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Where Beauty & Nature Intersect

Find food, fun and fantastic music at August festivals

Archery Shoot

Archery Shoot at Legends & Logging Days

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 Antique Tractor and Engine Club will host the 27th Annual Field Days at the East 40 grounds (1008 8th Street East) Saturday and Sunday, August 3 and 4. Gates open at 7 a.m. both days with activities on going until 5 p.m. Demonstrations and fun experiences will include combining, threshing, tractor plowing, sawmill, people movers, shingle making, blacksmith shop, lath making, snow fence making, tractor dyno, church services, tractor displays and 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, Northern Knights Car Club old-time gas station and a silent auction.

Take in Taste of Dorset, the annual day for foodies, Sunday, Aug. 4. 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.

Park Rapids Legends and Logging Days Aug. 8, 10 and 11, celebrates the area’s logging and lumberjack heritage. The festivities start with water wars at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8 on Main Street in downtown Park Rapids. Teams sign up to battle it out for bragging rights and possession of the coveted Loony Traveling Trophy. Live music on 2nd Street Stage follows the competition.

Water Wars 2018 2 - 1

Water Wars 2018

The Northern Knights Car Club will host the 36th Annual Run to the Rapids Rod Run Aug. 9 and 10 at the C’mon Inn and Downtown Park Rapids. The public is invited to the Show-N-Shine Saturday morning on Main Street.

Come out to the Park Rapids American Legion Friday, Aug. 9 and get a burger or brat, corn on the cob, beans, chips and watermelon and beer. The food will start being served at 4:30 p.m. and the beer garden opens then, too. Stay to play some cornhole while jamming out to Corey Medina & Brothers from 8 p.m. until midnight.

Saturday’s Legends and Logging Days activity is at the East 40 Antique Tractor & Engine Club Grounds at 1008 8th St. East, just west of County Road 6 and a few blocks south of State Highway 34. Gates will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Activities Saturday will include the return of the Lumberjack Show four times throughout the day. In the award winning Timberworks Lumberjack Show lumberjacks will compete against each other in the following events: log rolling, cross-cut sawing, hot sawing, axe throwing, chainsaw carving and log shopping. New this year, the exhilarating speed pole climb and a cant hook choker race.

Other family-friendly activities will include master chainsaw artists doing demonstration carvings, Civil War cannon and kids candy cannon multiple times throughout the day. Kids and adults can compete in the Smokey Hills Archery Challenge and try their luck in the tomahawk throw. The Army National Guard will be on hand with wall-climbing. Other activities will be an Open Class Cornhole Tournament 4 to 7 p.m. and Paint with Nate workshop at 1 p.m. Throughout the day there will be a food court and beer garden. Saturday morning a Logger’s Breakfast will be served at 7 a.m. and from 4 to 7 p.m. (or until it’s gone). Other food available will be Pike’s sweet corn, RDO fries and Iron Horse Bar & Grill pulled pork sandwiches. While you enjoy cornhole and food, kick back to live music by Unpolished from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday a free concert, featuring Nashville recording artist Dariann, will be held at 2 p.m. on the beach at Sleeping Fawn Resort.

2nd Street Stage, an evening of free live music, a beer garden and and family activities in Downtown Park Rapids continues Thursday evenings Aug. 1, 8 and 15. 

August weekends also offer the Pine Point Traditional Powwow’s colorful viewing Aug. 10 and 11 and Nevis’ Northwoods Triathlon treats spectators to watch competitors swim, bike and run for prizes Aug. 10. Head to the 44th Annual Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers Show near the north entrance of Itasca State Park Aug. 16-18. Wolf Lake welcomes you to their Harvest Festival Aug. 16 and 17. Or head north for the North Country Trail’s 12th Annual Hiking Fest at Itasca State Park Aug. 24.

More culture is in store as the Northern Light Opera Company’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone is on stage July 31 and Aug. 1-3, the Noon Hour Concert series continues Aug. 1, 8 and 15 and the Art Fair at the Winery (Forestedge) entertains Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 17 and 18. 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.

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.

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Click to order the 2019 Discovery Guide.

 

CHAMBER PARTNERS:

Park Rapids Lakes Area Chamber, a Partner of Explore Minnesota Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Northwoods Bank, Partner of Park Rapids Lakes Area Chamber Citizen's Bank in Park Rapids, MN Park Rapids Downtown Business Association Park Rapids Lakes Area Convention & Visitor's Bureau