Summer Events
Heartland Lakes communities know how to showcase what makes them unique! Summer festivals have delighted visitors for decades! Some events are steeped in tradition and local culture, while others are intended to draw attention from a new generation.
2nd Street Stage
Park Rapids kicks off summer in mid-June when 2nd Street Stage concerts start. For 10 Thursday evenings beginning June 13th, residents and visitors gather to hear bands, visit the beer garden, and enjoy sponsor activities and visiting. This year will be the 11th season for what we call the Great Community Get Together, all on the second block of Main in Downtown Park Rapids.
Paul Bunyan Days
Always the last weekend in June, Akeley will celebrate its 75th Paul Bunyan Days in 2024. The event celebrates the community’s legacy from the era when the Red River Logging Company was set up on the shore of 11th Crow Wing Lake, flourished, and Paul Bunyan was featured on the company’s logo. The family fun includes parades, live music, a fishing contest, a treasure hunt, food, and more. Many activities are held on Paul’s Patio, the park surrounding the Paul Bunyan statue on State Hwy. 34.
Menahga Midsummer Celebration
Menahga has also organized a summer festival for many decades. Menahga Midsummer Celebration is the first full weekend in July in the city and on the shore of Spirit Lake. The community still has a Miss Menahga and Little Miss Menahga Pageant, horseshoe tournaments, a parade and fireworks, fun food at many locations, an antique car show, live music, and an Arts and Crafts Fair.
Nevis Muskie Days
Nevis Muskie Days recalls the time when the Tiger Muskie lured anglers to Lake Belle Taine, and the town became a tourist destination for more than fishing. Muskie Days has been a tradition in Nevis for more than 70 years. On a Friday and Saturday in July, the Muskie statue, Muskie Pavilion, Shenanigan’s Stage under the water tower, and other locations are where you will find contests, a music festival, classic summer games, the Muskie 5K, a Saturday evening parade, and many other activities.
Lake George Blueberry Festival
Lake George captures family fun with a menu of blueberry treats and events the last full weekend in August. The 40th annual Lake George Blueberry Festival promises family fun activities, including a children’s carnival and a Sunday afternoon parade.
Taste of Dorset
The first Sunday in August is Dorset’s annual day for foodies! The Taste of Dorset features foods from the Restaurant Capital of the World, the town’s famous mayoral election, live music, and games. Tempt your taste buds with spaghetti balls, tacos, pizza, and more! Enjoy the food, live music, shopping, and games.
Park Rapids Water Wars
A carryover from the time when Logging Days in Park Rapids drew thousands of visitors, Water Wars remains a favorite “sport” in Downtown Park Rapids on the second Thursday in August. The Chamber and Fire Department coordinates the competition with “not firefighters” teams turning on water hoses and aiming them at a barrel over the street in the battle to see who can move the barrel to the finish line to win. The winner gets the traveling “Looney trophy” to display for the following year.
Pine Point hosts an annual powwow in August, and other neighboring communities, including Wolf Lake and Nimrod, also organize yearly summer festivals. These are just a sample of events Park Rapids and its neighbors offer year-round.