in the droplets of water raining down on them during Willmar Fests in downtown Willmar on Thursday, June 23, 2022.
Firefighters battle it out in the Fireman's Challenge while children dance in the droplets of water raining down on them during Willmar Fests in downtown Willmar on Thursday, June 23, 2022.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune

WILLMAR — A fun-filled Willmar Fests event continues through Saturday. See photos here from Willmar Fests activities earlier in the week.

The remaining schedule Saturday includes:

7 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Willmar Fire Department Pancake Feed runs, downtown
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Grande Day Parade, downtown
3-6 p.m. — Willmar Fests Ambassador Coronation, Willmar Education and Arts Center
7:30 p.m. — Little Crow Ski Show at Robbins Island
10 p.m. — "Works Over Water" fireworks.

Prairie Winds Summer Band conductor Dennis Benson leads the band through an opening song at Rice Park during Willmar Fest on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Prairie Winds Summer Band conductor Dennis Benson leads the band through an opening song at Rice Park during Willmar Fests on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
Children react to a crumbling oversized Jenga set while playing mini-games at the Dorothy Olson Aquatic Center during the Queen's Splash on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. The event was one of many on tap for this year's Willmar Fest.
Children react to a crumbling oversized Jenga set while playing mini-games at the Dorothy Olson Aquatic Center during the Queen's Splash on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. The event was one of many on tap for this year's Willmar Fests.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
David and Diana Frey named 2022 Senior Ambassadors as Willmar Fest begins

Brooke Eischens of Olivia-based musical act the Dam Jammers performs during the Block Party of Willmar Fest on Thursday, June 23, 2022.
Brooke Eischens of Olivia-based musical act the Dam Jammers performs during the Block Party of Willmar Fests on Thursday, June 23, 2022.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
Children toss candy to spectators during the Kiddie Parade along 6th Street in downtown Willmar during Willmar Fest on Thursday, June 23, 2022.
Children toss candy to spectators during the Kiddie Parade along Sixth Street Southwest in downtown Willmar during Willmar Fests on Thursday, June 23, 2022.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
Volunteer David Laux pours a large bag of popcorn into a serving tub while handing out the tasty treat to folks as they arrive in Rice Park to listen to the Prairie Winds Summer Band on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, during Willmar Fest.
Volunteer David Laux pours a large bag of popcorn into a serving tub while handing out the tasty treat to folks as they arrive in Rice Park to listen to the Prairie Winds Summer Band on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, during Willmar Fests.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
Lleyten Rein was named Queen of Festivals with Crisstill Duaso named International Princess and Leah Smith named Aqua Princess

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Willmar Fest candidates Cresstill Duaso, third from right, Leah Smith, center, and Lleyten Rein, sixth from left, lead children on a kid parade to the tunes of the Prairie Winds Summer Band in Rice Park on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Willmar Fests candidates Cresstill Duaso, third from right, Leah Smith, center, and Lleyten Rein, sixth from left, lead children on a parade to the tunes of the Prairie Winds Summer Band in Rice Park on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
A member of the Prairie Winds Summer Band performs to the crowd during festivities at Rice Park on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
A member of the Prairie Winds Summer Band performs for the crowd during Willmar Fests festivities at Rice Park on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
Children beat the 102-degree afternoon heat with water spraying from the hoses of the fireman's challenge in downtown Willmar during Willmar Fest on Thursday, June 23, 2022.
Children beat the 102-degree afternoon heat with water spraying from the hoses of the Fireman's Challenge in downtown Willmar during Willmar Fests on Thursday, June 23, 2022.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
Grande Day Parade attendees enjoyed the treats, saw a collection of floats and watched bands dance during Willmar Fests annual Saturday parade.

