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Editor's Note: This article contains new and past reporting from Detroit Lakes Tribune staff.

DETROIT LAKES 鈥� This year marks the 89th annual Northwest Water Carnival in Detroit Lakes. Since its inception, the event has entertained Detroit Lakes residents and visitors alike with a whole host of activities and events. From its humbling beginnings, the Detroit Lakes Jaycees have shaped the event into the marquee summer attraction that it is.

As has been tradition for the Water Carnival, this year's event is jam-packed with something for everyone, from pickleball tournaments to kids' activities to live music, and of course, the water fights, there's something for everyone over the event's 10-day run.

Beginning in 1935 under the admiral F.C. Schroder, the Northwest Water Carnival has grown over the years to become one of the largest celebrations in the state.

The Detroit Lakes Jaycees host the event every year, which includes a pageant, water fights, demolition derby, and, of course, the Parade of the Northwest, which has a new route this year.

Over the years, the event list has grown to include a sandcastle building, an ice cream social and a pup plunge, to name a few.

On July 4, 1935, the newspaper printed, 鈥淭he throng of people that joined the city streets, filled all available parking spaces and lined the lakeshore for a mile or more last Sunday to witness the First Annual Northwest Water Carnival, assured a yearly repetition of the thrilling aquatic show.鈥�

The crowd at the first Water Carnival was estimated at 10,000-15,000 people, the largest celebration the city has entertained at one point. There were four officers on duty all afternoon and part of the evening, a big deal for those times. But there were no accidents or injuries that day either.

At the events, John Ahlf captured the mile marathon swim by covering course in 23 minutes. There were five entrants, and one dropped out before the contest was over. Miss Frances Wright of Fargo was crowned Miss Northwest during the Bathing Beauty Contest. There were 14 contestants in the first year.

There have only been two years since its inception that the Northwest Water Carnival has not been held. In 1937, the Junior Chamber of Commerce (now the Jaycees) voted not to hold it because the Detroit Lakes City Council wouldn鈥檛 approve a Sunday dance at the Pavilion. In 2020, the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As time has progressed and the event has grown, it has gone from a one-day event to five days, now to 10 days. In a 1985 newspaper article, the 10-day event was run on a $52,000 budget, had the help of more than 100 volunteers and crowds were estimated at 80,000, with 50,000 alone coming for the Sunday Parade of the Northwest.

The Northwest Water Carnival has continued to grow each year and is still filled with traditions mixed with new ideas each year.

The Detroit Commercial Club formed in March of 1906, with 68 businessmen as the first members. The club charged $10 admission, with annual dues of $12, payable at the rate of $1 a month. On Jan. 19, 1935, the name of the club was changed to the Civic and Chamber Association to better provide a full spectrum of those joining the club. No business connection was needed to join by that point. A full-time secretary was also employed at that time to care for tourist inquiries. In 1953, the name of the organization was changed once again, this time to the Detroit Lakes Chamber of Commerce.

The Detroit Lakes Junior Chamber of Commerce 鈥� later called the Jaycees 鈥� was formed in 1935 by a group of men under the age of 35. By 1971, the membership had grown to 200 with an annual budget of $35,000. It was then the fourth-largest chapter in the state of Minnesota. The purpose was to train young businessmen and groom them for the Civic and Commerce Association. At the time, Detroit Lakes was one of the smallest cities in the United States to have a Jaycees club.

In 1959, the women鈥檚 unit of the chamber was formed, the Jaycettes, and was later reorganized in 1960 as the Detroit Lakes Mrs. Jaycees. The Jaycees and the Detroit Lakes Mrs. Jaycees have long since joined forces to form the Detroit Lakes Jaycees, inviting both genders into the club.

From a 5 a.m. "Keggs and Eggs" breakfast with the KFAN Power Trip morning radio show at the Pavilion on Friday, July 11, to the Bald Eagle Water Ski Show on the City Beach on Sunday, July 20, immediately following the Parade of the Northwest, the Detroit Lakes Jaycees have packed more than 60 events into the 10-day schedule of the 89th Northwest Water Carnival.

"We've got a lot of new stuff happening," says April Asleson, who is co-admiral of this year's water carnival alongside Tyler Tretbar.

Of particular note amongst all that "new stuff" are a on Saturday, July 12, and on Sunday, July 20.

"We flipped the (parade) route this year," said Asleson, with marchers stepping off and floats launching from the Kent Freeman Arena parking lot at 1 p.m., proceeding south on a short stretch of Rossman Avenue, then turning east on West Lake Drive to the Pavilion, before heading north on Washington Avenue to Front Street, which is where it will end.

The revised route enables them to avoid navigation problems for large parade floats and vehicles on smaller side streets, and also the necessity of getting a permit from MnDOT to close the Highway 10 intersection for the parade, she added.

The Soo Pass concert, meanwhile, was something that organizers Mark Bjerke and Dave Suppa already had in the works before deciding to make it a water carnival event. All she had to do, Asleson said, was organize a Jaycees beer garden for the event, where people could make use of their "bottomless" water carnival mugs during the concert.

