Railroad Days 2025 kicks off in just a week. Sanborn’s annual celebration will be Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 24, 25, 26 and 27.
Miller Park will host activities Friday night, Saturday and Sunday but Thursday night features a Cruise Night up and down Main Street beginning at 6:00 p.m. with the theme being “Dancing through the Decades.” Drivers who wish to park their vehicles to show off their wheels are asked to use the west side of Main Street. Before the cruisin’ begins, Sanborn Preservation Society will have Carnegie Hall open to the public from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
There are a number of eating opportunities starting as early as 4:30 p.m. Kids Express Daycare is serving a free will donation meal at City Park Shelter House beginning at 5:00 p.m. and lasting until the food is gone. There will also be water activities, bubbles and outdoor fun. Beginning at 6:00 p.m. the area of the City Park basketball courts is the location for 3-Point and Knockout basketball contests, a Best Best Hair Contest (any decade) and a Best of Show Pet Contest. Beginning at 8:00 p.m. is a Teen Pool Party at Sanborn Aquatic Center (for ages 13-18) and also Movie Night at HMS Middle School. The feature will be Big Hero 6.
First up on Friday is the Antique Tractor Ride which begins at 9:00 a.m. near the east end of East 1st Street. From 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sanborn Preservation Society will again be welcoming the public to Carnegie Hall with beverages and appetizers.
Events at 610 Depot include both a cook off from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and a free will supper (with meat from the cook off) from 6:00 p.m. until the food is gone. Root Beer Floats will be available from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The events at Miller Park tee off with the golf tourney at 5:30 p.m. A Kids Glow Dance will take place from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. The Bouncy Houses and Bazooka Gun Arena will be open from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. The fun also includes face painting and yard games along with food and beverages. A fireworks display begins at dusk at Miller Park.
Saturday’s Railroad Days Parade starts at 10:30 a.m. The parade will travel north on Main Street, turn west onto West 4th Street and then turn south onto Prospect Street. This year’s Grand Marshals are Jeane Van Veldhuizen and Harriet Van Veldhuizen.
But Saturday features so much more than just the Parade. The day’s activities at Miller Park begin at 6:30 a.m. with Sanborn Strength Station’s Workout in the Park under the big tent. No registration required. Beginning at 7:00 a.m. the Masons will be serving up a pancake breakfast and Methodist Church will be having a bake sale. The annual Sanborn Christian School 5K and 1 mile fun run get underway 8:00 a.m.
Beginning at 11:00 a.m. food and beverages will be available at the Library. The Mi’Ono Club will be serving lunch at the Miller Park Shelter House starting at 11:30 a.m.
More than 20 vendors will be displaying their wares from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. along with a kids vendor market from 12:00 to 3:00. The Kids’ Zone opens at 12:00 noon and will remain open until 6:00 p.m. with a wristband required to enter. The Zone features bouncy houses and waterslides, face painting and a clown with puppetry, magic and balloon art. The Bazooka Ball Arena will be set up as well.
The fun at Miller Park also includes a Petting Zoo from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. along with t-shirt decorating and coloring activities, both under the big tent beginning at 12:00 noon. The Sand Volleyball Tournament with teams pre-registered begins at 12:00 noon. The Cornhole Tournament with teams pre-registered starts at 1:00 p.m. following the 12:30-12:45 p.m. sign-in. At 1:00 p.m. is the Kids Pedal Pull. The yard games run from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m.
New this year is Axe Throwing from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. located near the big tent. Bingo will be played under the big tent from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. with all ages welcome.
Several food trucks are scheduled to arrive in Miller Park at 11:00 a.m. Three others begin serving at 4:00 p.m. Snack options will also be available. The evening concludes with the The Silver Alchemist performing on the golf course driving range from 9:00 p.m. to midnight.
This is the year for the Sanborn Comminity School (1888-1988) All-School Reunion. It will be held Saturday at Yesterday’s Memories Museum. Social Hour runs from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. The 5:00 p.m. Supper will be followed by a Sock Hop. Advance reservations are needed for the Supper.
Yesterday’s Memories & Truck Museum will be open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday. Free swimming at the Sanborn Aquatic Center is available from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Sunday is a time for faith and more food. A community church service is planned for 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. under the tent at Miller Park. From 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. there will be a Latino church service and meal at Miller Park Shelter House. The Sanborn Fire Station is the location for the Firemen’s Omelet Breakfast which will be served from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.