Weekend Showcase: Earle Brown Days
The parade is, of course, only the beginning of the fun that is Earle Brown Days.
Some people, like Brooklyn Center Lions Club member Tom Shinnick have been coming to the parade since it began in 1982.
“Earle Brown Days was a week long at one time,” remembers Shinnick. “But now it’s down to three, four days, but anyways it is a nice celebration. A lot of people enjoy it.”
This year marks the first that the city has organized the event.
“Friday night we have a new event called the Red, White, and Brew,” says Kelly Mertes, Recreation Supervisor with the City of Brooklyn Center. “It’ll be held at Centerbrook Golf Course and its a twenty one plus event. It’ll be held from 6-9 p.m. and the cost is twenty dollars per ticket. We’ll have over a hundred wine and craft beer tasting set up by our Brooklyn Center liquor stores and their distributors and then for food we will have a brisket dinner provided by Centerbrook Golf Course, and just for the fun of it some pretzel necklaces to enjoy in between your tastings.”
More fun on Saturday
“Saturday morning starts with a Run, Jump or Fly 5k,” says Program Supervisor with the City of Brooklyn Center Janelle Crossfield. “It’ll take place at West Palmer Lake Park and families, friends, and neighbors get to race around Palmer Lake Park. The race is coordinated mostly by the Brooklyn Center Police Department and has a bit of a superhero twist. Most of your superheros either run jump or fly.”
Organizers encourage wearing your best superhero costume.
“Saturday night we have our family festival at Centennial Park just behind the civic campus,” says Crossfield. “We will have entertainment from 5 to 10 p.m. We’ll have food trucks from 5-10 p.m. We’ll have a community market and youth activities from 5 till 8 p.m. ”
Fireworks are a great end to any festival. The fireworks at Earle Brown Days begins at 10 p.m.
