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For decades Luverne has kicked off the official start of summer with its community Buffalo Days celebration, with a Friday Night Cruise-In, Buffalo Days Parade and Arts in the Park with its signature vendor booths, carnival food and live entertainment.
And it always involves crowds of people closely gathered to enjoy each other’s company.
Since March, however, the coronavirus pandemic has changed the face of community celebrations worldwide, and in Luverne, Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere is looking for creative ways to be optimistic without spreading the virus.
“I do believe that there is sadness and apprehension about what the future holds,” she said.
“In observing the news coverage this past week with the terribly horrific George Floyd event and all that has happened, I have talked to people that think life is just too short and they are moving forward, pandemic or not.”
Instead of completely canceling the Buffalo Days weekend, organizers and volunteers are restructuring events to comply with social distancing.
Friday night ‘Cruise the Loop’
For example, the popular Friday Night Cruise-In that typically brings cars and people together downtown will instead showcase classic and hot-rod vehicles on a parade route.
Drivers can continuously loop the parade route going east on Main Street, north on Blue Mound Avenue, west on 131st Street (past the hospital) and south on Highway 75 back to Main Street.
Bars and restaurants that were allowed on June 1 to offer outdoor patio service will be open along the route, and auto enthusiasts are encouraged to park their lawn chairs anywhere along the route to view the vehicles.
Drivers are asked to remain inside their vehicles, and everyone is encouraged to keep a safe distance from each other to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Buffalo Days 5K Run and Walk
The annual Buffalo Days 5K Run and Walk will also be loosely organized and socially distanced.
Instead of staging runners to start in a pack, interested participants are encouraged to run the loop on their own time, anytime between June 5 and 8.
They’ll photograph themselves with the Buffalo Days 5K photo board at the History Center, where the route starts and ends, and text the image to win Luverne logo gear with Print Express $15 gift cards.
The photos will be shared on the Chamber’s Facebook page. The activity is sponsored by Sanford Luverne and the Chamber and Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Buffalo Days Hide and Seek
The traditional Buffalo Days Parade and Arts in the Park will be replaced by a game of hide and seek with Main Street businesses from Freeman to Blue Mound Avenue.
Fifteen buffalos are hiding in the windows of downtown businesses. To win a gift card prize from Dragonfly and Firefly, seekers are challenged to discover the buffalos, write down their names and submit your entries.
Entry forms are available on the Luverne Chamber Facebook page or website, and answers are due by noon on Monday, June 8, in the Chamber Office drop box near the east door on McKenzie Street.
The Chamber office can be reached at 507-283-4061, or luvernechamber@co.rock.mn.us.