Scott Josephsonis celebration corrdinator for Minneota’s Boxeleder Days.

MINNEOTA — Town and Country Days just doesn’t have the distinct ring as Boxelder Bug Days.

That’s why Minnesota Boxelder Bug Days organizers switched from the former, to the latter, as a name for the town’s annual summer celebration in 1990. The name change was approved by the city council.

It is named for native son Bill Holm’s book, “Boxelder Bug Variations: A Meditation on an Idea in Language and Music.” Holm died on Feb. 25, 2009. He was a larger-than-life character, a former professor at Southwest Minnesota State University and a talented and prolific poet, essayist and musician. He was a modern-day Renaissance Man.

“Bill didn’t mind us using his notoriety, but was humble by not wanting the celebration be be about him, but rather, about Minnesota,” said Scott Josephson, celebration coordinator. Regionally, the event is known as Bug Days.

Boxelder Bug Days annually closes out summer celebrations in the region and this year will be held Friday through Sunday, September 5-7.

Josephson was actually related to Holm. “His mother was a Josephson,” he said.

Josephson started helping with Bug Days back in 1992, when his uncle Frank was a co-chair of the event, along with Bonnie Hanson.

“My uncle wanted me to be in charge of entertainment. In 2006 they both stepped back as managers and asked me to do it. It started out as a Chamber event but was then separated and is now (a non-profit),” he said.

Today there’s a core group of about a dozen who lead the way.

“It’s a great group with varied skills and interests. I’m the chair (since 2006) and it gets easier every year.”

There’s events that change each year, he said, and some that are old reliables. Josephson said he likes “a variety of entertainment that you don’t see everywhere else. I’ll rotate the acts every few years.” This year’s entertainment will remain the same as a year ago, he said.

“The weather is always a concern. You can plan everything but not the weather,” he said.

Some years it’s hot, some years on the cooler side, and Josephson said a big part of the Bug Days draw, regionally, is the variety of entertainment and events.

“Our sponsors are really supportive and they do a fantastic job. Everything is free.”

Friday, Sep. 5 kicks off with a dance featuring Mario Callens and the Midwest Cowboys.

The majority of events are on Saturday, Sept. 6, when Johnny Tilleman Chili Cook-off and BBQ contestants begin to set up. There’s a three-person golf scramble, a craft and vendor sale, family fun run, kiddie parade, kids’ pedal tractor pull, pickleball tournament, boxelder bug races, inflatables, barrel racing, bean bag tournament, queen coronation and street dance featuring Casey Muessigmann.

Sunday, Sept 7 includes a fireman’s pancake breakfast, community worship service, pie sale, golf ball roll, All Gray’s Country Jamboree and the Grand Parade.

A new event this year is an Easter egg hunt, which will be held on Saturday.

The final Bug Days schedule hasn’t been finalized yet, he said, and will be released soon.

Josephson and his wife, Roberta (Larson), are the parents of three children: Erin Roberts, Adam and Isaac. Josephson met his wife through 4-H and church activities.

“It’s a family-fun weekend and has grown from a one-day event to a three-day celebration,” said Josephson. “We have a talented and dedicated committee, spanning all ages, and they bring fresh ideas each year. I think if you put on a good event people are willing to help out and that’s a credit to the committee.”