Celebrate Labor Day the Diagonal way

As summer nears its end, the community of Diagonal is celebrating the way they do best at their annual Labor Day celebration.

The Diagonal Lions Labor Day Celebration is slated to start with a fun run 8 a.m. Sunday followed by an outdoor church service 9 a.m. at the north gym, 403 W. 2nd St., in Diagonal. Festivities will continue throughout the three-day weekend.

Gina Knox of Diagonal said the celebration is a fun way to end the summer season.

“It’s a community event that we’ve had for several years,” Knox said. “It’s a good, family gathering with activities for everybody.”

Activities

Most of the activities at Diagonal’s Labor Day celebration are free and all are family friendly.

The most popular event are the tractor pulls 1 p.m Sunday and the “mammoth” parade, themed “Made in America,” 10 a.m. Monday.

“It’s always been a tradition since I was a kid,” Knox said.

Of the annual celebration, what Knox said she enjoys most are the remarks about each float made by the commentators and the loudness of the tractor pulls.

Brad Bentley, 2013 president of the Diagonal Lions Club, said the Sunday night tractor pull, which draws hundreds of spectators to Diagonal’s main street, is one of the largest crowds he has experienced.

“The Sunday night tractor pull is when you see the real big stuff,” Bentley said. “That’s when you see your modified tractors and pick-ups. Your bigger equipment that is running a lot more horse power. Four hundred to 500 horse power easily.”

Bentley said Sunday night’s tractor pull attracts participants from as far as Des Moines and Winterset. A local tractor pull is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday.

Other activities throughout the weekend include 3 on 3 basketball, car and motorcycle shows, micro miniature tractor pull, burnout contest, bean bag toss tournament, dirt bike races, sand volleyball tournament, nickel scramble, duck regatta, a fishing derby, antique appraisal show, cook out and the Fogel Lake Glow Run 5K run/walk and one mile “fun run” for kids hosted by Diagonal Community School Foundation.

Registration for the Glow Run begins 7 p.m. Saturday at Fogel Lake shelter.

Fireworks at Fogle Lake begin at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Community

Proceeds from this year’s Labor Day celebration in Diagonal will enrich the small train town in more ways than one.

The money raised through various activities will help the Diagonal Lions Club continue sidewalk improvements along Diagonal’s main street and provide a number of scholarships for graduating seniors.

“We basically pay for anything the community needs,” Bentley said.

What makes this such a great event?

“It’s just fun,” Bentley said. “I’ve been a part of it every year. And, I just enjoy doing it.”

For Fogle Lake Glow Run registration information, visit www.bit.ly/diagonalglows. For general Labor Day celebration weekend schedule and information, visit www.bit.ly/diagonallaborday.