ABOVE: Lewisville is ready to celebrate its 125th anniversary with many Lewisville FUN DAZE festivities planned for this weekend, Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, across the town.

LEWISVILLE — Lewisville, a small but big-hearted town, is still going strong in its 125th year.

“We’re such a small town, and it’s nice to know that we’re still going strong, even though we don’t have a lot of industry in our community anymore. We don’t really have a lot in our community, but we have people who are resilient, who are eager to stay in our town. We even have young families moving into our town, so it’s not like we’re a dying town by any means, but it’s exciting to me that 125 years later, we’re still going strong. That’s really exciting,” said Lewisville Mayor Barb Pfeil.

Lewisville sits on 160 acres with a population of just over 200 residents. According to the Minnesota Historical Society and Watonwan County Historical Society, Lewisville was platted by the Interstate Land Company on May 3, 1899, and became an incorporated village in 1902, named in honor of farmers Richard, James and Nelson Lewis, whose father, Irish native Thomas Lewis, came to the United States from Canada in 1869.

“It’s awesome to see the spirit of Lewisville,” Pfeil remarked. “Even though people have changed over the years… The same spirit is still there. We still want our community to be resilient, available for people to, no matter what your income is, what your profession is, come to town and just be able to celebrate that.”

To celebrate this milestone, Lewisville will be bustling with activities for its annual summer festival, the Lewisville Fun Daze on Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, made possible by Lewisville Fun Daze Committee members.

“We got a lot of community members who are excited about it. They’re coming to our meetings and are excited to make things happen in our town. So, there’s a lot of excitement going around in our community; everyone is excited to see it happen. We’re anticipating a great weekend. People who used to live in Lewisville are excited about our community and help us celebrate, and it’s just been a lot of fun getting this all put together,” Pfeil shared.

On Friday, June 19, the 2001 Time Capsule will be dug up and opened at 3:30 p.m. at City Park. There will also be horse trolley rides from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Main Street, Lewisville’s ‘Rolling Through the Years’ mini parade will take place at 5 p.m. on Main Street. A mayoral address by Lewisville Mayor Barb Pfeil will also take place at 5 p.m.

Other events include a Peppy Peppers Kids Medallion Hunt at 5:30 p.m. with the first clue at the Post Office, name that baby contest from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at City Hall, Little Miss and Mr. Lewisville pageant at 6 p.m. at City Hall with birthday cake and ice cream to follow.

The Lewisville Bank softball team reunion will be at 7 p.m. at Lewisville Legion and the Tanner Stark Band will plat from 8 to 11 p.m. at Lewisville Legion Tent.

On Saturday, June 20, there will be a Tractor Cade at 7:30 a.m. (line-up by the elevator) on Peavey Street with refreshments, Dad’s Belgian Waffles from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Lewisville Legion with proceeds to support Lewisville Ambulance, a co-ed softball tournament at 9 a.m. at the Lewisville Softball Field with beer sales supporting the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention and a co-ed grass volleyball tournament at 9 a.m. at Memorial Park.

Other events on Saturday include a craft and vendor show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street, Legion Auxiliary Bingo from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Main Street, Farmers Olympics at noon on Main Street, musical entertainment by Steve Lang, Over 60 Band and Nieves del Norte Band from noon to 6 p.m. on Main Street.

There will also be an adult tractor pedal Pull at 6 p.m. on Main Street, bean bag tournament at 6 p.m. at the liquor store, Dino’s Motor Blow at 7 p.m. on Main Street, Red Dirt Road performing from 8 p.m. to midnight at the liquor store beer garden tent and fireworks at 10 p.m. on Main Street.

Food vendors, Angela’s Egg Rolls, Eltorobravo, Lewisville Church, liquor store burger and hot dog stand, Royal Boil, St. Paul Lutheran Church smoothie stand and TNT EATS will be available starting at 11 a.m.

“I think our small towns are just excited to still be important in Minnesota,” Pfeil said. “Not everyone is going to the cities and moving away from the small communities. It’s those small communities that are producing those people who are moving to the city, so we really need our small communities, and I think it’s great they’re able to come back and celebrate with all of us.”

Looking toward the future, through the lens of the mayor, Pfeil hopes to see Lewisville continue to grow and thrive.

“I’d like to invite everybody to come up and enjoy all the fun festivities that we have,” Pfeil said.

For additional information about the Lewisville Fun Daze festival and 125th anniversary celebration, contact Chandler Greier at (507) 236-9723 or TJ Williams at (507) 213-6051.