Mongo Pigeon River Festival is Sept. 28

Heather Ware and Andy Linder are among those preparing for Mongo Pigeon River Festival 2024. (Standard-News Photo by Michelle Patrick)

The Mongo communi­ty is gearing up for festi­val time.

Mongo Pigeon River Festival 2024 is 2-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at Mongo Park.

Andy Linder, presi­dent of Mongo Commu­nity Development Asso­ciation, explained this is the second year of the festival after about a 10-year hiatus.

Organizers have brought back several as­pects of the former festi­val, like a duck race and pie baking competition. When the festival re­turned for the first time last year, it was a “huge hit,” Linder said.

The fun kicks off at 2 p.m. with entertainment by Chris Robison, food trucks, vendors, kids’ ac­tivities, and local brews and drinks. A cornhole tournament also begins at 2 p.m. A link for sign-up for the tournament can be found on the Mon­go Pigeon River Festival Facebook page.

The pie baking com­petition takes place at 4:30 p.m. Those inter­ested in participating should submit their pies just prior to the judging. No sign-up is required. For a free will donation, those interested may try the pies afterward.

At 5:30 p.m. is the duck race. Participants should purchase a rubber ducky from the associa­tion’s booth prior to the sendoff. Ducks will be dumped off at the dam and make their way to the Trading Post. Cash prizes will be given for first, second, and third places.

Also at the association booth, shirts will be for sale, including the popu­lar “Where in the hell is Mongo?” shirts. Those interested also will be able to vote on concepts for the mural going up on The General Store.

Entertainment with Black Moon Revival from 6-9 p.m. rounds out the festival.

Heather Ware, Mongo Community Develop­ment Association trea­surer and chairperson for the Mongo Pigeon River Festival committee, also is looking forward to the return of the festival.

“For me, my parents (former committee mem­bers Sara and Richard Mills) gave their time to create something spe­cial for the community and something for us and now that I have chil­dren, I want to do that as well and just keep seeing Mongo thrive.”

The Mongo Commu­nity Development As­sociation began in 2009 and was revived about three years ago, Linder said. That’s when work began to bring the festi­val back, he added. The association has also been instrumental in projects like the park, sidewalks, streetlights, Halloween and Christmas events, bingo in the park, and a memorial service.

Ware said in addition to the association, sev­eral sponsors have also made the festival pos­sible, for which she is thankful.