MAPLE PARK — The 26th annual Maple Park Fun Fest will return Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5 and 6, with free activities planned throughout downtown Maple Park. The festival began as a local softball tournament and has grown into a weekend celebration featuring a 5K run and 2 mile walk, parade, softball tournament, craft show, food, entertainment and the popular Toilet Bowl Races. The Romp in the Park begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at the fire station, followed by the Toilet Bowl Races from 3:30 to 5 p.m. outside the American Legion and the Fun Fest Parade at 5:15 p.m.
Roger Kahl, an organizer of the event, said the parade is expected to draw a large lineup. “We have a very good parade, it comes right down Main Street. And we have, I think they got about 40 or 45 already signed up for the parade,” Kahl said.
Sunday will feature the Ross Dueringer Car Show from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. along Main Street and an American Legion breakfast buffet from 7 a.m. to noon. Last year’s car show featured about 180 vehicles. The festival will conclude with the Maple Park Spectacular Fireworks Show at 8:30 p.m. Sunday near the fire station. Other activities include a bean bag tournament, bike parade, Dave DiNaso’s Traveling World of Reptiles, a petting zoo, food trucks and beer gardens. The festival is free, with visitors paying only for food and other purchases.