OTTO-ELDRED – The streets of Duke Center will come alive with music, laughter and small-town spirit as the Otto-Eldred Hometown Days returns to Memorial Park this Friday and Saturday. The beloved annual celebration promises two days full of family fun, entertainment and tradition.

The whole family is sure to find something to love with the wide variety of entertainment and attractions offered. The summer celebration is free, but a donation of $2 per person or $5 per family is encouraged.

There will be food and craft vendors on hand and a silent auction beginning at 5 p.m. at the park. Children will be able to bounce and slide to their heart’s content on free inflatable rides from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Community pride will take center stage during the grand opening parade, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The parade will travel down Grant Street and head toward the park.

The evening will end on a high note with live music from County Lines from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.

On Saturday, the festivities start early. Registration for the Randy Ewings Memorial Car Show is from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Judging will take place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. with an award ceremony to follow at 3 o’clock. The entry fee is $10 per car. There will be several classes of vehicles in the show, everything from classic hot rods to motorcycles, muscle cars and trucks. Vehicles will be judged on engine, paint, body, chrome and interior categories. Awards will be given for best in show, people’s choice, longest distance, best paint, best engine and the Randy Ewings Memorial Award. Each class will have first- and second-place trophies. Door prizes and dash plates will be given to the first 50 cars registered.

Registration for the 5K Color Fun Run opens at 8:30 a.m. with the race to follow at 9 o’clock. The cost to register online is $20 beforehand and $25 on the day of the race. Registration can be paid on Venmo to @Otto-Eldred-Hometown-Days. Children younger than 12 are admitted for free. All participants will receive a t-shirt and extra goodies.

For those looking to stretch and smile, a session of goat yoga will be held at 10 a.m. At noon, craft and food vendors will open their stalls once again. Another silent auction will be held at noon, as well as the Southern Tier Mini Tractor Pull. From 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. children can once again enjoy inflatable rides. There will be giggles to spare when bubble lovers get lost in the fluff of a foam party held at 5 p.m.

The enchanting Dave Jeffers will stun crowds with his magical abilities during two performances scheduled for 4:15 and 7:15 p.m.

The Otto-Eldred FFA chapter will host a livestock show from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. Participants will have the opportunity to practice beforehand with the FFA livestock animals. They will then be judged on how they handle and present their lambs and pigs in the ring. Spots in the show are limited, so participants are encouraged to sign up beforehand at signupgenius.com by searching O-E FFA Livestock Show 2025.

Music lovers will have plenty to enjoy, with Wildfire performing from 5 to 7 p.m. and local favorite Ten Pound Hammer rocking the stage from 8 to 9:30 p.m. and again from 9:50 to 11 p.m.

The highlight of the event will be the Sky Wonder Drone Show slated for dusk Saturday, around 9:30 p.m. The drones offer a safe and dazzling modern twist on the traditional fireworks display.

For more information, visit facebook.com/otohd.