Nashua celebrating Water Over the Dam Days Friday-Saturday

By Bob Fenske, Of the Reporter

The 2022 edition of Water Over the Dam Days will kick off its two-day run on Friday, and as always, the itinerary is packed.

Organizers have added several new events, including a family-friendly triathlon that will be held on Friday and bingo that will be put on by the Nashua-Plainfield Lions Club on Saturday, and booked three bands and will celebrate Nashua’s biggest party with the annual parade that begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

In other words, it’s going to be heck of a “Summer Fiesta” this weekend in Nashua.

Start with the new events.

The kid/family triathlon, to be held at 5 p.m. Friday, will include a run, bike ride and, instead of swimming, kayaking. Those who compete can do the whole race by themselves or break it up and have one person do each event.

“We’ve been really pleased with how many people are signing up for it,” said Nate Sinnwell, Nashua Park Board chair. “It’s going to be a fun new event.”

Sinnwell said the Park Board is also excited that the Lions Club will be playing bingo from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

One more new event on the docket is a 3-point shooting contest that will be held, thanks to a family’s donation of a basketball hoop to the Park Board.

“We might throw in a free-throw contest,” Sinnwell said. ”One thing we’ve learned … is that it’s always good to throw in a few new things. The old reliables – the crowning of the queen, the bands, the parade and all that – are always going to be there, but having something new brings new people to the celebration.”

The band lineup has Them Pesky Kids playing Friday night, Ritchie Lee and the Fabulous Fifties taking the stage Saturday afternoon and Farm Rock returning to Water Over the Dam Days on Saturday night.

“We had Ritchie Lee and the Fabulous Fifties as Endless Summer’s replacement last year,” Sinnwell said. “People really liked them so we feel really good that we could get them back.”

“Water Over the Dam Days is such a great way to celebrate our town and our park,” he said. “We’re excited for a great weekend.”

Here’s are the highlights schedule:

Nashua Water Over the Dam Days

Friday, June 24th

(All Events at Park unless noted.)

• 9 a.m. – Four-Person Best shot golf tournament (Held at Nashua T&C).

• 5 p.m. – Food Truck Friday.

• 5-6 p.m. – Kid/Family Triathlon – Bike, Kayak Run (4:30 p.m. last minute registrations).

• 5:30-9 p.m. – Kids Pedal Cars.

• 7 p.m. – Princess/Prince Contest.

• 7:30 p.m. – WODD Queen Contest.

• 8 p.m. – Movie “The Last Dragon” (at Compass Outreach Center). Free Refreshments (Snacks provided by First State Bank & Lincoln Savings Bank).

• 8 p.m. – Nub’s Catfish Tournament (Register at Nub’s Bait Shop on Main St.).

• 8 pm-midnight – Them Pesky Kids Band.

*Food trucks, band and beer tent will all be moved to the fairgrounds in the event of rain on Friday or Saturday.

Saturday, June 25th

(All events at the Park.)

• 8:00-9:30 a.m. – Chamber of Commerce Breakfast.

• 10:30 a.m. – Parade.

• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Car & Bike Show Bud Cleveland Benefit; on Main Street (drinks served at Big Willies, 50/50 Raffle – all donations go to Bud Cleveland).

• 11 a.m. – Food trucks open.

• Noon – Ron Bilharz Jr. Memorial Horseshoe Tournament; (registration from 11-noon).

• Noon – Sand Volleyball Tournament; (team registration 11:30-noon).

• Noon-1 p.m. – Public Library Book Sale at the Library.

• 12:30-4:30 p.m. – Richie Lee & the Fabulous 50’s Band.

• 12:30-3 p.m. – Kids Games in the Park.

• 12:30-3 p.m. – Caricatures.

• 1 p.m. – 3-Point Contest.

• 1-4 p.m. – Figure 8 Races ( at the fairgrounds).

• 2-5 p.m. – Bingo.

• 3 p.m. – Bean Bag Tournaments.

• 4-7 p.m. – Cattlemen’s Meal.

• 4:30-5:30 p.m. – North Iowa Tae Kwon Do Demonstration (near beer tent area).

• 5:30-7 p.m. – Waterhawks Ski Show.

• 7-midnight – Farm Rock Band.

• 10 p.m. – Fireworks.