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June Dairy Days is such a popular event that there’s no problem starting it in May.

West Salem’s annual dairy celebration will be held May 31 through June 1 with most of the action taking place in Village Park and the downtown area. This year will mark the 38th June Dairy Days, and the three-day event will be highlighted by fireworks, a parade, a carnival and plenty of music.

“We’ve got many of the same things but we do have some new events this year,” said June Dairy Days Committee president Tamie Batzel. “We hope everyone can get down to the park and try out the new events.”

The festival kicks off at 6:30 a.m. on Friday, May 30 with the presentation of the June Dairy Days button design winner and the parade marshal at the annual breakfast at Westview Inn. June Dairy Days ends at 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 1.

New to this year’s June Dairy Days includes the Kiddie Tractor Pull, open to youth ages 4 to 6, on Mill Street at noon on Sunday. Additionally, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, a Care & Share Food Pantry Day will be held where people can donate non-perishable food items for a chance win prizes from a drawing.

Belly dancers, too, will be an added attraction that will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday in Village Park.

A change from last year will have the teen dance held at La Scher’s on Leonard on Saturday. Last year, the teen dance had to be cancelled because of rain. Killian’s Fault will perform at 5:30 p.m. while Geared Under will be on at 7 p.m.

Returning this year are some crowd favorites, such as the fireworks show and the June Dairy Days parade. This is the fifth year for the fireworks show, and it will be held at 10 p.m. on Friday. The parade, which travels downtown along Leonard Street, will be at noon on Saturday, and there are already 70 entrants; motorists are reminded to not park on Leonard Street between Elm and Lewis streets beginning at 10:30 a.m.

A carnival, too, will be back all three days — opening at 5 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. And, of course, June Dairy Days will feature its signature dairy tent, other food and a beer tent.

Men’s and 4-H softball tournaments will start Friday and last throughout the three days at Village Park, Riverview Park and the school fields. Saturday morning will also feature the Table Rock Trot Fun Run/Walk, roller blading and a volleyball tourney.

The Big Wheel Races will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, and the Classique Bike Tour will begin at 7 a.m. on Sunday.

Other highlights include the June Dairy Days Recipe Contest at 1:30 p.m. Friday, and a sawdust pile filled with coins will be available for kids ages 4 to 6 to dig through at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Village Park.

For music, there will be plenty of entertainment. Duane Luethe, vice president of the June Dairy Days Committee, organized getting musical performances scheduled.

“I tried to fill most of the day,” Luethe said. “We want to keep people in the park and make sure they have a good time.”

On Friday, the blues and jazz music of Fat Daddies will start at 5:30 p.m. while Three Beers Til Dubuque will feature different genres of music at 9 p.m.

Family-type music will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday with the barbershop music of Apple Annies. The high school jazz band will perform at 3 p.m. and Rockin’ Recess will have interactive music and fun for youth at 4 p.m. The classic rock of Tunnel Vision will be at 5 p.m. with Troubleshooter, which also performs different types of music, starting at 9 p.m.

On Sunday, Free Spirit will perform Christian music at 11 a.m., JoyWorks DanceArts will have a performance at noon, and The Stingrays, featuring ’50s to ’70s rock, will wrap up musical entertainment at 2 p.m.

A special event during June Dairy Days is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday during the annual West Salem Baseball Alumni Game, which will pit Chuck Ihle’s Panther baseball team against former Major League Baseball player Damian Miller and other alumni. Prior to the game, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held to commemorate the newly remodeled ball field behind the high school.

Over the last year, the Friends of West Salem spent $70,000 to improve the infield and install an outfield fence, warning track and an irrigation and drainage system.

“It’s really pretty exciting when you see it out there,” said Tom Holven, chair of the friends group. “We’re pretty proud of what we’ve been able to do in a short period of time.”

Saturday’s game, held after the parade, will be the first game on the renovated field. Ihle, who will be in his 23rd year coaching the varsity baseball team, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

“He’s done more for baseball than anyone in our organization,” Holven said. “We feel he’s the best suited person for that.”

West Salem Village President Dennis Manthei said June Dairy Days is a fun occasion to commemorate the dairy industry, and he welcomes everyone to take part.

“June Dairy Days is an opportunity for people to gather to celebrate the agricultural heritage of the greater West Salem community and the diversity of the businesses and organizations supporting the community in 2008,” Manthei said. “The parade, food, music and games provide a variety of activities for everyone to enjoy.

“We invite everyone to visit and participate in the celebration anchored in the West Salem Village Park.”

Batzel said planning for this year’s June Dairy Days went well, and she anticipates more people coming out this year than last. The 2007 had rain each day of the event.

“We’ve had enough of that,” Batzel said. “I’m forecasting sun.”

June Dairy Days buttons, required for entry into the beer tent, are available at area businesses. Cost of the button is $2 prior to the event and $3 during June Dairy Days.

For a complete list of events and times, see this week's Coulee News.