Railroad Days 2024 is just one week away. Sanborn’s big celebration will be Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 25, 26, 27 and 28.
For the second year in a row, many of the activities will take place at Miller Park, but Thursday night features a Cruise Night up and down Main Street beginning at 6:00 p.m. with the theme being ‘80s Patriotic. There are numerous eating opportunities starting as early as 4:30 p.m. The City Park basketball courts are the site of a 3 Point Contest (with registration at 6:15) followed by a Best ‘80s Hair 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 Kung Fu Panda 4 (use the south entrance). Rails will be hosting Comedy Night beginning at 7:30.
Kicking off Friday’s slate is the Antique Tractor Ride which begins at 9:00 a.m. at the east end of East 1st Street. From 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sanborn Preservation Society will be welcoming the public to Carnegie Hall with beverages and hors d’oeuvres.
Events at 610 Depot include both a cook off from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and a free will supper from 6:00 until the food is gone. From 4:00 to 8:00 there will be Root Beer Floats and Lucky Wife Wine Slushies.
The spotlight shines on Miller Park beginning 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 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 Marshal is Merne Haack.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Saturday’s activities at Miller Park begin at 7:00 a.m. with the Masons pancake breakfast and Methodist church bake sale and continue with the Sanborn Christian School 5K and 1 mile fun run at 8:00 a.m. Beverages can be purchased from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Beginning at 11:00 a.m. food and beverages will be available from the Library and later from the Mi’Ono Club and Locomotion Lanes. A beer garden will be set up starting at 12:00 noon. More than 25 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. Antique tractors will also be on display from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Kids’ Zone opens at 12:00 noon and will remain open until 6:00 p.m. The Zone features bouncy houses, face painting and a clown with puppetry, magic and balloon art.
The fun also includes a Slippery Pig Contest and a Petting Zoo, both running from noon to 3:00 p.m. 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 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.
A number of 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. Kids Express Daycare is serving a meal beginning at 5:00 p.m. and lasting until the food is gone. The evening concludes with the CNC Productions Dance from 8:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Yesterday’s Memories & Truck Museum will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday and from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Free swimming at the Sanborn Aquatic Center is available from 1:00 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday and again from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on both 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, also at Miller Park. 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.