YATES CENTER — A crammed schedule is in the offing this weekend for the annual Yates Center Days celebration.
The 2026 festival puts a hearty emphasis on its “Small Town USA” motto, and begins Friday with an alumni meeting and social at Light Hardware. The meeting starts at 4:30 p.m., the social at 5:30 and dinner at 6:30.
Saturday’s activities kick off at 7 a.m. with a Masons breakfast and check-in for the 5K run and walk. The fun run starts at 7:30, while Historical Society jail tours begin at 8.
The Yates Center Fire Department will launch a number of kids games and activities at 9 o’clock. Inflatables and a beer garden start up at 10.
Traci and the Time Travelers will offer up free entertainment from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The afternoon activities begin with Yates Center High School Student Council members offering free tours of the high school from 1 to 2 o’clock.
The parade begins at 3 p.m., followed immediately by a performance by the Topeka High School Drumline, at about 3:30.
A raffle drawing starts at 4 o’clock.
From there, the scene shifts to Still Waters Edge, with music served up from the Brick Horse Band.
Sunday starts with a golf tournament at Lakeside Golf Course at 1 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Yates Center Swimming Pool opens for the season at 1 p.m. as well.
The activities resume Sunday evening at the Saddle Club Arena. Mutton Busting starts at 6:15, followed at 7 o’clock with the Yates Center Days Bull Bash.
The American Legion will host a breakfast at 7 a.m. Monday, and will lead a Memorial Day service at the Yates Center Cemetery at 10 o’clock. In case of inclement weather, the service will be relocated to the Grand Ballroom.