And speaking of the mugs, there will only be one option this year. They have eliminated the smaller, limited-use mugs and ordered 500 of the larger ones. Water carnival attendees can purchase the mugs, plus a water carnival admission button, for $65 each; the mugs can then be used to obtain unlimited drinks at all water carnival events where alcohol is sold by the Jaycees, throughout the 10-day festival.

Mugs and buttons 鈥� $5 each without the mug 鈥� are already available at the Chamber of Commerce offices at 700 Summit Ave., and while they will be sold during water carnival events as well, that will only be while supplies last.

"We only ordered 500 (mugs)," Asleson said. "When they're gone, they're gone."

Family Day on Sunday, July 13, will have a new sponsor this year: Laker Prep Preschool and Early Childhood Centers, a local nonprofit that operates three child care centers in the community. Mary and Eric Rotter, the owner/operators of Laker Prep, will not only be organizing all the Family Day events, but also serving as grand marshals for the parade.

This year鈥檚 Family Day starts out with an event that, while it isn鈥檛 new to water carnival attendees, is being held that Sunday for the first time: The Knights of Columbus Pancake Feed, taking place in the Pavilion from 8-11:30 a.m. The rest of the day鈥檚 schedule in the City Park will include familiar favorites such as the Toddler Trot and turtle/frog racing, as well as new ones like an all-day 鈥淐halk the Walk鈥� activity, 鈥淪hoe Kick鈥� at 9:15 a.m., and the 鈥淎ll Ashore Rock-Skipping Contest,鈥� which will start at 11 a.m. on the City Beach.

The last event on the schedule for that day is the Kate Spaeth Memorial Pup Plunge at 1 p.m., which means all of the official Family Day activities will be ending a bit earlier than in years past, Asleson noted. But for those looking to extend their day at the beach a little longer, nearby Hub 41 will be offering live music starting at 2 p.m.

Monday, July 14, will feature 鈥淧izza, Puzzles and Pints鈥� at the Pavilion, starting at 7 p.m. This will be the first time that a jigsaw puzzle competition will be taking place at the Pavilion, Asleson said.

While Tuesdays in the Park is an ongoing summer concert series at the City Park Bandshell, the one scheduled to take place during the water carnival on July 15 will have a little twist: The Jaycees will have their beer garden open in the City Park from 5 p.m. until the concert ends.

鈥淲e figured that since we鈥檇 already be setting up the beer garden for the Water Fights on Wednesday, why not open it a day early?鈥� Asleson said, noting that the event is being billed as 鈥淭uesdays in the Park On Tap.鈥�

The Fuller Center for Housing will be serving up their picnic supper in the park at 5:30 p.m., and the music starts under the bandshell at 7 p.m., with Tim Eggebraaten as the featured performer. Attendees will need to bring their own chairs and/or blankets for the concert, as on-site seating at the bandshell is limited to a handful of benches in front of the stage.

As for Water Fight Night in the City Park on Wednesday, July 16, the festivities will begin with Junior Water Wars at 5 p.m.

Asleson said this new event replaces the Junior Water Fights, with the young participants going at each other with squirt guns rather than garden hoses. This will be followed by an ice cream social at 5:30 p.m., and the water carnival鈥檚 signature event, the Water Fights, getting underway at 7 p.m.

Though the Thursday, July 17 schedule won鈥檛 have any 鈥渇irsts,鈥� with sky diving (which continues through the weekend), a Vitalant blood drive, and bingo on tap, it will contain at least one 鈥渓ast.鈥�

鈥淭his will be the last time for Bingo in the Pavilion as we know it,鈥� Asleson said, noting that the historic structure is scheduled to be torn down this fall to make way for a brand-new Pavilion.

Another new event this year is the Teen Bash on the Beach set for Friday, July 18, which Asleson describes as "her baby."

This event will be open for young adults between ages 13-20, Asleson said, with DJ Love Jones spinning tunes, ax throwing with Woodsman Axe, ice cream and more, all from 5-9 p.m. on the City Beach.

The Jaycees beer garden, which will, of course, not be available to the Teen Bash attendees, will open in the city park starting at 5 p.m., and then at 9:30 p.m., after the teen event ends, Troubadour will be performing live on the beach stage.

Another new event is a pickleball tournament taking place on both Friday and Saturday, July 19, at the Peoples Park pickleball courts. Games start at noon on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Saturday, July 19 will be featuring a plethora of water carnival favorites, from the sand volleyball tournament at Peoples Park to the pet and doll parade, pet show at the City Park Bandshell inflatable games and face painting in the City Park, and the big event of the day, Bash on the Beach opening at 6 p.m.

This year鈥檚 Bash headliner will be country icons Lonestar, with Two Weeks Notice as the opening act. The music starts at 7 p.m. on the City Beach stage and will continue well into the night.

