MONTEZUMA #- People in and around Montezuma are celebrating this weekend.

The Montezuma Community Days, sponsored by the Montezuma Fire Department, began last year as a thank you to the community.

“The community is so good about supporting us and what we do,” Mike Dailey, department chief, said. “People really come out when we do our barbecues and cookouts and things like that, so we thought we'd do something like this, a big community family event, just something to say thank you and give a little something back to the community.”

Last year this idea was well received by the community and this year the department has tried to expand a little to make it an even better weekend of food, entertainment and games.

“It went over really well last year,” Dailey said. “So here we are again this year and already we are expecting a much bigger crowd than last year, especially Saturday should be a really big day.”

Each of the three days will feature entertainment like DJs The Fireflies on Friday night, and DJ and karaoke with Toby Tunes on Saturday, as well as daily cookouts by the fire department.

Vendors will also figure prominently into each day, with crafters and sellers coming from all over the area.

“We have a lot of vendors,” Dailey said. “A lot of craft booths, things like that went over really well last year so we have a lot again this year.”

Among them is Circle R Traders from Waterloo, selling a variety of collectible pieces of statuary.

“This is our first time here,” Peggy Rouse of Circle R Traders, said. “We'll be here all three days with a little bit of everything - clocks, knives, leopards, dragons, plates, pencils - really we have a little bit of everything. These kinds of things are good, especially if you get the people, they are really good events.”

The vendors are a big hit among all ages that make their way to the community days.

“I really like looking at all the stuff,” Sara Squires, 8, said. “I like all the rings and hats and all that stuff, it is really cool.”

The community days are also an opportunity to crown a princess of Montezuma, who will preside over parades and other events each year.

This year, 11-year-old Lindsey Swarthout was crowned the new princess.

Last year's princess, Brooke Baliva, 9, said that it was an honor that she really enjoyed.

“It was real, really, good,” Baliva said. “I got to have a crown and be in the parades and stuff and that was a lot of fun.”

Many are already eagerly anticipating Saturday night's festivities which, weather permitting will include a fireworks display, which is a nice added touch to an already enjoyable community event.

“I think this is really nice that they do this,” said Marian Ellinwood, of Montezuma, who was with her husband, Don. “This is a really nice event and we can't wait for tomorrow night. We were talking about it and this will be the first time as far as any of us can remember that there will be fireworks in Montezuma.”

Dailey said that funds raised from the three day event go towards supplies for the department as well as helping to fund next year's community days.

“We're already planning next year,” Dailey said. “We got a piece of land donated to us and we are planning to have a big carnival with rides and everything, it should be even bigger and better then this year.”