This year marks the 58th annual Junction City Village Picnic, will be held from Friday, July 8, through Sunday, July 10. Activities are from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

While admission is free, the picnic raises money through raffles for local organizations including Junction City Ice Company, Junction City Lions Club and the Sundowners Snowmobile Club.

This year’s raffle will include a John Deere X3500 donated by Riesterer & Schnell Inc., a Davy Crockett Pellet Grill package donated by Earth Sense Energy Systems Inc. and a Case IH 3100 Watt gas generator.

Raffle tickets can be purchased at various locations around Portage County including Bunny Hop Café, Hiawatha Bar in Junction City, Kim’s Barrel Inn, Becker Industries & Mancl’s Grocery Store in Milladore, Plover BP, Dock of DuBay, B&B’s Parkway Bar and Donna’s Showboat.

Over the last couple of years, volunteers have been aiming the activities at younger people, organizers said. One way they are doing this is with the bands. Four bands will played during the weekend.

“It’s not just polka,” said Carol Haydock, a 10-year volunteer at the Junction City Village picnic. “We’re getting out of the old people things and bringing it up to date.”

Friday’s performance is by Midnight Riders, a Milwaukee-based classic rock band at 7 p.m. Saturday’s band is Feedback the Band, which plays everything from 1980s rock to country at 7 p.m. Sunday includes Bootlegg Hollar playing country at 5 p.m., preceded by Austin Healey at noon.

There will be face painting, bounce house and games to entertain the children, she said.

For most people the wooden bat softball tournament is their favorite, Haydock said. This tournament lasts throughout the weekend, before the championship game. The tournament will follow American Softball Association rules. There will also be a horseshoe competition Saturday and Sunday.

The annual parade will be on Sunday, July 10, beginning at 11 a.m. It will follow a route that begins at Kennedy Elementary School, and follows Main Street and Chapley Avenue, going to the Village Park.

After the parade, attendees can go to the craft show where there is everything from hand crafted items to home business products.