CRESTON — The Creston Booster Days festivities later this summer were up in the air until a month or two ago. 

Creston Boosters Vice President Steve Katzman said until things started to open back up in the state, the club was concerned this year may be canceled due to COVID-19 like last year. Now, a full weekend of festivities are planned. 

“Last year was very sad,” Katzman said. “We didn’t know if it would ever happen again. Everyone wondered if we’d be able to do it again. Everybody in the community is pretty excited about it.”

The event will take place over three days from Aug. 27-29. 

Friday night begins at 5 p.m. at Booster Park with a steak fry with Headon’s Fine Meats and rides and games from Skinner’s Amusements. The rides will take place on Friday for the first time this year. Music on stage will be The Missing Links. The beer garden will be open. 

Saturday will start with a 7 a.m. pancake breakfast at the Creston Fire Department. There will be a vendor and craft show, the kitchen will be opening and Skinner’s amusements start at 1 p.m. The yearly auction will take place. The beer garden will be open again and at 6 p.m Morning Maple will be on stage. The night closes with fireworks at 9 p.m. 

Sunday starts with a 9:30 a.m. community church service and the presentation of the annual Cederholm award. Later on is the craft and vendor show again and the kitchen will open. The parade is at noon on Main Street. 1-3 p.m. is the Headon’s Pork Chop barbeque. Skinner’s amusements start at 1 p.m. 

Also at 1 p.m. Sunday are the garden tractor pulls by Rock County Pullers. The beer garden will be open again. From 2-5 p.m. Southern Ride will be performing on stage. At 3 p.m. vintage baseball games will start between the Creston Regulators and Somonauk and Ashton. Booster Days will close at 5 p.m. after the annual raffle drawing.

Katzman said planning for this year was difficult with uncertainty. 

“We kind of had to start over this year,” Katzman said. “We were able to get in touch with everybody and get things going. A lot goes on behind the scenes. Things like vendors, food and ice machines. It’s a lot to do and a lot of people involved. We try to have one person for everything. 

Katzman said the event brings a lot of people to the village and helps out businesses in town. He’s happy to have the tradition back. 

“It’s very long standing,” Katzman said. “This will be the 64th annual Creston Booster Days. We missed one year. That was last year.”