Photos: Shellsburg Big Days delight with games, competition and a duck race

The annual festival delayed the start of the parade due to weather, but the events still drew a crowd on Saturday

Jul. 20, 2025 9:24 am

Kingston Taylor, 3, splashes in the Shellsburg City Park fountain to cool down during Shellsburg Big Days in Shellsburg on Saturday. Jennifer Taylor said she grew up in the area and enjoys the small-town feel of local events. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Rob Long competes in the 1350 division of the Prairie Tractor and Lawnmower pull during Shellsburg Big Days in Shellsburg on Saturday. Long placed first and second in the division. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Atkins Community Band members Lylelene Svoboda (left), Debi Kendall (center) and Laura McClure-Fleck play the Muppets theme song for Shellsburg Big Days in Shellsburg on Saturday. Members of the Atkins Community Band celebrated the band’s 50th anniversary after they played. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Co-owner of Marked on Pearl, Jill Klotz, smiles as she greets community members during the parade for Shellsburg Big Days in Shellsburg on Saturday. Due to storms rolling through the area in the morning, the parade and several other events were pushed back by an hour. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Erika Graton, 13, and Carmyn Blattler, 13, compete in tug-of-war during Shellsburg Big Days in Shellsburg on Saturday. Graton, Blattler, and Ainsley Lefevere, 13, won the competitive rounds of tug-of-war. After the initial competition, participants decided to hold friendly two-on-two competitions to divide the leftover candy from the competition. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Jaren Roetman, 13, hits the ball toward Rhett Spenker, 7, during a game of Gaga Ball at Shellsburg Big Days in Shellsburg on Saturday. In Gaga Ball, players hit the ball with their hands to attempt to tag other players out by hitting their knees or feet. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Natalie Gardman, 11, throws ducks back to the shore during the duck race for Shellsburg Big Days in Shellsburg on Saturday. The Shellsburg Lions Club held the duck race. Secretary Ed Shaeffer said this is the fifth year the duck race has been held, and the proceeds benefit the Lions Club. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Joey Roetman (left), Jaren Roetman, 13, Jacey Roetman, 11, Emerson Roetman, 11, and Natalie Gardman, 11, line up in the creek to catch ducks at the duck race's finish line during Shellsburg Big Days in Shellsburg on Saturday. The Shellsburg Lions Club held the duck race. Secretary Ed Shaeffer stated that 100 to 150 people participated in the duck race. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Emerson Roetman, 11, and Natalie Gardman, 11, grab ducks to throw back to the shore during the duck race for Shellsburg Big Days in Shellsburg on Saturday. Roetman won the duck race. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Gabe Ortiz cleans his motorcycle during the motorcycle show for Shellsburg Big Days in Shellsburg on Saturday. Ortiz said he got the bike from his dad and had to restore it for it to run again. He added it was a bittersweet moment when he saw the motorcycle functioning again. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Conner Bridgewater (left), 16, Kade Thomas, 9, and Steele Fish (not pictured), 8, compete in tug-of-war for Shellsburg Big Days in Shellsburg on Saturday. Bridgewater, Thomas, and Fish lost the final tug-of-war match against Erika Graton, 13, Carmyn Blattler, 13, and Ainsley Lefevere, 13. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Alex Long leans over to make sure he stays within bounds during the 1050 stock division of the Prairie Tractor and Lawnmower pull during Shellsburg Big Days in Shellsburg on Saturday. Long placed first. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)