Rails to Trails, Watertown’s main event of the summer, is back for its 32nd year. The annual festival celebrates the city’s heritage, history, and community.
The free event, coordinated by the Watertown Lions Club, the city, and many other community organizations, kicks off on Monday, July 22, with the hunt for the Golden Spike. The railroad spike is hidden on public property within the city limits, and clues will be posted each morning at 9 a.m. on the Rails to Trails website, Facebook page, and Instagram account. Whoever finds the spike should bring it to City Hall where they will be awarded the $200 cash prize.
The weekend starts early with a family movie night at the Community Center on Thursday, July 25 beginning at 7 p.m. This year’s movie is “Migration.”
The Rails to Trails Golf Tournament will be held at B’s on the River on Friday. Registration for the 9-hole scramble can be found on the Rails to Trails website or be done the day of at 1 p.m. The cost is $90 per person and $340 for a foursome, which includes a cart and dinner at the Lions Tent following golf. The tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 1 p.m.
Lewis Avenue will be packed with things to do on both Friday and Saturday. There will be live local music, a craft fair, food vendors, bingo, a kids’ fun zone, games, book sales, an exhibit from the Historical Society, and more.
As for the main attractions, the Crow River Duck Race will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by the fireworks display at 10:15 p.m. To enter the duck race, you can purchase a duck for $1 at Marketplace Foods, R & B’s, the Watertown Subway, or Watertown Pharmacy. Duck Race prizes will be awarded in the form of Chamber Checks and are $200 for first place, $100 for second place, and $50 for third place. Chamber Checks are redeemable at all Watertown Area Chamber member businesses. Saturday will be host to the 5k race which will start at 8 a.m., followed by the Grand Parade at 11 a.m.
The week-long celebration will conclude on Saturday evening with a live music performance by The Shaw Brothers. The band will hit the stage at 8:30 p.m. and close out Rails to Trails at midnight.
The Watertown Lions Club would like to thank the City of Watertown, Marketplace Foods, Bolton & Menk, Citizens Alliance Bank, Republic Services, Bremer Bank, Catalyst Medical Clinic, and the numerous other sponsors who made this year’s Rails to Trails possible.
While Rails to Trails is free to all visitors, any money raised by The Lions Club throughout the week is reinvested in the festival and also supports many youth, arts, and other community groups.
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