Fall brings out the best in the north woods as the pace changes with kids starting school, whistles blowing on the football field, leaves and pine needles waiting to be raked and equipment moving about for the fall harvest. The northern landscape has begun turning to orange, gold and red, all the beauty mirrored on lakes. It’s time for a drive, bike ride, walk, canoe trip or boat ride to take it all in.
End your summer with a bash at the Nimrod Labor Day Bull Bash Friday, Sept. 4! Join fifty bull riders as they compete to win Nimrod’s NFPB & Midwest Bull Riders Association Bull Riding. Meech Bucking Bulls welcomes you to the ranch, 2 miles east of Nimrod for an action filled, family show with two and a half hours of bucking bulls and a chance for the children to ride sheep, followed by a barn dance with the Fargo band Skyline for live music on Friday, Sept. 4 and Saturday, Sept. 5.
The Chamber is sponsoring a first – a Park Rapids Color Dash – Sunday, Sept. 13 starting and ending in Heartland Park. The event will be a non-competitive untimed, 5K run/walk where participants get covered with a lot of colors along the way! The goal of the event is to be active and have fun!
The Headwaters 100 bike ride will depart from Century School for 100-mile, 75-mile and 45-mile rides Saturday, Sept. 26. The event provides an opportunity for a beautiful ride in a well-organized event, sponsored by the Itascatur Ski, Bike and Run Club.
On Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26 & 27, the Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council will sponsor Art Leap 2015, a driving tour of artists’ studios and other cultural destinations. Traditionally, visitors enjoy viewing the fall colors at their peak as they travel from studio to studio. The Arts Council will celebrate its 10th anniversary and the 10th annual Art Leap and Noon Hour Concert series Saturday evening at Armory Square.
The same evening, Itasca State Park is offering the 8th Annual Autumn Harvest Festival Lantern Lit Hike and Activities on the theme “Exploring Itasca’s Birds.” Guides with lanterns will lead you down a kerosene lantern-lit trail to meet characters that will share stories about special birds that call Itasca home. Group hikes will last about 30 minutes, departing every 10 minutes from the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center. Registration for hikes begins at 6 p.m. Other activities will be ongoing, including music and a variety of children’s activities.
More fall fun begins Sept. 26 with a Pumpkin Party at Carter’s Red Wagon Farm. The Farm is open Saturdays through Oct. 31 as well as Thursday and Friday, Oct. 16 & 17 (Teacher Association weekend). Entertainment will include mazes, wagon rides and games as well as a giant corn maze.
Many other activities and events are coming up in September. Or just head north for a stay and enjoy listening to the pine cones plopping to the ground below, the special scent of the fall afternoon air, the sight of early morning fog on lakes and fields and the feel of a warm campfire.
The Chamber Website has all the information you need to put together a memorable vacation or weekend visit. If you want help or have questions, call our friendly staff at 800-247-0054 to learn more.