Published: May 12, 2007 06:11 pm         

Summer Fests (click here)

After a winter that didn’t want to end, festival season marks the beginning of summer in southern Minnesota. Here’s a brief list of some of the festivals and fairs planned.

May 15-18


Syttende Mai — Shifters Reception Hall, Hanska. Traditional Scandinavian festival includes a talent show, parade, free entertainment, crafts, a flee market and an antique show.


May 16-18


Arlington Polka Festival — Community Center, Arlington. Events include music, polka service, and food. PolkaFest2008.pdf


May 30-June 1


Dam Days — Morristown. Events include a car show, live music, a street dance, parade, carnival, canoe relay race and soap box car races. Morristown website


June 12-15


Hay Daze — Janesville. Events include a fun run, a softball tournament, live music, car show, bingo and a parade. Website


June 12-15


Town & Country Days — Mapleton. Events include a carnival, silent auction, demo derby, fireman’s dance, fireworks, tractor show, street dance, parade, flower show. website


June 13-14


Town & Country Days — Community Center and Main Street, Arlington. Events include Miss Arlington pageant, road race, children’s programs, tractor show, parade, street dance, kickball tournament, car show and beer garden. website


June 13-17


Pow Wow Festival — Mountain Lake. Events include a grand parade, road race, basketball tournament, Miss Mt. Lake pageant and antique car show.website


June 15-16


Cherry Creek Days — Cleveland. Events include pork chop dinner at the fire hall, silent auction, parade, petting zoo, vendors, 5K run, horse shoe tournament, softball tournament, class car roll-in, karaoke contest, tented entertainment, street dance and fireworks. website


June 16-22


St. Clair Days — St. Clair. Events include a medallion hunt, beer garden, Miss St. Clair Pageant, pie-baking contest, softball tournament, steak fry and a parade.website


June 21-22


Norseland Community’s 150th Anniversary — Norseland. The event includes a parade, pork chop supper and a display of historical artifacts. blogspot


June 23-29


Rail Road Days — St. James. Events include Taste of St. James and four-mile Rail Run and Walk, children’s events, a parade, pedal pull and live entertainment.website


June 24


Concert on the Courthouse Lawn — 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Mankato. Food, activities, face painting and the Mankato Municipal Band are included in the entertainment. website


June 26-29


Riverside Days — Springfield. Events include firemen’s water fights, flight breakfast, carnival, dances, softball tournament and a grand parade.


June 26-28


Pioneer Indian Days — Good Thunder. Events includes a softball tournament, carnival, mini street rod races, kids’ turtle races, parade and a street dance


June 27-29


Sauerkraut Days — Bender Park, Henderson. Celebrating Henderson’s German ancestry. Events include a softball tournament, grand parade, classic car cruise, antique tractor ride, mini rod pull, sauerkraut eating contest, fire department water fights and a model air show. Free music and dances.website


June 27-29


Friendship Days — Nicollet. Events include the Miss Nicollet Queen Talent Show, antique tractor pull and street dance.website


June 28-29


Auto Fest — Maday Motors and Joe’s, New Ulm. Over 300 vehices from 1900s, music, and food.website


July 4


Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration — St. Peter Minnesota Square Park, St. Peter. Events include 8K run, 5K walk, parade, food vendors, music, children’s games and fireworks. website


July 4


Lakefest — Clear Lake Park, Waseca. Events include live music in the band shell, kids’ activities, food, boat parade, canoe paddle-fest, craft vendors and fireworks. website>


July 5


Chautauqua — Waseca 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Maplewood Park, Waseca. Event highlights include music by Peter Ostroushko, theater, nature, history, art, entertainment and food. website


July 9-13


Fun Days — Wheeler Park, North Mankato. The celebration includes food, a beer tent, a carnival, bingo and a parade. website


July 10-13


Bluegrass Festival — Blue Earth County Fairgrounds, Garden City. Bluegrass music and camping available. Info


July 11-13


Giant Days — Faribault County Fairgrounds, Blue Earth. Entertainment will include Herman’s Hermits, sidewalk sales, car show, parade, community supper, street dance, fireworks, historical and cemetery tours, demolition derby, bike ride and children’s activities. website


