EMMONS &045; For those looking to give a steely eye to their cross-border rivals, Emmons’ annual Borderfest event should give you the right atmosphere.

Emmons rides the state line so tightly that it has town welcome signs in both states.

This weekend, the city’s annual festival will attempt to bring the rivals together for a weekend of music, competition and fun.

&uot;Our motto is ‘The biggest small town celebration in Southern Minnesota,’&uot; Jared Dawson, one of the Borderfest organizers, said.

The festival has grown in size and celebration each year since it began five years ago.

Dawson expected around 2,000 people to show up for Thursday night’s Johnny Holm band concert, and expects that number to be consistent through the weekend.

Tonight, the festival will get jump-started with a parade at 6:30 p.m. Marching bands from Glenville-Emmons, Albert Lea, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva, and Alden-Conger will all participate.

&uot;We take all the local bands so they get a chance to get in the street and get some practice,&uot; he said. &uot;We usually keep it real local, especially knowing the band festival is in Albert Lea on Sunday.&uot;

The parade will also include floats. Drive-up units are welcome until the parade starts.

The night will continue with a concert by Vic Ferrari, who Dawson likens to an Wisconsin/Iowa version of the Holm band.

&uot;Since this is Borderfest, we try to get bands from both sides,&uot; he said.

For those who make it up after the night of music, Saturday starts with a 5k fun run at 10:30 a.m.

Throughout the day there will be a city-wide garage sale, but Dawson said the big event of the afternoon is the mud bog.

A large mud pit is filled with water and then dirt until the mud reaches the right consistency, then racers drive their ATVs through to take their shot at victory.

&uot;That’s a big draw,&uot; he said. &uot;People get stuck, they take spills, it’s a lot of fun.&uot;

The motors will keep running through the day with a Muscular Dystrophy Association/Bergdale Harley Davidson motorcycle run at 7 p.m.

The night is capped off with more music. The band Lucky Town, of Owatonna, will take the stage at 8 p.m.

&uot;Their forte is Bruce Springsteen,&uot; Dawson explained.

Sunday morning there will be a church service at 9 a.m., and an antique tractor pull at noon.

For more information call the information line at 297-5900 or go online at www.jdventures.com.