Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE - One can’t drive on Ind. 25 through the town of Mentone and not catch a glimpse of The Big Egg.
For this year’s Mentone Egg Festival, the theme is “The 80th Birthday of the Big Egg.” The three-day festival is Thursday, May 28 through Saturday, May 30.
Thursday
It starts with the flea markets, crafts, food vendors and kids area uptown at 5 p.m. Thursday. Then at 7 p.m. at the fire station, Kylene Crabb - Beez and the Rocker will perform.
Friday
Get your Bell burgers and more by the Bell Museum starting at 11 a.m. Friday at the fire station until closing.
The flea markets, crafts and food vendors will be uptown from noon to 9 p.m., with inflatables and games uptown from 2 p.m. until dark.
One of the biggest events of the festival will be the 31st annual Egg Festival Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show, along with the Echoes of the Past Tractor Show. It starts at 4 p.m. along Tucker Street and downtown Mentone.
Uptown, from 6 to 9 p.m., listen to the music of the 1950s and 1960s, while the silent auction is happening.
The Showford Brothers band will perform from 6 to 9 p.m. on East Main Street at the barricade.
Saturday
Events start early Saturday at the fire station.
First, there’s the pancake breakfast by the Tippecanoe Valley High School football team from 6 to 10 a.m. Registration for the Egg City 5K Run is 6:30 to 7:45 a.m., with the run kicking off at 8a.m.
In front of Hartzler Funeral Home, starting at 9 a.m., is the Backyard BBQ Cookoff. Awards for the cookoff will be at 4:30 p.m. at the fire station.
At 9 a.m. uptown will be the start of the inflatables and games, flea markets, crafts and food stands.
Judging of the parade entries starts at 10 am. at the parade line-up site. The parade begins downtown at 11 a.m., with Korean War veteran Forrest Kantner serving as the grand marshal. The theme of the parade is also “The 80th Birthday of the Big Egg.”
Kids games start at 1 p.m. at the stage, followed by the kiddie tractor pull at 1:30 p.m., the egg toss at 2:30 p.m. and the gospel sing at 2:30 p.m.
Check out the Bell Museum at 1 p.m. for “What Made Mentone the Egg Basket of the Midwest.”
At 3 p.m. at the fire station is the Mentone United Methodist Church singing gospel music.
The TVHS cheerleaders sponsor the cake walk, which will take place at the fire station at 6 p.m.
Following the cake walk is the winners of the Cute Baby Contest, and the introduction of Miss Chick and Mr. Rooster, at 6:30 p.m. at the fire station.
Crowning of Miss Mentone will be at the fire station at 7 p.m. Following that will be music at 7:15 p.m. at the fire station and the Family Feud Game Show at 7:30 p.m.
For more information about the schedule of events or the Mentone Egg Festival, visit the website at https://mentoneeggcity.com
