Gopher Count
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The Gopher Count is an annual community festival held in Viola, Minnesota. Since 1874, the event has been on the third Thursday in June. Some the events include a parade, a tractor show, a nail-driving contest (women only), a pie-eating contest, fireworks, and dancing.
The festival is named for the practice of collecting a bounty on killed gophers, still paid by the township as of 2007, though other aspects of the festival are more actively promoted.
During the past five years the Gopher Count tradition has shown a huge decline in quality entertainment. One example of this is the free rides noted on the listing of events. These "rides" are limited to merely one or two kiddy rides only.
The last part of the celebration results in a street dance located in the middle of the town, creating a nuisance for surrounding neighbors, including (but not limited to): destruction of private property, trespassing and being subjected to the intense volume of the band playing well past 2:00am the following morning. Other problems resulting from the dance include minors consuming alcohol and drinking-and-driving related issues.
The celebration of counting dead gophers is considered to be an atrocity for animal lovers and activists alike. It is nothing more than an abomination and is no means for a celebration.
[edit] References
Schuett, Dawn. "At Viola festival, every gopher counts", Rochester Post-Bulletin, 2007-06-21. Retrieved on 2007-06-21.
"Citizens of Viola".
