After losing a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Atalissa Days will be back in full celebration mode this Friday and Saturday, June 25-26, put together by members of the Atalissa Fire Department which will benefit from the fundraiser.
It all starts at 7 p.m. on Friday with a silent auction where dozens of items will be donated to help raise money while a local disc jockey – DJ Derek– plays popular tunes and requests. Derek Telsrow is one of the firemen on the squad. There’s also a drawing for a Green Egg grill and accessories.
First year fire chief Mike Smock says he’s looking forward to the weekend, hoping for great weather as the department puts together their biggest fundraiser of the year.
The night will subside with a spectacular fireworks show on the grounds, put together after raising $2,200 in donations by Alfredo Plata and Nate Vidmar, with a free dance to follow provided by a live band, “Tongue-n-Groove,” popular entertainers from Blue Grass.
Saturday’s events open at 8 a.m. with the silent auction continuing through 5 p.m. that evening, enhanced by a burrito breakfast at the fire station beginning at 8 a.m.
A car show will take place from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. where anyone is welcome to show off their classic machine. An awards ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. for the best and most popular cars in the show. Anyone interested in registering their classic car, street rod, sports car, truck or motorcycle should contact the sow manager, Mike Smith, at 562-260-7452.
A “Next Generation Shows” carnival begins at 10 a.m. with a variety of rides and a bags tournament begins at 11 a.m. that day. Evan Smock is chairing the event and can be contacted to register contestants in the bags tournament at 319-631-9460.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., bingo will be played and there will also be a kids’ rainbow train running, with free rides for youngsters on the train built by a local fireman.
The afternoon is highlighted by a community parade, with line-up beginning at 2 p.m. at the Nutrient plant on Oak Street, the parade running through the city beginning at 3 p.m. Lifelong supporters of the fire department, Steve and Edie Burnett, will be grand marshalls for the parade, which has a “Honoring Heroes” theme.
At 3:30 p.m., the West Liberty Lions Club will host their popular kid’s pedal tractor pull.
A barbeque cook off will also be held that day beginning in the early morning, with judging and awards taking place by 4 p.m. The event is limited to the first 10 registrants by contacting Angie Dickey at 563-299-9763 and meat will be provided.
There will also be a community dinner featuring the meat prepared in the cook-off beginning at 5 p.m., followed by a live auction beginning at 6 p.m., and another free dance beginning at 8 p.m. with live music from “Fair Warning” of Davenport.
Anyone interested in making a donation toward the live or silent auction should contact any fire department member including chief Mike Smock at 319-321-7101. Other first responders include Scott Skubal, Kyle Beinke, Joe Blick, Rick VanDusen, Cody VanDusen, Cory Alexander, Travis Parry, Trent Telsrow, Dave Spilger, Alex Pace, Derek Telsrow, Ashley Blick, Tammy Wigim, Candace Rada, Jen Davis, Austin VanAmerongen, Matt Wigim and Mark Evans.