Free Concert + Family Fun at Zumbro Valley Golf Course’s 100-Year Celebration This Weekend

One of the oldest golf courses in southeast Minnesota, Zumbro Valley Golf Course, is inviting you to celebrate its 100th birthday this weekend.

The unique nine-hole course between Kasson and Mantorville has been part of the community since 1926, and on Saturday, August 1, it's celebrating a full century with a day of free events and a concert for the community.

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And while golf is obviously a big part of the course's history, you won't need a set of clubs to join this celebration.

100-Year Celebration Starts With Family Fun

The celebration kicks off Saturday afternoon with a free family event from noon to 4 p.m. There will be two giant bounce houses for the kids, so parents, make sure your kids bring socks.

Several local businesses and organizations will also be set up with activities throughout the afternoon, including crafts, games, giveaways and a few things you probably don't normally expect to find at a golf course.

The Green Shack will have kids' crafts and animals, including bunnies, and WC Hobby Herd will be bringing llamas for an interactive experience.

Prairie Meadows Senior Living is putting together a mini-golf challenge with a twist, using canes and grabbers; Accentra Credit Union will be doing duck races in the creek, KoMets girls' golf team will have a putting contest. The Dodge County Salvation Army will have free lemonade, Three Wishes Permanent Jewelry will be there, and Fizzy Dirty Soda Shop will be serving up dirty pops.

Food will also be available from Hidden Pines Bar & Grill, with Mrs. Patty's Sweet Treats bringing the ice cream.

Free 21+ FlashMob Concert Saturday Night

After the family portion wraps up, the celebration shifts gears for the evening.

FlashMob will take the stage from 7 to 11 p.m. for a free concert open to adults 21 and older.

If you've been around southeast Minnesota for a while, there's a decent chance you've seen FlashMob before. They're a Twin Cities-based cover band with a huge mix of pop, rock and dance music, so the night is basically built for hanging out, having a drink and celebrating 100 years of the course.

The entire celebration is free, thanks in part to presenting sponsor KMTelecom and the local businesses and organizations helping put the day together.

A Few Things to Know Before You Go

Saturday won't be a normal day at Zumbro Valley Golf Course.

The golf course will be closed for golf all day, and the parking lot will also be closed because that's where much of the celebration is happening.

Off-site parking will be available at the Kasson-Mantorville High School parking lot (corner of Hwy 57 and 625th St – MAP), and the old Relay Station lot in Mantorville (corner of 5th St and Clay St – MAP), with a free shuttle running guests to and from the course throughout the event.

The family celebration runs from noon to 4 p.m., followed by the 21+ FlashMob concert from 7 to 11 p.m., and it's a cash-only event.

Celebrating a Century in Kasson-Mantorville

I've been fortunate enough to be involved with Zumbro Valley Golf Course, and one of the coolest parts of putting this celebration together has been seeing just how many people have a connection to this little nine-hole course.

Over 100 years, that's a lot of rounds of golf, leagues, tournaments, friendships, family outings and probably more than a few golf balls donated to the woods and river.

We've even heard from former golfers sharing old photos and scorecards, including one showing a nine-hole course record of 30. Which still has us wondering: Has anyone shot a 30 at Zumbro Valley since?

That's really what Saturday is about. Yes, there will be bounce houses, llamas, food, drinks and a band playing late into the night, but it's also a chance to celebrate a small-town golf course that has survived and thrived for an entire century thanks to the community volunteers who have managed and supported it along the way. Visit the Zumbro Valley Golf Course website for more event details.

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