SWISHER - Thirteen years after Evelyn Shelton introduced a bake off and vegetable contest to the town's summer festival, the events continue to stir a competitive drive in many area kitchens.

"I just thought it would bring something extra to Fun Days," Shelton said. "It's very competitive."

Schedule Friday • 4:30 p.m. Kiddie parade. • 6 p.m. Kiddie tractor. • 8 p.m. to midnight, Musical performance by The Swing Crew. Saturday • 8 a.m. 5K Run/Walk and kids' mile fun run. • 11 a.m. Fun Days Parade with announcer "Ozone Rock Rangers," Bake Off and Best Vegetable Contest, flower arrangement contest, Antique Tractor and Car Display. • 12:30 p.m. Horseshoe Tournament. Musical performance by John Riley and the Mountaineers. • 1 p.m. Musical performance by Leonard Reyman's Iowa Accordions Club. • 3:30 p.m. Auction for baked goods, vegetables and more. • 8 p.m. to midnight, musical performance by Large Midgets.

Residents spend hours perfecting recipes and making sure their vegetables are of quality shape and texture for the Bake Off and Best Vegetable Contest - just two of the contests to take place Friday and Saturday at Swisher Fun Days 2004. About 30 local businesses have donated prizes for the games and contests, Shelton said.

New this year is a flower arrangement contest. A photo contest will be in its second year.

The town of more than 250 people celebrated its Centennial last year with a reunion for Swisher's founding families. The celebration included horseshoes and fireworks and the opening of a 1976 time capsule as well as the crowning of a king and queen.

Events for Fun Days 2004 start at 4:30 p.m. Friday with a "Kiddie Parade" in front of City Hall and end at midnight Saturday with a dance and performance by Large Midgets. Other performers throughout the weekend include: The Swing Crew, John Riley and the Mountaineers and Leonard Reyman's Iowa Accordions Club.

The two-day celebration's theme is "Showing Our Pride," which was chosen to acknowledge the patriotic support for the men and woman that have served in the Armed forces.

A fireworks show will take place Saturday evening at dusk. Meanwhile, local residents will participate in softball games at the city park.

"Our parades usually are very good and different towns come in to see it," Shelton said. "Different (American Legion members) march in it and we have all kinds of entries. We even have a float contest."

An auction for baked goods, vegetables and other items is the highlight of the festival, Shelton said. Yeast bread, cakes, sweet rolls, cookies and all kinds of pastries will be auctioned off. All funds go toward the VA Iowa City Health Care System, the Johnson County Crisis Center, the Children's Miracle Network Hospital, Miracles in Motion and other organizations. In addition, funds are used to award scholarship to area students, said Mike Stagg, a Fun Days 2004 organizer and member of the Swisher Men's Club. The club is sponsoring the antique tractor and car display and the horseshoe tournament, he said.

Other sponsors include the Swisher's American Legion Post 671, and American Legion Auxiliary. Shelton has been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 50 years and co-owner of Shelton's Grocery with her husband, Fred, since 1969.