Despite some scorching temperatures in early June, Waterville successfully celebrated its annual Bullhead Days festival, serving up its signature fried delight by the batch and officially kicking off the small-town summer season.
A strong scent of fried fish, savory seasonings, and fresh squirts of lemon filled the air by the main stand as dedicated workers cleaned, prepped, battered, and fried “these slippery devils” into a mouthwatering regional delicacy. While newcomers to the experience hesitated to take their first bites, familiar locals wasted no time, chowing down on the bullhead until the ribcages were picked entirely clean. It may not be the most glorious fair food, but for Waterville, it may just be the tastiest.
The three-day festival was organized by the Bullhead Days Committee, in conjunction with the Waterville Lakes Association. Through their effortless planning, each day of the festival featured entertainment for all ages, opportunities to enjoy local fare, and a chance to do a little summer shopping.
The vendor fair, organized by the Waterville Chamber of Commerce which has been going strong for the past nine years. Oddly—and delightfully—enough, in a town with a historic fish-themed town festival, the Chamber’s President is Patty Salmon. The coincidence is uncanny. Roughly 40 vendors filled the tail end of Third Street with items ranging from handcrafted home goods, to cute and cuddly crocheted creations. The Chamber also highlighted a recent grant-funded initiative that partnered with engineering and planning firm Bolton & Menk to create a promotional video showcasing Waterville’s beauty across all four seasons. A brief video shown during the festivities highlighted stunning views of Sakatha Lake, the vibrant colors of local spring and fall floral arrangements, and the crisp, quiet white snow blanketing Main Street in the winter.
Sights and Sounds on Main Street
The celebration offered something for everyone, starting with the Classic Car Roll-in on Third Street. Roaring, souped-up muscle cars, head-turning vintage models, and custom creations sparked endless conversations between local gearheads.
Saturday featured a dynamic lineup of local entertainment, while Sunday brought the festival to a dramatic close with the grand Main Street parade. A score of local law enforcement officers—including the Waseca County Mounted Posse—joined local fire departments, area businesses, and pageant royalty in welcoming residents with open arms, big smiles, and handfuls of candy.
Providing the soundtrack to the march, the WEM marching band delivered energized renditions of modern hits like “APT,” while classic old-timer bands brought vintage juke-joint energy. One performer strummed her banjo with such pure elation that toes started tapping and hands started clapping all along the parade route.
“Just for Kix” Steps Into the Spotlight
Among the weekend’s highlights were performances by the local Just For Kix dance company. Led by youth “ringleader” Lydia Huelsnitz, the program serves over 100 dancers from the region, ranging from toddlers (18 months) to seniors (18 years).
The program is a perennial powerhouse. Just this past April, they traveled to Rochester for a massive national competition, where they competed against rival programs from across the country and walked away with five national awards. “Every year they go to nationals,” Huelsnitz noted, adding that this year was exceptionally successful, boasting several first-place team trophies and a first-place solo champion.
For the Waterville community, the festival performance served as both entertainment and a lively recruiting event for their upcoming season, which runs from September to May. The crowd gathered under the tent erupted into applause as three distinct age groups showcased their talents:
- Preschoolers: Dressed in matching blue tutus and shaking silver pom-poms with furious, delightful enthusiasm.
- Grades K–3 (Hip-Hop): Delivering sturdy stomps, surprising synchronization, and a massive dose of playful attitude.
- Grades 4–6: Wearing alien antennas and performing an “out-of-this-world” routine complete with bright pink pom-poms, rapid spins, high kicks, and high energy.
High Drama in the Ring: PCW Wrestling
On Saturday, the atmosphere turned delightfully hostile as PCW Wrestling rolled into town. Boos and jeers echoed off the brick buildings of Waterville as reigning champion Kyle Pro took the microphone. In classic heel fashion, Pro toyed with the crowd, pretending to sign an autograph for a young fan before tossing the photo directly into the trash.
The Waterville crowd proved to be far more vocal and hostile than audiences in neighboring Janesville, ruthlessly mocking heel manager Derek Vang with short jokes and chants of “Lord Farquaad.” Tensions boiled over when fan-favorite Rylie Jackson entered the ring to break up the punk party and challenge the champ. Just as Pro and Vang threatened to gang up on Jackson, the massive Mitch Paradise leapt to his defense, pumping up the crowd and nearly inciting an impromptu tag-team match.
An athletic undercard featured high-flying, high-impact moves, including a standout match between Cordoba and Wyatt Tordsen. Tordsen wowed spectators early with a dropkick and a spectacular backflip moonsault off the top rope. Though Cordoba used his brute strength to dominate, Tordsen found life with a springboard reversal. Ultimately, a devastating top-rope mishap allowed Cordoba to deliver a crushing powerbomb to secure a convincing win.
PCW Wrestling Official Results:
- Elijah Dickson def. Nick Pride via submission.
- Cordoba def. Wyatt Tordsen via pinfall.
- Mitch Paradise def. Brick “12 Gauge” via pinfall.
- Gavin Parker def. Mr. Williams and The System in a Triple Threat Match.
- PCW Championship Match: Champion Kyle Pro (w/ manager Derek Vang) def. Rylie Jackson via pinfall to retain the PCW Heavyweight Championship.
A Kickoff to Summer
From the sizzling fryers to the final parade float, Bullhead Days once again proved why it is Waterville’s favorite tradition. The summer months are famous for bringing small towns together, and Bullhead Days remains the ultimate local kickoff—bringing days of fried food, high-energy entertainment, and lasting camaraderie to the community.
