Fly over to Bowdon for the Annual Duckfest

The autumn frost has turned the leaves, the ducks are resting in the sloughs and the waterfowl hunters are making their way into the North Dakota pothole region. Right in the midst of the commotion is the small town of Bowdon and its upcoming Duckfest held Oct. 12-14. Duckfest has become a pilgrimage of sorts for annual visitors and residents who love the sport of waterfowl hunting. Thus, the people of Bowdon welcome everyone to "Come Enjoy Our Good Nature."

The Duckfest celebration begins on Friday Oct. 12. A pie contest includes a 3 p.m. deadline for entrants and Bowdon Bucks will be awarded to first, second, and third place winners in both fruit and custard divisions. From 5-7 p.m. with a free-will donation German Supper of locally made sausage, borscht and knoephla soups, cheese buttons, cabbage rolls, sauerkraut and kuchen, which are prepared and served by our generous volunteers. The proceeds benefit Bowdon Development expenses. The pies from the pie contest will be auctioned off at 7 p.m. by Lowell Rau, followed by Lions Bingo at 7:30 p.m.

Also on Friday,from 1-5 p.m., the North Dakota State Library will partner with the Bowdon Centennial Museum to host a photo and document preservation project at the museum. Participants can bring old photos or documents such as deeds, marriage licenses, baptismal certificates or other pertinent information to be scanned by library personnel. Two sessions each half hour will provide for 10 participants. Reservations must be made to Laurel Jones by Wednesday, Oct. 10 by calling (701) 341-0400.

The two-day art show also opens on Friday with a social from 4-9 p.m. in the north hall of the Bowdon School Activity Center. The social includes an art demonstration by Fessenden native Barb Melhouse Nechiporenko, and "See it Again" exhibit of Heaton native Dorothy Miller. The Miller family who lost their mother to cancer in 2017 and will be present to help celebrate the talents of their mother who is credited in helping to create the first Duckfest Art Show in 2006. Friday's festivities wrap up with live music from "Shake, Rattle, And Roll" at The Duck Bar from 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 13 is jam-packed with events from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. The art and vendor show and the family fun fair will begin at 10 a.m., and will be located at the school center. Artist and educator Myra Olson of the Jamestown Art Center will lead the youngest children in creating nature weavings from 10 a.m.-noon, and ages 8 and up from 1-3 p.m. Note, the location has been moved to the library.

The family fun fair varies each year with new activities. In additional the usual bouncy houses, petting zoo and hayride, there will be games of skill provided and supervised by 4-H, FCCLA and Close-Up students. A gaga ball pit, built by Bowdon Lutheran Church volunteers with funds from a Thrivent grant, will be available all day. Wristbands for youth ages 2-17 are being sold for $5 and are required for participation in the fair activities. In case of rain, the event will be held at the community center.

The Lions annual rubber duck race will take place on Main Street at 4 p.m., with $700 in prizes. Ducks cost $10 each and are available from any Bowdon Lion's member.  Saturday also includes a variety of shopping including a 25-booth vendor show in the school auditorium, the three room Bowdon Closet Thrift Shop and Duckfest clothing attire. Antiques and memorabilia are offered at the Stuffatorium on Main Street, and several items will be for sale in at the art show and at the silent auction. The silent auction will benefit new art education programs in Bowdon.

Scavenger hunters collect signatures from 10 events for a chance to win Duckfest attire. Those collecting all 20 events signatures will vie for a chance to win $50 in Bowdon Bucks. The decorating contest includes both Bowdon business and residential members, with public voting on Friday and Saturday. Ballots are available at various Bowdon businesses. Duck droppings Bingo will take place at the school, where people may buy a chance to win money if the duck drops doo-doo on their chosen Bingo square.

Duckfest food is always the best! The Café will provide the Hunters Special on Saturday from 7 a.m.- 4 p.m. Fetch's Food Truck and Grain Bin Coffee will be in the school yard from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Bowdon Grocery offers its own "cookies baked from scratch" and Bowdon Blazers will provide lunch in the school kitchen from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Duckfest Banquet features a roast beef dinner by Trails End Catering. The all-male Centennial Singers from the Harvey area, and Garrett Dockter from Goodrich will provide after dinner entertainment. Tickets for the entire evening are sold in advance for $20 and $25 at the door with youth and children tickets at reduced prices. The band Gold Rush will be featured at The Duck Bar from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Lion's serve brunch on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The festival is sponsored by more than 50 area businesses and a grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts.