SPRING VALLEY – The 58^th annual Spring Valley Dam Days takes place this weekend, Sept. 18-20, with a large slate of events that promises community camaraderie and hometown pride.

This year’s 2026 grand marshal for the Dam Days Parade, selected by the SV Lion’s Club, is the Spring Valley Area Ambulance organization.

“While we are grateful for the recognition, we believe this honor represents much more than our ambulance service,” said EMS Director Brad Jorgenson. “It represents the dedicated people who serve, the communities that stand behind us, and the strong partnerships that make emergency services possible.”

SVAA serves approximately 3,300 citizens across the Village of Spring Valley and Gilman, Spring Lake, and Cady townships. Behind that service is a dedicated team of 21 EMTs and EMRs who answer the call when their neighbors need help, often during some of the most difficult and uncertain moments of their lives, Jorgenson said.

“Our team’s commitment extends well beyond responding to 911 calls. We believe an important part of being a community ambulance service is helping our residents prevent emergencies and prepare for them before they happen,” Jorgenson added.

Throughout the year, SVAA provides and participates in a variety of community outreach and education programs. These include geriatric fall-prevention education, helping older adults and their families identify ways to reduce fall risks; CPR and First Aid training, giving community members the skills and confidence to respond when someone needs immediate help; and Stop the Bleed education, teaching people how to recognize life-threatening bleeding and take action before emergency responders arrive.

“Our team also recognizes that emergency responders can be affected by the calls and situations they experience. Through Critical Incident Stress Management, we support our own responders and work to ensure that those who care for others also have resources and support available to them,” Jorgenson said. “None of this would be possible without the tremendous support of our community. From the residents who attend our educational programs, to local organizations and businesses, to the families who support our responders as they leave home at all hours of the day and night, our community plays an important role in the success of Spring Valley Area Ambulance.

“Being an emergency medical responder is more than simply driving an ambulance or answering a call. It is about compassion, teamwork, professionalism, and a willingness to help someone on what may be their worst day. It means continuing to train, learning new skills, supporting one another, and being ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to serve our neighbors.

“We are incredibly proud of the relationships we have built with our local fire departments, law enforcement agencies, dispatchers, hospitals, public safety partners, and other community organizations. Emergency response is truly a team effort, and we are fortunate to work alongside so many people who share our commitment to keeping our communities safe.

The SVAA Board of Directors includes Mike Jacobson (Spring Lake Township), Theresa Koch (Village of Spring Valley), Mike Traynor (Gilman Township) and Rick Benjamin (Cady Township). It has been serving the communities since approximately 1968. Last year, SVAA responded to 300 calls for service.

During Dam Days, SVAA will be on-call for the football game and fireworks Friday night. The public is invited to an open house at the EMS facility (S407 Newman Ave.) from 2-4 p.m. Saturday. Sunday, they will lead the Dam Days parade down McKay Avenue starting at 2 p.m.

“Balancing staffing needs and budget will remain a challenge into the future as we continue to navigate and find balance to the future of rural EMS across the state,” Jorgenson said. “Our next fundraiser is in in December, being the Holiday Cookie Walk and in February will be our Annual Pancake Breakfast & Silent Auction.”

If people are interested in learning more about or possibly joining SVAA, reach out at 715-778-4452.

Dam Days events

For a full list of Dam Days events, find the “2026 Spring Valley Dam Days” event page on Facebook. Some highlights include:

The Looney Lutherans, “Livin’ la Vida Lutheran,” 7 p.m., Emmaus Church (S200 Sabin Ave.) Tickets are $15 at the door. Get ready to laugh until your sides hurt. You do not have to be Lutheran to enjoy these comedians. Sponsored by the Spring Valley Education Foundation.

Cardinals vs. EPC Wolves football game, 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets will be sold at the entrance from 5:30-7:15 p.m. Ticket prices are $5 for adults, Spring Valley students are free and students from other schools at $3. After 7:15 p.m., admission will be free for fireworks spectators. The fireworks will begin at approximately 9:45 p.m., allowing football spectators time to leave and fireworks spectators time to enter and get settled. If there is rain, fireworks will be moved to 8:45 p.m. Saturday.

15^th Annual SV Community Cancer Fund 5K Poker Walk, 7:30 a.m., Emmaus Church (S200 Sabin Ave.) Registration and T-shirt pickup starts at 7:30 a.m., event starts at 8:30 a.m. Since its inception, 118 community members have been blessed with $226,000. Come support local individuals and families affected by cancer.

SV Knights of Columbus Dam Days Breakfast, 8-11 a.m., Brother Michael Center. Serving pancakes, French toast, scrambled eggs, sausage and more, along with a bake sale. Proceeds will benefit SV Food Pantry and Staying Put.

SV Dam Days Exhibit, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day at SV Community Center (S242 S. McKay Ave.) The display on Spring Valley's "Big Flood" of 1942 is back this weekend. If you aren't familiar with the town's 1942 disaster, come learn the harrowing story with lots of photos and first-hand accounts, and even video footage of the damage. New additions this year include dam construction photos and a special exhibit of recently discovered photos taken by early Spring Valley photographer, John Krueth in 1903-1904. He amazingly took a photo of Spring Valley from almost every hill that surrounds the town, giving us some never-seen-before angles of town.

Folliez, 7 p.m. Saturday, Stagehands Theatre (S234 McKay Ave.) Local talent show. Interested performers can contact Jae Anderson at 715-308-9920.