Plans for Litchfield’s 52nd annual Watercade festival are flowing right along with many fun activities and events planned for July 10-13.

It starts a little earlier on July 7, when the search for the medallion officially begins with clues available at the Independent Review and KLFD AM 1410. The winner will receive $200 if he or she has a 2008 Watercade button, $100 if not.

The Center Bank brat feed in the bank parking lot will kick off the events on July 10, and ice cream cones at the park by the Meeker County Dairy Association. The first day of the festival concludes with the crowning of the 2008 Junior Royalty at 7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church.

On July 11, rootbeer floats will be served in the Wells Fargo parking lot. A beach party at Lake Ripley and a water ball fight hosted by the Litchfield Rescue Squad and Fire Department at Rescue Hall also will take place that evening. Day two of the festival will come to an explosive end with fireworks at dusk at Lake Ripley beach.

July 12 begins early on Lake Ripley with the fishing contest at West Ripley Park, as well as the 4 Mile Run and the Kids’ 1 mile run at Lake Ripley Memorial Park. Also that day will be the kiddie parade and Art in the Park, where there will be many interesting things to buy, good food to eat, and entertainment all day long. At noon on Lake Ripley Beach the annual sand sculpture building contest will begin, at a different time and on a different day than previous years. A lip sync contest starts at 1:30 p.m. The Grande Day Parade begins at 6 p.m., followed by the Queen’s Ball.

On July 13, the golf tournament begins at 11 a.m. at the Litchfield Golf Club. A Taste of Meeker County also starts at 11 a.m. at Ripley Memorial Park, along with adventure games. The popular Little Crow Ski Show will take place at 1 p.m. on Lake Ripley, another time that has changed since last year. The day continues with Ripley Home Companion at Memorial Park (a radio theater show) at 3 p.m., and the grand finale of Watercade, the Queen Coronation at 7 p.m. in the Litchfield High School gymnasium.

For a full listing of events, check out the Watercade Web site at www.watercade.com.