The 50th annual Tioga Farm Festival is from Sept. 11-13. David Grubb of Tioga is chairman of this year's Farm Festival Committee and said the initial planning for this year's festival began this past January.
"There was a little more planning this year. We're trying to make it a worthy event," said Grubb.
Grubb said the majority of the events take place at the Tioga Farm Festival grounds in the city. The festivities begin at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, with an FFA Career Day and Program. Sending things out with a bang Sunday afternoon are two favorites -- the Gospel Music Fest and the Demolition Derby, both in their 11th year.
"I think they're all going to enjoy the whole event," said Grubb. Grubb said the main day of the weekend is likely Saturday.
Among the events on Saturday are various activities for children and a community barbeque. Opening entertainment on Friday afternoon is Miss North Dakota.
Grubb said for a 50th anniversary, the goal is to make the event a little extra special. He believes with the couple of additions they made this year, they've achieved that goal.
Grubb said the headline entertainment for the weekend is a performance by Tonic Sol Fa. The group is a popular male a cappella group from Minneapolis.
The group has sold more than a 1 million albums in a career spanning a dozen years. Tonic Sol Fa has shared the stage with a wide variety of acts, ranging from Jay Leno and Weird Al Yankovic, to Jeff Foxworthy and Bobcat Goldthawait. Grubb said they're thrilled to have obtained such a quality act for the 50th annual festival.
"They're a pretty good group. They do about 150 concerts a year across the lower 48 states," said Grubb.
Tonic Sol Fa takes the stage at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Another achievement organizers are pleased with is the annual Parade on Main Street beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Grubb said Arlo Howe is the Grand Marshall of the parade. Howe is credited as the founder of the Tioga Farm Festival.
"We sent him a letter awhile ago and got him to agree through follow-up conversations," said Grubb.
Grubb said they consider it a thrill and an honor to be able to get Howe to come from Dickinson to participate in the 50th anniversary.
A little bit of nostalgia is also on display Friday afternoon, with a slideshow of pictures from the festival's 50-year history shown from 4-6 p.m.
"Committee members went through archives to put together the slideshow for people," said Grubb.
Other major events include dances at 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night and the football team playing Harvey High School in Ray at 7 p.m. Friday.
Grubb said the weekend should be a good one and said the community should be proud to have a popular event that is 50 years strong.
"Fifty years speaks for itself. There's some strong pride in the community and enthusiasm for this event."
Buttons are sold in Tioga for $5 and allows people into the festival. Some events carry an extra cost.
For more information on the Tioga Farm Festival, visit the city of Tioga Web site at www.tiogand.net/.
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