Washington’s Ridiculous Days!

Washington Ridiculous Days: May 30th – June 1st, 2024

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!

2024/05/30 06:00:00

Thank you to our 2023 Sponsors! If your business or organization is interested in partnering with us on this celebration, please see the sponsorship button to the left.

Thank you to our Sponsors:

Check out the Washington’s Ridiculous Days Survey Results

 

Washington Ridiculous Days is a 3-day festival kick-off to summer that highlights everything our town stands for — featuring agriculture, family, local shopping, music, food and more.

This festival began in 1947 with the first Ridiculous days and has been the annual celebration for the City of Washington since then.  Always held the first weekend in June, we kick-off the summer with a weekend of Ridiculous Days sidewalk sales, family activities, live music, fantastic food, and fun for the entire community.

 

Check out the ridiculous sales on our Facebook page! With different activities and over a dozen food trucks, there is something to please everyone!

Celebrate Ridiculous Sales

Ridiculous Days offers 3 days (Thursday – Saturday) worth of crazy deals, bargains and sidewalk sales from Washington retailers in the first weekend of June. Did you know you don’t have to have a physical location to sell your items? Registering to become a retail vendor gets you a spot somewhere in front of a business. Have one in mind? Let us know! Check out all of the ridiculous sales on our Facebook page!

Celebrate Family

Throughout the weekend, celebrate with family-friendly activities right on the square in downtown Washington. We will have a full schedule of events that you and your loved ones can do. Activities like a free swim, YMCA children’s activities & games, photo booth, face painting, Touch-A-Truck (Kids can explore Fire Trucks, Police Cars, Ambulance, Construction Trucks, Tractors), Pony Rides, Bounce House, Movies on Main and so much more!

Ridiculous Day Street Dance

The event formerly known as the Flightline Live concert is making a comeback on a grander scale, now situated in Central Park in downtown Washington. The Ridiculous Days Street Dance is all set for this year’s show featuring Tyler Richton and The High Bank Boys happening on June 1st from 7:30-11pm.

Tyler Richton and The High Bank Boys are a country band based in Central Iowa. Formed in 2015, the HBB got their start in small-town bars and parties, honing their skills to make more than 50 years of experience combined. Now playing across the midwest everywhere from rockin’ honky-tonks to opening shows for the likes of Tracy Byrd, John Michael Montgomery, Craig Morgan and more, Tyler Richton and The High Bank Boys bring a neo-traditional sound with high energy and real music. Drawing influence from artists like Merle Haggard, Charlie Daniels and Hank Williams Jr., audiences of all kinds find a show they can enjoy and music they can feel.

The beverage tent will open after the Ridiculous parade concludes. Dance and sing along to all your favorite hits! You won’t want to miss this concert event! Open to public, FREE admission. Must be 21 or older to purchase alcohol.

Frequently Asked Questions

SIGN-UP FOR THE PARADE:

Get ready for some seriously silly fun at the Washington Ridiculous Days event! Join the excitement by taking part in this year’s parade. Participation is FREE to display your creativity, but if you’re feeling competitive, chip in $10 to enter the float showdown for a shot at winning a shiny trophy and a cash prize. The parade starts downtown at 5 pm. Let your imagination run wild and infuse your float design with a dash of absurdity! Sign up for the parade HERE

REGISTER YOUR TRACTOR FOR THE TRACTOR PARADE:

Tractors can arrive at the fairgrounds and register around 2-4 pm. The tractors will depart at 4 pm from the fairgrounds. Questions for the Antique Tractor Parade can be directed to Jerome Vittetoe, 319-430-0797.

THE RIDICULOUS DAY AND ANTIQUE TRACTOR PARADE IS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE DOWNTOWN AT 5PM ON SATURDAY. CHECK OUT THE ROUTE MAPS HERE.

SUPERHERO & PRINCESS CONTEST:

All participants are welcome to join later in the parade. More details will be released at the end of April.

KIDDIE TRACTOR PULL CONTEST:

Round up your kids and pedal away to the Kiddie Tractor Pull Contest. Registration starts 30 minutes before the contest begins. More details to be released at the end of April.

RETAIL VENDORS:

Let’s get RIDICULOUS! Come and join us for the 77th Annual Ridiculous Day Sidewalk Deals & Steals. Our market is an open invitation to showcase and sell your product. 

Non-downtown retailers are welcome. Contact the Chamber for the vendor registration form by contacting 319-653-3272.

VOLUNTEER FOR THE DIFFERENT EVENTS:

Did you know our Chamber events are run by volunteers? We appreciate everyone in the community who has given their time. Without you, our events wouldn’t be possible. If you are interested in volunteering, contact us at [email protected] and we can send you more information!