It’s Time to Celebrate, Flandreau!!

Tonic Sol Fa beats the heat with an indoor concert; Jej from The Voice will sing at the band shell, casino on July 4

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Tonic Sol Fa beats the heat with an indoor concert

Jej from The Voice will sing at the band shell, casino on July 4
Sarah (Johnson) Schimming, a graduate of the class of 1989, and her husband, Dave, attended the free concert Saturday night with their two young children and other family members, but remembered a concert nearly 10 years ago. In December 2009, he asked her to marry him at a Tonic Sol Fa Christmas concert in Sioux Falls.
“We wanted to hear them again,” said Sarah Schimming, who lives in Montevideo, Minn. “I’ve heard them a couple of times before.”
She plans to attend other events after the kick-off concert to the community’s Sesquicentennial celebration and all-school reunion this weekend.
“It’s a fun thing to have this free concert in my hometown,” she said.
About 250 people attended the concert which was moved from the city band shell to the Flandreau High School gym because of the hot and humid weather. The temperature at concert time was 95 degrees with a heat index of 107 degrees. The band had struggled with heat issues recently while performing.
Tonic Sol Fa is an a cappella quartet from the Twin Cities area and they tour nationally performing pop, gospel, country and a variety of songs.
“We were supposed to be outside. It was just going to be a scorcher out there,” said Greg Bannwarth, tenor. “In here it’s like Nirvana.”
The gym’s air conditioning was cool enough that some people slipped on their sweaters or covered their laps with blankets they had intended to take to the park to sit on.
Darcy Utech, class of 1983, brought her daughter, Abby, to the concert and looked forward to hearing the group for the first time. “I think it’s a good thing for the town,” she said.
Irene Warner of Flandreau had heard Tonic Sol Fa before and enjoyed hearing them again. “They are really fun, engaging, very easy to listen to,” she said.
Tonic Sol Fa is not the only nationally-recognized entertainment that will join in Flandreau’s 150th birthday.
Jej Vinson, The Voice competitor with Flandreau roots, will sing at 11 a.m. Thursday with Advent Capelle at the Fourth of July Festival at the Moody County Museum. He also will give a free concert that night at 7 p.m. at the Royal River Casino.
Parade entries signups for Friday’s 10 a.m. event are being taken at City Hall. The all-school reunion committee also is sponsoring a memorial wall where people can hang pictures of deceased alumni and staff. The area along the fence on the west side of the city park entrance is designated for that area.
Here is a list of the celebration’s activities:


July 3

•10 a.m. to 4 p.m., self-guided school tours. Memorabilia will be available for sale, and registration packets can be picked up from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the elementary commons.
•Beginning at 8 p.m. until midnight, the Dusk-to-Dawn dance will be held at the Japanese Gardens, featuring music by Highway Call. Tickets are included with the all-school reunion registration and others wishing to attend can make a donation to the event.


July 4

••10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fourth of July Festival at the Moody County Museum. At 9:30, there will be an ecumenical church service by the Rev. David Lillibridge.
During the festival, people can picnic on the museum grounds or buy food from vendors, including Indian tacos, burritos, eggrolls, kabobs, chicken and rice and lefse.
Entertainment will include Amy Ellsworth, Youth Advent Capelle singers and the Adult Advent Capelle singers. The alumni band will give a 1 p.m. concert at the band shell. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome.
Other activities include face painting, snow cones, balloon creations and a quilt raffle at 1:30 p.m. for a quilt made by Mary Ehrichs.
•A free inflatable park will be open 2 to 8 p.m. at Royal River Casino. An estimated 20 inflatables and mechanical rides will be available for all ages, young kids to adults. Concessions also will be available.
•Fireworks at the casino begin at dusk.


July 5

•The parade will begin at 10 a.m. with a Vanguard Squadron flyover. All cars are supposed to be off the route by 4 a.m. Second Avenue will be blocked off from Center to Prairie, with access to main street from the side streets. Parking will be available on side streets.
Parade lineup starts at 7:30 a.m. in the streets around the school.
Flandreau’s former mayors will lead the event as parade marshals.
The parade route will start at the Flandreau Aquatic Center, east on Second Avenue to Skroch Funeral Chapel, south to Third Avenue and west to the Moody County Courthouse.
Bleachers will be set up in the former Flandreau Meat Locker lot, with seating for 250 people. Randy Gross and Joan Severtson will emcee the parade from that area.
Val Smith, Dave Spolum and Bill Nibbelink will judge the parade entries.
•Following the parade, the Sesquicentennial Choir will perform, and parade awards will be given out at the Moody County Courthouse steps. About a dozen vendors will sell items from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the courthouse grounds. Many will be food vendors, but there also will be handmade items and a vintage booth.
•The free inflatable park at the Casino will be open from 2 to 8 p.m.
•Guided tours of the school will begin at 1 p.m. at 45-minute increments until 3:15 p.m., and the school will be open from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. for self-guided tours.
•The “Always a Flier” all-school reunion picnic will be at the school from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Parade awards for classes who entered will be announced.
•Beginning at 6:30 p.m., a dueling piano show by Fun Pianos! By 176 Keys will play on Wind Street by the bars.  Midnight Ramblers will follow from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. for a street dance open to all ages.
Cost is $8 for one or $15 for two people at the gate. There will be south and north entrances on Wind Street. The bands will be on the south end of the street dance.



July 6

•Beginning at 8 a.m., there is a community walk/run at the Flandreau City Park. The walk will go down memory lane, an area along the walkway to the park where there will be pictures of deceased alumni on the fence, and through the park.
•There’s time for breakfast, too, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the William J. Janklow Community Center. The Crystal Theatre and Sesquicentennial committee will host the event, with tickets costing $6 for adults and $3 for children up to age 10.
•The Tiger McGlone Open golf tournament starts at 8:30 a.m. with three tee times, arranged by graduating class.
“For now, it’s a go,” said Dave Jewett, event organizer.
A wet spring has meant the course has had limited holes open for play and little time for grass to grow. Jewett said golfers will be able to play nine holes for the tournament.
Pre-registrations have been coming in, and participants can register the day of the event.
•Vendors will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the courthouse.
•A round robin of pickleball games will be played from 10 a.m. to noon at the Flandreau Armory. Teams can sign up and play in a continuous rotation, Sutton said.
•From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., children can enjoy a petting zoo and meet a super hero at the Flandreau City Park.
“There will be lots of animals for kids to come and see and pet and meet,” Sutton said. “Batman will be here.”
•Downtown on Third Avenue next to the courthouse, a car and vintage vehicle show will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those interested in participating can call Sutton at 997-3777.
•Inflatables will again be available from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Casino.
•In the evening from 7 to 11 p.m., Wolfhound will play for a free dance at the Japanese Gardens.



July 7

•A fly-in is scheduled at the Flandreau City Airport with a breakfast fundraiser sponsored by the Team of Angels from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $6 for adults, and $3 for kids 10 and under.
During the week, the Boys & Girls Club of Moody County is open for children in kindergarten through 12th grade for $1 a day starting at 7:30 a.m.