JunqueFest’s return to downtown Webster City on Saturday, May 24, is a big slice of what’s happening this weekend, but it’s not the whole pie.

On Friday, folks are invited to Welcome Home the Webster Theater with a party from 6 to 7 p.m. in front of the historic movie house, 610 Second Street, that reopened earlier this month. A ribbon-cutting at 6:30 p.m. will be mingled with speakers, Webster City Community Theatre actors in costume, and Webster City Cookies. The Daily Freeman-Journal will have some movie tickets to give away.

Right after the event, slide west a few doors down to enter the world of Wildcat Distilling Co.’s tasting room where a pre-party will feature live music by Neil Anders from 7 to 10 p.m. It’s located at 626 Second Street.

Save some energy for Saturday.

Citywide garage sales kick off Saturday morning at 8 a.m. throughout the community. There are more than two dozen of them. Here’s a link to the map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1fkXcSlqpeWo6A-Msc9agX7kqdMgAMnE&usp=sharing

You’ll find a list of garage sale addresses on page 5 today.

You can power up for the big event by feasting on pancakes. American Legion Post 191, 726 Second Street, will be serving pancakes from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

You’ll need the carbs because while you were out shopping the garage sales, at least 75 vendors will be setting up their wares for the official opening of JunqueFest 2025. This will be a full day of live music, food and curated shopping from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Spanning three city blocks, the annual Memorial Day weekend festival has become a regional favorite, “celebrating small-town charm with big-time fun,” as Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce Director Anna Woodward likes to put it.

The event will feature a diverse mix of vintage, handmade, and artisan vendors, alongside a Food Truck Festival spotlighting local and regional eats lining Des Moines Street and Willson Avenue.

At the Availa Bank Plaza stage, corner of Second and Des Moines streets, Kris Karr will kick off the day with acoustic originals and classics. That’s from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jared Benson with Claudia Rihner will perform from 1 to 5 p.m. Benson, a rising country-rock artist, recently released his debut album “Save My Soul” and has opened for Bailey Zimmerman, Ashley Cooke and Josh Turner.

Just down the block to the east, a stage at Willson Avenue and Second Street stage will feature Rod Johnson performing from 1 to 4 p.m. outside Country Twist Boutique.

Later, you’re going to want to slide back over to Wildcat, this time for an after-party performance by Jake Beaty. That’s from 7-10 p.m.

JunqueFest 2025 is presented by The Trash Man LLC. Music sponsorship is provided by WCF Financial Bank and Country Twist Boutique.

For more information and a full schedule, visit visitwebstercityiowa.com/junque-fest.