Get ready To Glow Crazy During Orchard Free Days

Orchard will be aglow this weekend as the 2023 version of Orchard Free Days celebrates "Let's Glow Crazy in Orchard."

Events kick off Friday, July 28, when the Orchard Historical Society will host a chicken dinner, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at The Rex. A freewill donation of $12 is suggested.

The menu includes broasted chicken, potato salad, dinner roll and Texas sheet cake.

Drive thru, dine in or carryout orders will be available.

Before or after lunch, stop by the District 57 school, situated next door to The Rex.

The Tri-County Titans American Legion baseball team will sponsor duck races, at the pool, at 5 p.m.

Laser tag will be from 5 to 7 at the community center. The event is free.

From 7 to 9 p.m., a free glow dance for kids, sponsored by Dusty's, will take place at the community center.

Need grub? Visit Grandma Pam's food truck, beginning at 5 p.m.

A free road rally will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Registration will be held downtown, with prizes for the top three teams. "Antelope County News" will host the event.

The evening will conclude with live music, provided by The Ren and Red Show, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Den will sponsor the show.

Saturday events

A full slate of events are scheduled for Saturday, July 29.

Sugarz will be open and serving food from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Beginning at 9 a.m., River Mill Coffee will be at the baseball concession stand with a variety of drinks. They will close at noon.

Check out the live BODI workout, at the football field. Brittney Finch and Skyler Hutcheson will lead the 10 a.m. event.

Plains Cover Crop will partner with Jason Schindler Flying for a ping pong drop at the football field at 11 a.m.

Following the drop, kids will be able to tie dye a shirt. Free shirts will be provided for the first 100 kids or bring a white T-shirt to color.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dusty's will be serving food at The Quonset.

Make a splash at the Orchard Pool, from 1 to 5 p.m., when the free pool party takes place. Dive in for fun.

The annual poker run will take place, with registration beginning at noon at The Den. Participants are scheduled be en route by 1.

Orchard Young Men's Club will host a cornhole tournament. Registration will run from 3 to 4 p.m.

Check out the free laser tag at the community center from 5 to 8 p.m.

Dinner options include the orchard fire department's wing feed at The Den, with serving from 5 to 7 p.m. Don't forget to purchase a raffle ticket for the $1,500 cash drawing. Only 300 are available and may be purchased from any department member. Winners need not be present to win.

Dusty's will serve a gourmet hot dog bar, from 5 to 9 p.m.

Then, grab your boogie shoes for a street dance and beer garden. Music will be provided by Happy Endings from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Cap off the evening with a plate of biscuits and gravy at Dusty's quonset. Serving will begin at 10 p.m. and continue until 1:30 a.m.

Sunday events

The final day will begin with a pancake feed, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the community center. The Tri-County Titans will flip flapjacks for a freewill donation.

Join area churches for a community service at the Orchard Park at 10 a.m.

The District 57 school will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The parade will be held at 3 p.m. Registrations will be accepted between 1 and 2:30 p.m. at the community center.

Free inflatables for youngsers will be open from 4 to 7 p.m.

Dusty's will serve funnel cakes and cotton candy from 4 to 8 p.m.

Satisfy sweet teeth at the Bobcat volleyball team's brownie sundae stand in front of The Rex.

The Duard and Lois Dempster family will host a free beef barbecue, from 5 to 7 p.m. Emma Sue, from the Neon Lights band, will provide musical entertainment from 6 to 8 p.m.