Tracy’s annual 4-day party begins next week
It might be hard to believe, but the 98th annual Box Car Days celebration is just around the bend.
The weekend is a culmination of hard work, planning and organizing by Tracy Area Chamber of Commerce members and the Box Car Days Committee.
“I love just watching people have a good time,” said BCD Committee member and uber-volunteer Jay Fultz. “That’s really what we try to do; we try to have something for everybody to do. There’s always something going on for all the different age groups.”
The weekend kicks off next Friday with the Tracy Area Chamber of Commerce Burger Night at 5 p.m. in the beer tent. There is also a beer pong tournament at 8 p.m., and Jerry Gladis will be playing the hits from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Most of the traditional events that have made Tracy a Labor Day weekend destination for thousands are returning, but, as usual, there are some tweaks. One of the changes involves food, as the Tracy Fire Department is hosting a fivehour pulled pork dinner on Aug. 30 at the beer tent.
“The fire department is doing all of the smoking and roasting on their own grills, and it’s going to be a fundraiser for them,” Fultz said.
That is just one of myriad things going on Saturday.
The day begins with the Panther cross country team-sponsored Box Car Days Road Race at Central Park. The run was moved from the traditional day, which was Monday. If your appetite is kicking in after, Kegs & Eggs will be offered at the beer tent, starting at 8:30 a.m. And to burn off your food, there is also a softball tournament, the “400 Open” Golf Tournament and a bean bag tournament Saturday.
The little ones can show off their personality in the Kiddie Parade, sponsored by the Tracy Area Headlight Herald. The parade will begin at 3 p.m. with registration at 2:30 p.m. in the Sanford back parking lot. Later Saturday, adult Pizza, Puzzles & Guzzle returns for another year. This popular event is limited to the first 20 teams of four and kicks off at 6 p.m. in the beer tent. Also at 6 p.m., the Shetek Area Smooth Sailing silent auction will commence in the beer tent as well.
Saturday winds up with the free, Box Car Wind-sponsored street dance, featuring the Top 40 party band, “Rhino,” which is also performing at the Minnesota State Fair that weekend.
Sunday is a big day for the kids — not just downtown, but in Central Park as well, as kids’ activities include inflatables and bungee trampolines, the kids’ pedal pull, Cowboy Up entertainment and Tae Kwon Do demonstrations.
“I think the biggest thing is that it’s all free,” Fultz said. “We’ve got some fantastic things in the park that day — Lingen Dairy will be there with their ice cream and food. It’s just a great time. The way Central Park has been transformed really, it’s just an amazing place to be for the kids.”
Another Pizza, Puzzles & Guzzle event will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday in the park, but this one is just for the kids (ages 8-12).
St. Mary’s will host Dad’s Belgian Waffles from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Events Sunday that will test your innerathlete include the pickleball tournament, sponsored by Ralco, in front of the VMC (8 a.m.); mud volleyball tournament at The Caboose (9 a.m.); and horseshoe tournament at Nehls Park (10 a.m.).
The Miss Tracy Scholarship Program is at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at the high school. This year’s program features nine Tracy Area High School seniors, who will vie for the title of Miss Tracy 2026. Sunday’s downtown entertainment features the Singing Qs from 8 p.m.-midnight at the beer tent.
On Monday, more great food will be offered at the 7 a.m. Fly-In/Drive-In Breakfast at the new-look airport. Everyone is welcome to bring their cars, motorcycles and planes to the event. Also at about that time, Cinnamon Hen will be home to a farmers’ market.
The St. Mary’s Arts & Crafts Fair will run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the school’s gym, and at 11 a.m., the St. Mary’s Food Stand will open.
Following the 1 p.m. Grand Parade, the After the Parade party will begin at the beer tent, featuring — get ready to pucker up — the “Kiss the Pig” contest, sponsored by Fultz Farms. This will be the second year of “Kiss the Pig,” which was created last year to replace the pigeon race. This year’s contestants are Matt Knakmuhs, Mandy Dibble, Derek Ashbaugh, Darcy Carlson and Adam Connor.
Going on throughout the weekend will be bingo and the antique tractor show at the Wheels Across the Prairie Heritage Center. Food offerings all four days include fare from Asian Hut Food Stand, Sweet Kettle Madness, Rolling Hills Pizza and everyone’s can’t-miss Lions burgers and malts. There will also be a pork burger meal at the Heritage Center from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday.
Set-up for this year’s BCD weekend will begin Thursday, when the beer tent and bingo stand go up. Fultz and all his fellow volunteers will be back at work Friday, when picnic tables and the bar area are set up in the beer tent, and coolers are brought it.
“That’s our big day,” Fultz said. “We start right away in the morning, decorating, moving in picnic tables. The burger night with all of our volunteers kicks things off at 5 o’clock Friday. Saturday is a very early day with Kegs & Eggs. It’s a long weekend, but something that I just truly enjoy being a part of. For the committee members, there’s always something that throws us for a loop — that’s the case with any kind of event — but for a town the size of Tracy to pull this off, it’s pretty unbelievable.”
BCD volunteers aren’t just those who serve on committees. The “village” that makes BCD happen includes many community members who chip in behind the scenes to help make the event bigger and better each year, Fultz said.
“We have quite a few volunteers who help with specific things, whether it’s taking a shift in the beer tent, or helping set up the beer tent or the bingo stand,” Fultz said. “There are so many people that have been helping for so many years. They know when they need to show up. We’re very fortune that we have so many people that step up. This is not something that just our committee would be able to do. We are grateful for everybody.”
