Monterey Days Festival kicks off Labor Day weekend of fun in Pulaski County

The Monterey Days Festival returned to Pulaski County for a Labor Day weekend of free fun in the small rural community of Monterey. Every year, hundreds gather to enjoy the end of summer with fun events like bed races, basketball games, cornhole tournaments, fishing derbies, and more.

Monterey Days celebrates everything that makes Pulaski County unique. Instead of big headline acts, the festival focuses on neighbors having fun with neighbors with smaller, more personal events.

“It’s a community festival that is put on by Monterey. Although it is a small festival, it’s been going on for almost 30 years. It’s a really nice small-town thing,” Town Board President of Monterey Doug Deaton said. “It’s got a lineage.”

Festivities began on Friday night with food vendors lining Main Street and family-friendly activities for everyone to enjoy. A cake walk, inflatable bounce houses, and the crowning of Mr. and Miss Monterey ensured that festival-goers always had something to do before the special America 250 presentation and dedication that closed out the evening.

On Saturday, the town will hold its annual town-wide yard sale and library book sale. A fishing derby will begin at daylight, and visitors can expect a full day of fun with a basketball tournament, pedal tractor pull, a wrestling match, live music by NightShift, and more. Saturday will also play host to the Monterey Days Festival parade.

Sunday will be a day of competition, with a volleyball tournament, cornhole tournament, watermelon eating contest, and the ever-popular bed race. Families will have plenty to do with relay races for kids and a scavenger hunt. Live entertainment by Signal 10 will begin towards the day’s end.

“I’m most excited for the car show that is on Monday as well as the little tractor show that takes place on Saturday,” Deaton said.

The weekend will conclude on Labor Day with a breakfast and car show. All of these events wouldn’t be possible without the support of the festival’s sponsors, attendees and volunteers. The businesses and artisans who attend the festival are what give Monterey Days its character and charm.

“I want to thank all of the businesses in Pulaski, Stark, Fulton, and Marshall County that donated, as well as Amy Simpson,” Vice President of the Monterey Days Festival Shauna Ross said. “We wouldn’t be able to do this without them.”

If you can’t make it to this weekend’s Monterey Days Festival, start planning your trip to one of Pulaski County’s other exciting events, like the Francesville Fall Festival beginning on September 18 or the third annual Winamac Tri-Tender on September 26!

Learn more about everything happening in Pulaski County atpulaskionline.org.