July 11-13


Park Days — Watona Park, Madelia. Events include fireworks, grand parade, Crazy Days, burnout competition, games for the kids and live music. website


July 11-13


Farm & City Days — New Richland. Events include a medallion hunt, a parade and the New Richland Idol Contest. website


July 12


Rookie’s Triathalon — Elysian. Swim 0.4 miles in Lake Francis, bike eight miles on County Road 11, run four miles on the Sakatah Singing Hills Trail. website


July 15-16


Festag — Minnesota Lake. Events include tractor pulls, live stock show, arts and crafts, rides, kiddie parade and twilight parade. website


July 17-20


Tator Days — Eagle Lake. Events include raffle, medallion hunt, a queen candidate contest, Kids and Cops fishing, Dad’s Belium Waffles, grand parade, softball tournament, dance, and steak fries. website>


July 18-20


Bavarian Blast — German Park and downtown New Ulm. Featuring three tents with a variety of music, including bands from Germany in an authentic “German beer hall,” craft sales, food and drink vendors, art shows and a parade. website>


June 19


Day at the Dam — 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Rapidan Dam County Park. Activities, music, food and historical displays will be included


July 25-27


Kolacky Days — Memorial Park and downtown Montgomery. A celebration of Montgomery’s Czechoslovakian heritage, including Kroj costumes, Czech singing and dancing, a car show and a grand parade.

website


July 26-27


Paddlefish Days — Madison Lake. Events include a softball tournament and boat races.


July 26-27


Polka Days — George’s Ballroom, New Ulm.


July 31-Aug. 3


Ribfest — Mankato Hickory Street, downtown Mankato. Featuring four days of live music and award-winning ribbers from across the country competing for cash and prizes.


Aug. 1-3


Giant Celebration — Legion Park, Le Sueur. Events include fun runs, Giant Karaoke Idol, car show, helicopter rides, tournaments, live music, children’s activities, fireworks, parade, corn feed, carnival and Miss Le Sueur coronation. website>


Aug. 1-3


Waldorf Centennial — Downtown Waldorf and school. Events include a dance, memorabilia, parade, volleyball tournament, children’s games, music, fireworks, community church service, pork dinner and fireman’s tournament. website


Aug. 3


Trowbridge Art Festival — Waseca Art Center. website


Aug. 7-10


Eggstravaganza — Gaylord. Events include antique auto cruise, fireman’s chicken dinner, street dance, parade, games, carriage rides, fireworks, tractor pull and live entertainment. website>


Aug. 14-17


Kernel Days — Half Moon Park, Wells. Event includes Little Miss Kernel Pageant, fireworks, arts and crafts, musical entertainment, carnival, kids games, car show and teen dance.


Aug. 16-17


Steam & Gas Engine Show — Voss Park, Butterfield. Events include steam threshing, antique tractors and engines, sawing, pioneer buildings, ethnic foods, bluegrass music and arts and crafts. website>


Aug. 22-24


Pioneer Power Show — Le Center. The agricultural heritage show features displays and working exhibits, antique tractors, farm machinery, steam engines, ag expo museum, stage entertainment, children’s barnyard and playground and a parade of equipment. website


Aug. 30


Old Town Summerfest — 1 p.m. to midnight, Old Town, Mankato. Live entertainment and family friendly activities. website


Aug. 30-31


Riverblast — New Ulm. Events include music, crafts, food vendors, demonstrations and exhibits, contests and fishing on the Minnesota River. website


Aug. 22-23


Corn Daze — Allison Park, Sleepy Eye. Buttered sweet corn is the center of the celebration, which also includes a 5k race, a parade and other activities. website


Sept. 6-7


Rock Bend Folk Festival — Minnesota Square Park, St. Peter. Two days of live music by a variety of local, regional and national musicians. website


Sept. 19-21


Mahkato Traditional Powwow Honoring the 38 Dakotah — Land of Memories Park, Mankato. Drumming, dancing, moccasin games and tournament.