Beef, beer and roaring engines are on the menu for a weekend of competition and community spirit in Banks.
Celebrating its 78th anniversary, the Banks BBQ & Tractor Pull returns Friday, Aug. 16, to Sunday, Aug. 18, at Sunset Park. Each year, the event draws thousands of families eager for a weekend of outdoor attractions and country fun.
Originally conceived as a post-World War II celebration to unite the community, this summer spectacle has transformed over the decades. What began as a night of dancing has evolved into a thrilling tractor pull, complete with dust flying and the aroma of mouth-watering beef sandwiches filling the air.
The festivities kick off Friday evening with a traditional Texas Hold ‘Em tournament at Schlegel Hall. In the beer garden, attendees can enjoy drinks while listening to the Rock & Roll Cowboys perform at 8 p.m.
Saturday features a packed schedule, including a car cruise, cornhole tournament and preliminary tractor and truck pulls. The day culminates with a performance by the Double Barrel Band in the beer garden from 8 to 11 p.m.
As tradition dictates, Sunday begins with a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by a parade through Banks at 11 a.m.
The picnic area at Sunset Park will buzz with activity as kids gather for the greased pole climb, attempting to shimmy up a slippery pole to snag cash prizes at the top. The celebration of vintage American traditions continues with the frog jumping contest, where children bring frogs from local ditches and ponds to cover the most distance over three leaps.
The event’s famous barbecue sandwiches also go on sale the final day. Last year, guests consumed around 800 pounds of beef, according to event organizers.
Grandstands open at noon for folks to witness the marquee truck and tractor pulls, with smoke billowing from exhaust pipes as behemoth machines drag weighted sleds down a 300-foot dirt stretch. Whether the vehicle makes it all the way or misses the mark, attendees cheer all the same.
Wrapping up the weekend is the combine destruction derby, a unique twist on a car demolition derby featuring older-model vehicles typically used for harvesting crops. The event has become a mainstay since it was introduced 25 years ago.
Proceeds from the Banks BBQ & Tractor Pull help fund the private, volunteer-run park. Consisting of 23 acres, Sunset Park is used by the local school district, Boy Scouts and the general community.
To find a full schedule for the third weekend of August, check out the tractor pull’s flyer .
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