BLUE EARTH – Despite all the current construction in Blue Earth, the town’s summer festival – in honor of the famous Jolly Green Giant – is quickly approaching.

Blue Earth is set to hold the commemorative Giant Days 2016 Celebration on Friday and Saturday.

Traditional Giant Days events are scheduled to take place. However, due to all of the street work, some changes have been implemented.

A deviated parade route will be utilized, as the parade will begin with the normal route on Main Street, then take a slight variation as follows: west on Eight, north on Nicollet, then back to Main Street.

This year’s street dance will take place Saturday evening at the Faribault County Fairgrounds, in the Veterans Memorial Building, sponsored by the Eagles Club. A party bus – free to all – is being offered for those needing a ride to and from the dance, so that everyone will be afforded the opportunity to enjoy the music of Switch Road Band.

The Main Street Fun and Food Event will take place between Seventh and Eighth streets this year, rather than the normal location of Gazebo Park.

Other than a few changes to locations and routes, the giant traditions of food, friends, family and fun remain the same at this year’s Giant Days.

The schedule of events is as follows:

Friday

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Giant Days Kick Off, Bevcomm & First Bank customer appreciation lunch (hot dogs and root beer floats) at Juba’s Corner Stand.

5-8 p.m. – Giant BBQ Marinade & Rub Sampling at Twisted Vine Floral, Highway 169 South.

5:30 p.m. – Party at Giant Park.

5:30-9 p.m. Food vendors

7-9:30 p.m. KBEW Dance DJ’s, music, games and prizes.

Dusk – Fireworks (shot off east of Blue Earth Area High School).

Saturday

7 a.m. – KBEW Giant Bike Ride at the Faribault County Fairgrounds.

8 a.m. – Giant Fun Run at the Faribault County Fairgrounds.

8 a.m. – Trinity Lutheran Bake Sale (at Trinity’s food stand) at the Faribault County Fairgrounds.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Classic Car Show at the Faribault County Fairgrounds.

10:30 a.m. – Pine Wood Derby races (8:30 a.m. check-in) at the Faribault County Fairgrounds.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Historical Society pie & ice cream social and meal in the Veterans Memorial Building at the fairgrounds.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Sidewalk and crafts sales downtown.

Bud’s Angels Relay for Life, bouncy house and games, corner of Seventh and Main.

Food vendors on Main Street between Seventh and Eighth streets.

9:30 a.m. – Riverside Town & Country Club Bob Kutsi Classic 2-man, Ryder Cup format (8 a.m. registration).

10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Giant Garden Tours leaving from Steinberg Park.

5 p.m. – Giant Parade, featuring the SuFuDu Drum Corps.

8 p.m. – SuFuDu performance at Eighth and Main Street downtown.

8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. – Street Dance (featuring The Switch Road Band) and beer garden, $2 cover charge, at the Veterans Memorial Building at the fairgrounds.