Cootie Days Archives - Big Sioux Media Sports Network

Cootie Days Excitement Brewing

June 4, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The 100th annual Cootie Days celebration is just days away in Dell Rapids. This year’s event will have an extra day added and is looking to be a fun time. The fun begins on Friday, June 11th and will run through Sunday, June 13th.

Thomas Carnivals will be providing the midway entertainment. Advanced ride ticket vouchers are available at T&C as well as J&R Alterations. The cost of the voucher is $15.00, which is good for a wristband valid all day and redeemable at a carnival ticket booth. The wristband is good for the entire day. Individual tickets will also be available for purchase. Thomas Carnival will also be providing carnival games, and the games will be a cash payment at the game. The hours of the midway will be Friday 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Organizers are also hoping the Avera Careflight helicopter will be able to land at city park for a chance for people to see the aircraft up close. Tentative plans are to try to have the helicopter at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. If that plan does not work, they will try for Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

Events Happening All Summer Long in Dell Rapids

May 6, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dell Rapids will be home to several events throughout the months of June and July this summer.

Things will get started with the 100th Anniversary of Cootie Days. This year’s Cootie Days will be adding an extra day and will be held June 11th, 12th, and 13th. Thomas Carnival will be providing the midway entertainment for this year’s event.

Just two short weeks later, the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their annual Quarry Days celebration June 25th, 26th, and 27th. They are planning for all of the fun activities of years past including the golf tournament, parade, street dance, vendors in the park, car show, and more.

Norby’s will be celebrating 20 years of business, and they are having three separate celebration events in July. Their first event will be an outdoor dance on July 10th. They will be hosting a Poker Run fundraiser in conjunction with Corduroy and Pixie Dust to raise funds for Ellie Joy’s Closet on July 17th. That event will feature a DJ. The third event will be another outdoor dance held on July 31st. All three events will have food catered by Cricket’s Catering.

More Dell Rapids Summer Events Change Due to Virus

May 15, 2020 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Image from CDC website

Weeks after the announcement that the annual Dell Rapids Relay for Life is cancelled due to the Covid-19 virus, two more summertime events in Dell Rapids are being altered because of the virus.

The Dell Rapids Legion Post 65 made an announcement on Facebook the night of Wednesday, May 14th. After a meeting via teleconference, a decision was made to cancel the 2020 Legion Cootie Days. As posted on their Facebook page, “It was a tough decision to cancel cootie days and was not taken lightly. Safety of the community has to take precedence, although disappointing, we could not have the carnival.” The Legion is planning on working with Thomas Carnivals for the 2021 event.

The Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce is also making changes to their annual Quarry Days celebration, which was to be held on June 26th through 28th. The chamber is postponing the annual Quarry Days celebration to August 8th and 9th.

Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce President Dan Ahlers said, “The chamber believes moving Quarry Days is a responsible step in promoting public safety. We hope having it in August will provide a safer, more acceptable date and bring a sense of normalcy back to our summer.”

2019 Cootie Days Activities

May 30, 2019 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The George A. Fitzgerald American Legion Post 65 is hosting its’ 2019 Cootie Days Celebration in the Dell Rapids City Park on Friday June 7^th from 3:00 pm to 10:30 pm, and on Saturday June 8th from 1:00 pm to 10:30 pm. Activities include a Carnival Midway, fun rides, bingo games, raffle drawings and fantastic food from the Dell Rapids Legion Auxiliary. You can receive advance ride tickets at a discount from T&C’s & T&C’s Other Place. Come one, Come all, bring the whole family and enjoy the festivities.

Crazy Days and Cootie Days Held

June 17, 2013 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The 2013 Crazy Days and Cootie Days in Dell Rapids was held on Friday, June 14th, and Saturday, June 15th. The Cootie Days celebration kicked off on Friday at City Park and included a carnival that brought young and old alike to the City Park. On Saturday Crazy Days was held on Main St between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Despite the morning rain showers, many shoppers found their way downtown to find great deals from Dell Rapids businesses and other vendors.

Cootie Days Comes to an End

June 10, 2012 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Cootie Days/Crazy Days was held on Friday, June 8th and Saturday, June 9th in Dell Rapids. The carnival in the park had beautiful weather during the day and evening on Friday. While the wind picked up on Saturday, many vendors set up booths in downtown Dell Rapids to sell everything from food, jewelry, purses, candles, toys, books and more. Pictures can be found by clicking on the Photos link under the Life tab.