The last day of the water carnival will include the Parade of the Northwest at 1 p.m., and the Bald Eagle Water Ski Show on the City Beach immediately following the parade鈥檚 conclusion.

A full schedule of events can be found online at the Detroit Lakes Jaycees website, which is also where you can go to register for all the events listed on the schedule, as well as to order tickets for the Bash on the Beach.

For more information and the most up-to-date calendar, visit .

• All day: Citywide garage sales
  
• 5-9 a.m.: Kegs and Eggs with KFAN鈥檚 Power Trip Morning Show at the Pavilion
  
• 5-7 p.m.: Past admirals' dinner at Pavilion
  
• 6 p.m.: Kick off party with Some S****y Cover Band

• All day: Citywide garage sales
  
• 7-9 a.m.: Mark Knutson Memorial Tour de Lakes starting at Detroit Lakes High 歪歪漫画
  
• 9 a.m.-12 p.m.: Kids fishing clinic at the Pier at the fishing pier near El Loro
  
• 10 a.m.: SOAR on the Sand at Detroit Lakes City Beach
  
• 8-11 a.m.: Breakfast off the Beach at Hub 41
  
• 4 p.m.: Doors open for Mad Summer Party with Buckcherry and Blue 脰yster Cult at Soo Pass Ranch.

• All day: Chalk the walk at Detroit Lakes City Park; sand sculpture station at Detroit Lakes City Beach; and prize table at City Park
  
• 8-11:30 a.m.: Knights of Columbus pancake feed at the Pavilion
  
• 8-11 a.m.: Breakfast off the Beach at Hub 41
  
• 9-11 a.m.: Trolley rides starting at the Pavilion
  
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m.: Community baby shower at Detroit Lakes City Park
  
• 9 a.m.: BYOTee tie-dye at Detroit Lakes City Park
  
• 9 a.m.: Toddler trot at Detroit Lakes City Park
  
• 9:15 a.m.: Shoe kick at Detroit Lakes City Park
  
• 9:30 a.m.: Water balloon/egg toss at Detroit Lakes City Park
  
• 10 a.m.: Sand dig at Detroit Lakes City Beach
  
• 10:30 a.m.: Turtle/frog races at Detroit Lakes City Park
  
• 11 a.m.: Kids Tell Dad Jokes at the Detroit Lakes City Park Bandshell
  
• 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Face painting at Detroit Lakes City Park
  
• 12 p.m.: Lego contest at the Pavilion, judging begins at noon
  
• 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: All-Ashore Rock Skipping Content at Detroit Lakes City Beach
  
• 12 p.m.: Family picnic at Detroit Lakes City Park
  
• 1 p.m.: The Kate Spaeth Memorial Pup Plunge at J&K Marina on Detroit Lakes City Beach

• 7 p.m.: Pizza, puzzles and pints at the Pavilion

• 5 p.m.: Tuesdays in the Park-On Tap at the Detroit Lakes City Park Bandshell; beer garden opens at 5 p.m.

• 4 p.m.: Great Admirals Hat Hunt takes place within Detroit Lakes city limits
  
• 5 p.m.: Junior water wars at Detroit Lakes City Park
  
• 5:30 p.m.: Ice cream social at Detroit Lakes City Park
  
• 7 p.m.: Water fights at Detroit Lakes City Park

• 8 a.m.-8 p.m.: Skydiving beginning at the Detroit Lakes-Becker County Airport
  
• 1:45-6:30 p.m.: Blood drive at the Pavilion parking lot
  
• 5-10 p.m.: Bingo at the Pavilion

• 12 p.m.: Pickleball tournament at Peoples Park
  
• 3-9 p.m.: Inflatable games at Detroit Lakes City Park
  
• 3-9 p.m.: Face painting at Detroit Lakes City Park
  
• 5-9 p.m.: Teen Bash on the Beach with DJ Love Jones at Detroit Lakes City Beach
  
• 5 p.m.: Pre-Bash Park with Troubador, beer garden opens at 5 p.m., music starts at 9:30 p.m.

• 8-11 a.m.: Breakfast off the Beach at Hub 41
  
• 9:30 a.m.: Pet and doll parade/pet show, line up begins at 9:30 a.m. with parade to follow
  
• 10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Inflatable games at Detroit Lakes City Park
  
• 10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Face painting at Detroit Lakes City Park 
  
• 10 a.m.: Sand volleyball tournament at Peoples Park
  
• 10 a.m.: Pickleball tournament at Peoples Park
  
• 11 a.m.: Beersbee at Detroit Lakes City Beach
  
• 11 a.m.: Bean bag tournament at Detroit Lakes City Beach
  
• 6 p.m.: Doors open for Bash on the Beach featuring Lonestar with Two Weeks Notice at Detroit Lakes City Beach. Music begins at 7 p.m.

• 8-11 a.m.: Breakfast off the Beach at Hub 41
  
• 1 p.m.: Parade of the Northwest on Washington Avenue in Detroit Lakes
  
• After parade: Water ski show
  

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