It was reported last week that no cash prizes would be awarded to the winners of any Kalona Days contests. Since then, several business people have come forward offering to sponsor various competitions.

Colette Cortum of Ellen’s Sewing Center and Dave Clearman of The Bird’s Nest, both located in the B-4 Building, where the annual Kalona Days Craft Show is scheduled for June 19, will sponsor the bed races, offering Kalona Kash prizes of $25 for first place, $15 for second place and $10 for third.

The Kalona News will sponsor Kalona Kash prizes for the pie, cookie and ugly cake contests, with $15 for first prize in each category, $10 for second and a ribbon for third.

Kalona Kash prizes for the grocery cart race will be provided by JW’s Foods.

Shear Image will sponsor the Little Miss and Mr. Contest and Peggy’s Place has agreed to be one of the sponsors of the Ugly Legs Contest. Additional sponsors for this event are needed. Contact Mary Marek at The Kalona News if you are interested in being a sponsor of this or any other event.

Age limit raised

The age limit for participants in the grocery cart race has been raised. This event was added to the Kalona Days lineup as an alternate event for those too young to participate in the bed races, the rules of which require participants to be at least 18 years of age. Therefore, the age limit for the race was set at 12-17.

After some older teens expressed an interest in entering the race, it was decided there was really no reason the age limit couldn’t be raised. Therefore, the grocery cart race is officially open to anyone over 12 years of age.

Judges

Judges for the pie, cookie and ugly cake contests have been confirmed. They are Joe Winters, meteorologist for KCRG Channel 9 in Cedar Rapids, Renee Chou, reporter for Channel 9, and Mary Sharpe, metro editor for the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Parade Route

As reported last week, the parade route has been reversed this year. See the map on page three of this week’s Kalona News for an explanation of the route and parade staging area.