'You never know'

Derby Days Hopping Again This Weekend

Three-day event includes parade, frog jump and live music in Dousman
By Jeff Rumage Freeman Staff
DOUSMAN – Jumping frogs, dancing grannies and acrobats trapped in spheres are just a few of the sites that can be taken in at the 54th annual Dousman Derby Days this weekend at Cory Park in Dousman. The three-day event kicks off Friday with food, beer tents and the Big H amusements carnival opening at 6 p.m. Men’s softball tournaments begin at 6 p.m. Attendees can enjoy the sounds of DJ Reggie at 6 p.m. in addition to local band 16 West from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. On Saturday, softball and kickball tournaments begin early at 8 a.m. The famous Wisconsin State Championship Frog Jump will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Molly Courtney has organized the frog jump for the last 19 years, but she has helped out ever since she can remember. The longest frog jump in the history of Derby Days was the work of Eric Carlson, whose frog Sam jumped 19 feet and 3 1/2 inches. She said about 350 frogs enter the competition every year, and it’s always a good time. “To get them to jump around the people jump around like frogs and blow on them, but sometimes the frog will just take off,” Courtney said. “You never know what’s going to happen.” The frog jump finals will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Four different entertainment options are available throughout the day Saturday: the teen talent show from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the Main Stage Academy of Dance from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., live music from The Over-Served from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and live music from The Sociables from 8 p.m. to midnight. On Sunday, a gigantic parade will be held on Main Street and Ottawa Avenue starting at 11 a.m. Parade committee member Sue Smith said the parade will feature dancing grandmas, an acrobat that rolls in and around a sphere, and all of the other parade favorites. Dousman Transport has volunteered to take people from the end of the parade to the beginning of the parade from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. DJ Reggie will take the music stage from noon to 1 p.m., and Dirty Boogie will play live music from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Dousman Area Chamber of Commerce chicken barbecue will start at 1 p.m. E-mail: jrumage@conleynet.com