If you can tear yourself away from all the parties this weekend, there are some activities that you may be interested in participating in, or just taking it easy and watching.

The weekend activities get underway on Friday at 5:00 p.m. with a slam dunk contest on Welch Avenue.

There will be two different divisions. For those of us who are not gifted with the greatest of vertical jump, there is a contest on a 9-foot rim, and for those of you who have some height, there is a contest on the regular 10-foot rim.

After the slam dunk contest there will be a 3-point shootout and a 3-on-3 tournament. The 3-on-3 event will have two different divisions, one being a men’s 6 feet and under tournament, and the other being an open division.

If you can role out of bed early enough on Saturday, make you way on over to Lake Laverne for some canoe racing. The races begin at 10:00 a.m. before the parade. It is a co-rec event and teams must consist of three players.

If anyone is interested in competing in the basketball activities or the canoe races, contact the tournament co-chairs at 292-3880. Each event costs $3 to enter.

On Saturday afternoon, break out your chaps and your cowboy hats because there’s going to be a rodeo.

The Iowa State Rodeo Club is sponsoring the event that begins at 2:00 p.m. and will run until 8:00 p.m. at the ISU rodeo arena on State Street.

So try to tear yourself away from the keg this weekend and get out and participate in some of the events during this Veishea weekend.