What can go wrong will - in Wright

One of the county's smallest cities will again hold its unique celebration Friday through Sunday, for the 59th year in a row. Almost nothing goes right at Wrong Days in Wright, and that's by design.

Softball players bat opposite their usual stance, running to third base first, then second, first and home.

Instead of bingo, folks play ognib. They also play cribbage, but they play to lose, not win.

They even dress for the occasion.

"You wear your clothes inside out, unmatching sox. Most of our Wrong Days shirts are printed inside out," said Mark Dahlman, who is organizing this year's event with his wife, Linda.

The festivities begin with a steak fry in the city park from 4-7 p.m. and a pie social at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

"You can have your dinner and go across the street for dessert," Linda said.

Ognib starts at 7 p.m. at the church, while there's a teen game night in the park, including a youth bean bag tourney, spike ball, giant Jenga and other games. There will be fireworks at dusk.

Saturday is the big day, starting with the backwards softball tournament, which goes on all day. The parade through downtown Wright begins at 10:30 a.m. (Line up by the lumberyard starting at 9:30 a.m.) Expect some county commissioner candidates and the mayor, horses and plenty of other entries.

The Dahlmans took over the celebration this year because of all their good memories of

attending the community celebration.

Linda said she was 10 or 11 years old when they held the first Wrong Days in Wright.

"I remember running around playing games way back when," she said.

The kids' games run 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, including a bouncy house, with relay races starting at 1 p.m. and a medallion hunt at noon.

"I wanted to see kids' games and just keep the tradition going," Mark said.

As usual, organizers are selling buttons, which make the buyer eligible for a door prize, drawn Saturday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. There are also raffle tickets for bigger prizes, plus a silent auction, also ending at 1 p.m.

Look for cribbage (7 p.m.) and ognib (4 p.m.) again Saturday, plus an adult bean bag tournament at 6 p.m., along with food trucks all day and live music 1-4 p.m., featuring Ron Jokimaki and friends.

The car and tractor show starts at the park immediately following the parade Saturday. All must be older than 1980. Organizer and Cromwell Class of 1978 grad Nick Bury is hoping lots of people will drive their vehicles in the parade and right to the park. Best of Show awards will be determined by people's choice, he said, with a $100 Visa gift card for the best vehicle and best tractor, and a $50 card for the runner-up in each category.

Bury is hoping the show will draw more people to Wrong Days. "I grew up there. I remember what it was," Bury said. "A lot of the people from the community would come and make a great day out of it. I want to get more people back there, talking, looking, getting the community back together again."

Bury said next year he may have a prize for "worst in show" for the car and tractor show.

It is Wrong Days in Wright, after all.

Saturday wraps up with live music in the Big Top with the Last Call band from 8 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $10.

Sunday, the mixed volleyball and softball tournaments end and raffle tickets are drawn at Kallie's Place at 6 p.m.