A look at Hay Daze

Fashion and pageants. Music and tournaments.

All that and more are part of this year’s Janesville Hay Daze celebration, which began June 12  and will continue through June 18.

This year’s Grand Marshal is Gerald (Jerry) Schendel, who is 91 years young and has been a Janesville resident for 52 years. Schendel is a Korean War veteran and is still operating his own business, Schendel’s RV Repair.

“I am excited to be the Grand Marshal,” Schendel said. “I have enjoyed living in Janesville for over 50 years and am happy to be representing this town during Hay Daze.”

What’s happened already

Some events from Hay Daze have happened already, such as a fashion show sponsored by Simply Saved Thrift Store of Janesville on Monday, June 12, at the Trinity Lutheran Church Discipling Center. Miss Janesville 2022 attendant Ariana Aguilar and Miss Janesville 2023 attendants were participants in the fashion show.

Janesville Bowl also had a special edition of Moonlight Colored Pin Bowling on Tuesday evening starting at 6:30 p.m.

By the time this issue comes out, more Hay Daze events will have unfolded. 

Wednesday-Friday

On Wednesday, June 14, the Hay Daze fun run and walk took place at the JWP Athletic Complex. There was a 1k kids’ race at 6:30 p.m. with the 5k run/walk following at 7 p.m. The participants of the 1k raced around the track in the athletic complex, while 5k participants started at the east end of the track and made their way to the trail to Lakeview Park and back.

The run took place at a different time than in other years. Usually taking place early Saturday morning during the festivities, the fun run was moved to Wednesday due to construction beginning on the trail to Lakeview Park.

Thursday, June 15, was the Miss Janesville Pageant. The candidates were Sophie Coulsey, Emma Huelsnitz, Ava McNair, and Abby Sobolik, all JWP students. Sophie Coulsey, daughter of Matt and Becky Coulsey, is sponsored by Wiste’s Meat Market. Emma Huelsnitz, daughter of Renae Coons, is sponsored by the Janesville Subway. Ava McNair, daughter of John and Katherin McNair, is sponsored by Gidgets. And Abby Sobolik, daughter of John and Heidi Sobolik, is sponsored by Guardian Energy.

Following the Miss Janesville Pageant was Main Street Mayhem, a wrestling event put on by Minnesota wrestling league Paradise City Wrestling (PCW). The “mayhem” took place in the Main Street entertainment area. The Front Man Jah-C faced the “Notorious” Ryan Cruz to kick off the night of wrestling before Mitch Paradise defended his championship against Bates in the main event. There were plenty of matches wrestled throughout the night.

Prairie Ridge Golf Course kicked off the festivities for Friday, June 16, with a golf tournament at 9 a.m. In the evening, it will be the start of the first night of carnival rides provided courtesy of Crescent City Amusements. Single session armband passes are for sale at Janesville Hardware, Janesville State Bank, Arnoldt’s Good Spirits, and Wiste’s Meat Market.

Generation Gap, a duo made up of Rod Scheitel and grandson Carter Quast of Janesville, will be the first musical act to perform from 6:30-8:30 p.m. IV Play will take the stage at 9 p.m. It is noted that only adults 18 or older can be in the closed off area next to the stage.

Saturday

The medallion hunt will begin at 10 a.m. along with a family-friendly kickball tournament at Lakeview Park. During that action, the turtle races and kiddie carnival will make their return after a few years of cancellation, taking place at Whispering Creek Nursing Home from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

At 11 a.m., there will be an adult bean bag doubles tournament in the chamber tent off of Main Street. A youth bean bag tournament will follow at 2 p.m.

The carnival will be up and running on Main Street from noon to 11 p.m.

Other activities throughout the afternoon include a dart tournament at the Purple Goose, a game of lightning at the JWP outdoor basketball courts, and face painting, lighted balloon art, and glitter tattoos in the intersection of Main and Second Streets.

Musical entertainment will be Janesville trio Family Tradition featuring Doug Berndt and children Josh Berndt and Alicia Addler at 6:30 p.m. The main act on the Guardian Energy stage will be Junk FM at 9 p.m.

Sunday

Aside from performing on the Guardian Energy stage, Family Tradition will perform pre-church-service music at 9:30 a.m. in the chamber tent. A church service sponsored by Trinity Lutheran Church will follow at 10 a.m. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be an antique tractor display on North Main Street.

Wrapping up the festivities will be the Hay Daze parade — also known as the Fathers’ Day parade — at 1 p.m. The carnival will be open from 1-5 p.m. before shutting down for good, and bingo will take place in the chamber tent from 3-5 p.m.

A celebration that’s been going for many decades, Hay Daze has been made possible by the Janesville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Hay Daze Committee. All proceeds from this year’s Hay Daze will go to future celebrations.

The Janesville Chamber would like to thank everyone for helping to “keep the town tradition alive.”