Another record-high hot day did not deter people of all ages from attending Rice Family Fun Day Aug. 15 in downtown Rice.
Thousands of people clearly enjoyed the annual festival, which began at noon with the opening of food and beer stands, kiddie games, including inflatables and a pellet-gun shooting range and a kiddie parade.
There was also the main parade in the afternoon, a tractor-pulling contest by the Mid-Central Pullers and water fights by members of area fire departments.
Throughout the day, an occasional breeze took off the edge of the hot, humid day, much to people’s relief. Festival-goers also stayed cool by drinking lots of liquids, consuming free Kemp’s ice cream, holding umbrellas over their heads or clustering in shady areas to socialize and enjoy their finger foods.
Rice Family Fun Day was capped off in the evening with music provided by Flash Mob and later by BLIMP, with people dancing the street and enjoying beer at the beer stand. Proceeds from the 9 p.m. raffle drawing went to cover costs of the annual Fun Day.
For more about the festival, see photos in today’s paper and in the online version of the Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader at www.thenewsleaders.com.
A kiddie parade sponsored by the Rice Women of Today preceded the regular parade at Rice Family Fun Day.
Kayla Wiese, 5, daughter of Tara Wiese of Sauk Rapids, raced down the inflatable slide before the parade.
Friends relax and cool off in a patch of shade Aug. 15 at the Rice Family Fund day. Despite hot weather, the annual event drew large crowds.
A heat-seeking group seems to thrive in the Main Street heat during Rice Family Fun Day.
A vendor at his “Jewelry Souvenirs” stand sells all kinds of inflatable toys to children at the Rice Family Fun Day event Aug. 15 in Rice.
The Kemp’s Ice Cream stand was a popular stop for visitors to Rice Family Fun Day Aug. 15. Throughout the hot, humid day, volunteers gave out thousands of free cups of ice cream. In the photo above, Katie Poirier, Rice, hands Zach Weber, Rice, a heaping helping of vanilla ice cream.
Spectators watch the parade as children scurry for candy during the Rice Family Fun Day event Aug. 15. Despite hot, humid weather, the festival attracted big crowds of people of every age.
Corn dogs and mini donuts are a hit with festival-goers at Rice Family Fun day Aug. 15 in Rice. Hot, humid weather did not deter thousands of people from enjoying the annual city festival.
Tara Wiese and daughter Kayla of Sauk Rapids sit curbside during the parade at Rice Family Fun Day.
A boy scurries up the “rock climb” inflatable at Rice Family Fun Day.
Glen Gertken of Rice cooks pork chops at Rice Family Fun Day. The pork-chop booth was staffed by members of Rice Boy Scout Troop 473 as one of its many fundraisers throughout the year.
Participants enjoy a vigorous volleyball tournament in the lot behind O’Brien’s Pub in Rice during Rice Family Fun Day Aug. 15.
Friends gather ‘round a golf cart right after the parade in Rice during Rice Family Fun Day Aug. 15.
Children gather for a variety of kiddie games Aug. 15 at Rice Family Fun Day.
A group of friends takes a pizza break from the volleyball tournament at O’Brien’s Pub Aug. 15 during Rice Family Fun Day. From left to right are Tim Clasemann, Rice; David Moore, Sartell; and Elizabeth Sauer, and Danielle Jansen, both of Brainerd.
At Rice Family Fun Day, hot weather doesn’t faze Kendra Snow of Sauk Rapids, who knows how to keep cool with her snow cone and bottled water.
A girl dives into a bounce house at the Rice Family Fun Day Aug. 18. The weather was hot and humid, but a nice breeze brought relief throughout the day to the large crowds that attended the annual festival.
