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This year's festival - organized by the Paynesville Area Chamber of Commerce - is the 54th annual event. Paynesville's community festival started in 1949 as Ice Cream Day, so named because at that time ice cream manufacturing was the leading industry in town. The name was changed to Town and Country Days in 1961.

Here's the lineup for next week's five-day community celebration.

June 14
On Saturday, the annual road run will be held around Lake Koronis. Registration starts at 8 a.m. at Veteran's Memorial Park, with the races starting at 9 a.m.

Sunday, June 15
On Sunday, the Peeper's Picnic and car show will be held in the Gazebo Park on Washburne Avenue from noon to 3 p.m., with the Little Miss Dairy Queen and Little Mr. Dairy Queen coronation at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Monday, June 16
On Monday, the Miss Paynesville pageant will be held starting at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. Nine candidates - Gretchen Fenske, Heather Fuchs, Kayla Hemingson, Jessica Paul, Amy Roberg, Kayla Rooney, Rachel Sogge, Jessica Virant, and Kayla Welle - will vie to become the next Miss Paynesville. (See the candidate profiles on page 3.) Outgoing royalty are Miss Paynesville Morgan Martinson, First Princess Mindy Meagher, and Second Princess Laura Stoneburner. Pageant admission is $6.

Tuesday, June 17
Festivities really get going on Tuesday with the annual pet show taking place at Washburne Court starting at 9:30 a.m.

At noon, the carnival (Sam's Amusements) and food booths (Lions' hamburgers, fry bread, cheese curds, homemade pie, etc.) open on James Street west of Washburne Avenue.

The annual kiddie parade will be held on Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m., with registration starting at 1:30 p.m. The parade will run from Washburne Court to the Koronis Manor.

On Tuesday evening, the kiddie tractor pull will be held on James Street east of Washburne Avenue, starting at 7 p.m. A quilt auction for the R.O.S.E. Center also will be held on James Street at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, June 18
On Wednesday afternoon, the carnival - and food booths - will operate again, starting at noon.

Town and Country Days will conclude with the grand parade on Wednesday evening, starting at 7 p.m. The parade will follow the same route again this year, starting in the Industrial Park, going down Washburne Avenue through downtown, running west past the elementary school on Mill Street, and ending at St. Louis Catholic Church. The Paynesville City Council has reminded parade entrants to bring candy but to hand it to spectators and not to throw it. Story about concerns.