JUBILATION TIME

Jun 8, 2023

— Photo courtesy of the City of Jewell.Kids got to hop on a train during a previous Jewell Jubilee. This year's Jewell Jubilee is scheduled to start with its annual barbecue on Friday, with free events on tap all day on Saturday.

JEWELL — This weekend, Jewell will have something for everyone. No, really, they mean that.

The only exception might be the beer tent. Everything else is fair game.

Starting with their annual Main Street Barbecue at 5 p.m., the annual Jewell Jubilee — sponsored by Jewell A Main Street Community — will have music, parades, fireworks, games, golf and a whole slate of free activities.

According to Heidi Eckers, executive director of Jewell A Main Street Community, this year's meal is a free will donation which will be used toward next year's Jubilee. The menu includes beef or turkey sandwiches, chips, pasta salad, soda or water, and there will be hot dogs available for kids.

It's been a long running tradition, Eckers said. It's only recently where Jewell A Main Street Community — formed as a partnership between the City of Jewell, Jewell Area Development Enterprise (JADE) and the JADE Foundation — had taken over the responsibilities for the Jubilee.

"It's been going on for a long time," Eckers said. "In the past, different civic organizations did different parts of the Jubilee. In 2019, we took over the planning and execution of the city event. We’ve been doing it all inclusively, and now, we manage the whole thing."

Along with the barbeque, there will be live music, which also starts at 5 p.m. One hour later, at 6 p.m., there will be a kiddie parade, followed by a nickel scramble, conservation program, inflatables, an FFA-sponsored tractor pull and a bake sale.

However, this year's celebration will miss the Jewell Jubilee Waterball Competition, overseen by Jewell Fire and Rescue. This is due to Main St.'s current condition, as it is being resurfaced.

Jewell Fire and Rescue did promise that the event will return in 2024.

At 7 p.m., the beer tent will open with music provided by The Sons of Gladys Kravitz, an area classic rock band.

The beverage garden, located in front of Waterworks Park, is for individuals 21 years of age and older. There is no cover charge and sales from the tent will go toward 2024's Jubilee.

Visitors are also encouraged to bring their lawn chairs.

At dusk, there will be a fireworks show.

On Saturday, the Jubilee will start bright and early with the Clear Lake Sailors 5K run, which begins at 7:30 a.m. At 10 a.m., the parade will be held in downtown Jewell, while Hovick Farms Petting Zoo will set up shop at 11 a.m.

The Triple Crown Tournament will take place at various parts of town, which puts participants through a two-person best shot from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Jewell Golf and Country, a darts tournament at Malibu Lounge at 1 p.m. and a bags tournament at the JADE beer tent at 617 Main St.

The best two scores out of the three events for the participating two-person teams will earn a 50/50 payout.

Throughout the day, there will be inflatable, face painting, presentations and much more.

The weekend's event will wrap up with a community church service at 9 a.m. at Jewell United Church of Christ at 537 Main St.

"Our goal is to create a festive, family friendly and fun event," Eckers said. "It's downtown, right on our main street, and it's something that everyone can enjoy. We worked really hard to bring a lot of entertainment and activities for people of all ages."

Jewell Jubilee

Schedule of Events

Friday, June 9

5 p.m. — Main Street Barbecue

5 p.m. to 11 p.m. — Live Music

6 p.m. — Kiddie Parade

6 p.m. to Dusk — Nickel Scramble, Conservation Program, Inflatables, FFA Tractor Pull, UCC Bake Sale, family friendly activities

7 p.m. — Sons of Gladys Kravitz

Dusk — Fireworks

Saturday, June 10

7:30 a.m. — Clear lake Sailors 5K run

10 a.m. — Downtown Parade

11 a.m. — Hovick Farms Petting Zoo

11 a.m. — Triple Crown Tournament

11 a.m. to Dusk — Family friendly activities.

Sunday, June 11

9 a.m. — Community Service (Jewell United Church of Christ)

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