An event which is as old as the town itself is Manning's annual Children's Day. First termed "Kinderball", the custom was started by residents of Manning who wished to keep alive some of the traditions of their native Germany. It is always held during the first week of June.

Contests were a major part of the early celebrations. The boys participated in target shooting with the winner awarded an expensive prize such as a wrist watch, and named the king of the day. Meanwhile, his queen was chosen through a game called "Hit the Crock". Each girl was blindfolded and given a stick; she was spun around, and then told to hit the crock with her stick. The queen was also presented with a prize; lesser prizes were awarded for the runners-up.

The shooting contest continued until the early 1960's, while the girls' games were changed to throwing a ball into a wooden churn. Basketball free throw contests are now held for both the boys and girls.

The entire celebration is a colorful and noisy event. Business is at a standstill, as all activity is centered around the youngsters. The crowd begins to gather about noon, and the children march up and down Main Street in a one p.m. parade. In earlier times, each one marching was treated with a bag of peanuts and an orange; now, each one under the age of 15 receives two free tickets good for the amusement rides. Manning's three school bands -- high school, junior high, and elementary -- are in the parade, which often numbers into the thousands.

The Chamber of Commerce took over management of the affair in 1923. They added rides such as a merry-go-round, airplane swing, and ferris wheel, which are still popular in today's world of the tilt-a-whirl, octopus, and hammer. The rides were originally set up around the Opera House, which served as a meeting place for adults and for the evening dance; now, the rides flank the City Park, and parents visit under the shade trees as the kids enjoy the rides.

A tradition which has undergone little change in the past 100 years is the evening dance.

Continued from page 89

The Pete Kuhl Orchestra may be traded for rock 'n roll and disco, but it is still a dance of royalty, with the king and queen leading the first dance.

Children's Day is akin to "Homecoming", when former residents return to relive some of their experiences. For many, this means remembering when they won one of the coveted prizes, and now seeing their children -- or grandchildren -- winning the same honors.

There are six members on the Chamber's Children's Day committee. Merle Stoelk, Chuck Hughes, Gib Phillips, Duane Monson, and Keith Kelderman have served from ten to 14 years, and Roger Vollstedt has been on the committee three years.