The Fourth of July is upon us, and you know what that means: Maple Grove Days is around the corner!
The city’s largest annual community celebration begins Thursday, July 9 with the Farmers Market and Pierre Bottineau Parade, and ends Sunday, July 12. After having record-breaking attendances the past two years, the Maple Grove Community Organization, a group of volunteers that plans and runs Maple Grove Days, anticipates around 25,000-35,000 people this year.
This event is the perfect excuse to gather and catch up with hometown friends, while having some good ole affordable fun. Usually sports and food are all you need to convince me to show up to anything, but Maple Grove Days has really grown and continues to take it to the next level each year. Thanks to local business sponsors and a crew of over 300 volunteers, many of the events are free and open to the public. (For a full list of events and more details, go to maplegrovedays.com)
Enjoy the following list of my favorites, fitted for a couple of my areas of interests. If you're a hungry competitor like me, you won't want to miss these.
For the athletic, or those having fun trying to be:
Co-Rec Adult Softball Tournament: Friday through Sunday at the Maple Grove Junior High Baseball Complex, for players 18 and up. $100 fee per team.
Fourth Annual MG Days Tennis Tournament, hosted by the Maple Grove Crimson Tennis Association: 7-7:30 a.m. (check in & warm up) Thursday, and more matches starting at 8 a.m. Saturday. Sites include Maple Grove Senior High, Osseo Senior High, Weaver Lake Park, Teal Lake Park & Lakeview Knolls Park. $15 entry fee.
Junior Golf Tournament: 9 a.m. (check-in) at French Lake Golf Course, for boys and girls ages 12-17 from MG, Osseo and Dayton. $10 entry fee.
3-on-3 Basketball Tournament: 10 a.m. Friday at the Maple Grove Community Center, for kids ages 12-15 and 16-17. $20 fee per team.
4-on-4 Sand Volleyball Tournament: 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Maple Grove Community Center, for ages 12-18. $20 fee per team.
Rice Lake Classic 3.7-mile run: 8 a.m. Saturday at Freedom Field on Rice Lake Road (behind Maple Grove Evangelical Free Church). Fee is 8$ in advance and $12 on race day.
Kids Fun .8-mile run/walk: 9:30 a.m. Saturday around North Arbor Lake, for kids ages 5-12. Free.
3rd Lair’s 3rd Annual Summer Series Skateboard Contest: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Maple Grove Community Center Skate Park, for skateboarders of all ages. Fee is $10 on event day.
For the hungry:
Farmers Market: 3-7 p.m. Thursday at the Maple Grove Community Center, there will be 50 vendors will offer fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, meats, dairy, baked goods, sweets and more.
Steak Fry: 5-8 p.m. Friday, with proceeds benefiting the Maple Grove Ambassadors Scholarship Program and the Legion Riders, at the Osseo-Maple Grove American Legion. Fish, steak or shrimp are available for $10 and a combo is $12.
Seniors’ Slice of Pie Sale: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Maple Grove Community Center Senior Room.
Corn Feed: 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Saturday in the Maple Grove Community Center Parking lot (Lions Food Tent), the Maple Grove Lions host some of the best fresh steamed sweet corn, as well as burgers, brats and soft drinks. 
Food Eating Contest: Saturday at the Community Center main stage area, come see or participate in the Corn on the Cob Eating Contest (4:15 p.m.), Hot Dog Eating Contest (5 p.m.), Pizza Eating Contest (6:15 p.m.). Participants must be 18 or older, and the fee is $5 per contestant. 
Food Avenue: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. at the Maple Grove Community Center parking lot, come try Mexican, Greek, American, Italian and other types of food from local vendors.