Pioneer celebrations last all week in Mendon

A few years ago to celebrate their town’s 150th birthday the residents of Mendon decided to extend their Pioneer Celebration from a day to an entire week.

This week that tradition has continued beginning with Monday night’s Community Talent Show at Mendon Square.

There is something every day leading up to Saturday when events start at 6 a.m. and conclude at dark.

The 10th Annual Big Race will follow the parade at noon Saturday.

“It’s a fun race,” said Committee Chair Juliene Robins. “It takes about 45 minutes to run it. There are 47 people on each team; it’s a relay race. There are five teams in the race. It begins with Virginia Reel dancers, we have a Pony Express rider, a grandpa who eats muffins, gunnysack racers, taffy eaters and men who do a log sawing, plus those dressed up as pioneers who race handcarts around barrels.

“It all ends with two men who get to eat a Dutch oven cobbler.”

Saturday begins at 7 in the morning with the traditional “All You Can Eat Breakfast” at the Mendon Food Stand hosted by the Mendon Volunteer Fire Department.

The flag ceremony is at 8 a.m., self-tours of the Willie Historic Home continue 11 a.m.-5 p.m., four hours of kids games begin at 2 p.m. and the Simmons Brothers in Concert starts at 2:30 at the gazebo.

Concluding games in the 42nd Mendon Softball tournament are Saturday night and the fireworks display follows the championship game.

Details of events and times each day are posted at <a href=”http://mendoncity.org” target=”_blank”>mendoncity.org</a>

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