King Turkey Day expands to fairgrounds

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WORTHINGTON — The King Turkey Day Board of Directors has announced plans to move several aspects of the annual community celebration out to the Nobles County Fairgrounds this year.

The decision came after much discussion and many meetings, according to King Turkey Day President Brian Almberg. Deciding factors included the loss of key festival space to the building of the new Worthington Fire Hall in downtown Worthington, as well as the desire to continue to expand the events that happen during the weekend festival, this year set for Sept. 14-16.

Slated to be relocated at the fairgrounds is the Smoking Gobbler BBQ Cookoff, a midway of rides and games, the beer garden, pingpong ball drop and Turkey Day Fowl Play games.

The downtown area will continue to be the site for the Turkey Day 10K, pancake feed, YMCA 5K Family Walk, featured speaker, Great Gobbler Gallop and parade.

Food vendors will have the option to be at either or both the downtown and fairgrounds locations.

“The fairgrounds location was chosen for these specific events because of its easy access to the entire community and surrounding residents from visiting communities, its close proximity to the city’s largest location of expanding retail business off of Ryan’s Road and Oxford Street and to simply be able to house many events in one place with ample parking for everyone,” the KTD Board said in a press release.

More information about the new location and the King Turkey Day Board’s plans will be available closer to the festival date.

“We’re happy to hold true to the established and strong traditions of KTD to downtown Worthington, and at the same time we are happy to see the expansion and growth of this community festival to utilize the entire city. This will provide the residents of the Turkey Capital of the World the opportunity to boast with pride that our city festival is truly city-wide.”

Tags: king turkey day, nobles county fairgrounds, news