Communities are celebrating their culture and heritage on weekends throughout August.
In between, you can go fishing, take a kayak around the lake, go tubing down a river, pitch a tent under the pines, stay off line for a few days or shop where you don’t have to stand in line. Whatever you choose, it’s not too late to enjoy time at the lake.
The Park Rapids American Legion’s annual Backyard Bash will serve good food, including fresh sweet corn, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and invites you to dance to the music of Corey Medina and Brothers from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 3.
The Park Rapids Antique Tractor and Engine Club will host the 26th Annual Field Days and old-fashioned fun Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 4 and 5 at the East 40 Grounds. Grounds open at 7 a.m. both days. See combining, threshing, tractor plowing, a sawmill, shingle making, a working blacksmith shop, lath making and snow fence making. In addition the weekend includes church services, tractor displays, parades, horse-related machinery, vintage implements, stationary gas engines, working displays, a barrel train, petting zoo, ice cream and popcorn, on-the-half-hour giveaways, the Northern Knights Car Club’s old-time gas station, a silent auction and live entertainment.
Take in Taste of Dorset, the annual day for foodies, Sunday, Aug. 5. Join the businesses of Dorset celebrating this fabulous event, featuring foods from the Restaurant Capital of the World as well as the famous Mayor Election at 2 p.m. Sample delicious foods from spaghetti balls, tacos and pizza to broasted chicken and enjoy live music, shopping and games.
The Northern Knights Car Club will host the 35th Annual Run to the Rapids Rod Run Aug. 10 and 11 at the C’mon Inn and downtown Park Rapids. The public is invited to the Show-N-Shine Saturday morning on Main Street.
Legends & Logging Days festivities kick off with Water Wars at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9 on Main Street. Teams sign up for bragging rights and ownership of the Loony Traveling Trophy for the year. Then grab a chair and stay for The 4ontheFloor at 2nd Street Stage. Friday, Aug. 10 teams are invited to enter the Lumber Jack & Jill Challenge for a chance to win $250 cash and bragging rights. Four-person teams (one Jill minimum per team) will be stacking log cookies, making a bow saw cut and hammerschlagen with the fastest team advancing until they’re the last ones left and the winners.
Chainsaw sculptors will begin carving Friday morning and putting on final touches Saturday morning before their works are put up for auction in the afternoon. Adding to the fun will be a Loggers Breakfast at 7 a.m. Saturday, food on site both days, the Civil War canon exhibit, black powder demonstrations and candy canon shots both days, dutch oven cooking samples and exhibitor demos. New this year will be a Sip and Paint with Nate Friday and Cornhole Tournament Saturday along with a beer garden both days.
The weekend will continue with a free concert featuring Levi Pelzer at 2 p.m. Sunday at Sleeping Fawn Resort with a free will offering going to Kinship. Gates at the East 40 Antique Tractor Club Grounds will open at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 10 and 7 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11. Admission is $5 per day, children 12 and under free. More information as well as Jack & Jill Challenge and Cornhole Tournament registration forms are at www.parkrapids.com.
2nd Street Stage, an evening of free live music, a beer garden, cornhole tournaments and family activities in downtown Park Rapids continues Thursday evenings through Aug. 23.
August weekends also offer the Pine Point Traditional Powwow’s colorful viewing Aug. 11 and 12 and Nevis’ Northwoods Triathlon treats spectators to watch competitors swim, bike and run for prizes Aug. 11. Head to the 43rd Annual Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers Show near the north entrance of Itasca State Park Aug. 17-19. Wolf Lake welcomes you to their Harvest Festival Aug. 17 and 18. Or head north for the North Country Trail’s 12th Annual Hiking Fest at Itasca State Park Aug. 25.
More culture is in store as the Northern Light Opera Company’s production of My Fair Lady is on stage Aug. 1-4, the Noon Hour Concert series continues Aug. 2, 9 and 16 and the Art Fair at the Winery (Forestedge) entertains Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 18 and 19. The Nemeth Art Center, live theater and other events add to the season’s cultural offerings.
And all this is just a sample of the activities and events planned all month long. Click here to see our event calendar.
There’s still time to take it all in. Finding a place to stay can be as easy as a couple of clicks on the lodging pages on our website. If you want help or have questions, call our friendly staff at 800-247-0054 to learn more. – LuAnn Hurd-Lof