Willmar Fest candidate Cresstill Duaso, at right, plays redneck golf with Blane Wendt, 5, during the Queen's Splash at the Dorothy Olson Aquatic Center on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Willmar Fests candidate Cresstill Duaso, right, plays redneck golf with Blane Wendt, 5, during the Queen's Splash at the Dorothy Olson Aquatic Center on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
People dance to the Dam Jammers during the Block Party at Willmar Fest on Thursday, June 23, 2022.
People dance to the Dam Jammers during the Block Party at Willmar Fests on Thursday, June 23, 2022.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
Willmar Fest queen of 2021 Sarah Carlson helps guide a dizzy Avery Van Eps, 8, while playing a game of pin the tail on the donkey, queen edition, during the Queen's Splash at Dorothy Olson Aquatic Center on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Willmar Fests Queen of Festivals 2021 Sarah Carlson helps guide a dizzy Avery Van Eps, 8, while playing a game of pin the tail on the donkey, queen edition, during the Queen's Splash at Dorothy Olson Aquatic Center on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
More Local:
Little Crow Ski Team begins fun-filled shows at Neer Park on June 2. Shows will take place nearly every Friday evening from June through August.
The missing kayaker is described as a white male, 39 years of age, and is 5-feet,10-inches tall and approximately 200 pounds, according to a Stearns County Sheriff's Office news release.
Area funerals scheduled through June 7, 2023
The Tribune publishes Records as part of its obligation to inform readers about the business of public institutions and to serve as a keeper of the local historical record. All items are written by Tribune staff members based on information contained in public documents from the state court system and from law enforcement agencies. It is the Tribune’s policy that this column contain a complete record. Requests for items to be withheld will not be granted.
Ryan Duane Larsen Sr., 46, of Willmar, was sentenced to 32 months in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of third-degree drug possession. According to the criminal complaint, Larsen was alleged to be selling drugs out of his residence.
A wet spring and the late seeding of grass in 2022 at the Willmar Civic Center softball/baseball fourplex has delayed the opening to prevent a muddy mess.
Area funerals scheduled through June 6, 2023
The Tribune publishes Records as part of its obligation to inform readers about the business of public institutions and to serve as a keeper of the local historical record. All items are written by Tribune staff members based on information contained in public documents from the state court system and from law enforcement agencies. It is the Tribune’s policy that this column contain a complete record. Requests for items to be withheld will not be granted.
The intersection of Highway 212 and Renville County Road 9 will be closed Wednesday, May 31, to allow crews to remove pavement. Work will begin at 7 a.m. Wednesday and is expected to be completed by 7 p.m., weather permitting.
Pioneer PBS, based in Granite Falls, continues to provide its programming over streaming services and online platforms.

Willmar Fest candidate Leah Smith passes out candy during the Kiddie Parade during Willmar Fest on Thursday, June 23, 2022.
Willmar Fests candidate Leah Smith passes out candy during the Kiddie Parade during Willmar Fests on Thursday, June 23, 2022.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
The Prairie Winds Summer Band performs before an audience at Rice Park on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, during Willmar Fest.
The Prairie Winds Summer Band performs before an audience at Rice Park on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, during Willmar Fests.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
Jay Ellingson of the band, Acoustic Vibe, plays his guitar during a set at Rice Park during Willmar Fest on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Jay Ellingson of the band Acoustic Vibe plays his guitar during a set at Rice Park during Willmar Fests on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
Jay Ellingson of the band, Acoustic Vibe, strums his guitar while performing at Rice Park on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Jay Ellingson of the band Acoustic Vibe strums his guitar while performing at Rice Park during Willmar Fests activities on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
Parade setup
Parades, like an army, must stage and wait. Essential to the delay, a latrine along the way. Vosika Portable Toilet Rental of Olivia disperses relief stations around Garfield Park Friday afternoon. <br/><br/><br/>
Donna Middleton. West Central Tribune
The annual Willmar Fests block party took place Thursday, June 23, 2022, in downtown Willmar.

Macy Moore is an award-winning photojournalist at the West Central Tribune in Willmar, Minnesota.
She can be reached via email: mmoore@wctrib.com or phone: 320.214.4338.
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