VIOLA, Minn. 鈥� As much as most Minnesotans refuse to hibernate, and countless masses of us bundle up, get outside and enjoy the colder months, there is nothing like summer in the north country. When the lakes open up (although they barely closed during the 鈥渨inter that wasn鈥檛鈥� in 2023-24) and the flowers bloom and the trees turn green and the mosquitos make their annual return from some mystical, evil place, it touches off months of outdoor recreation and celebrations statewide.
Between Memorial Day (May 27) and the final burst of fireworks over the State Fairgrounds on Labor Day (September 2) a person could theoretically spend an enjoyable 14 weeks hitting up a different community and a different celebration nearly every day of the summer of 2024.
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In that vein, we have put together a list of nine of the more unique, vibrant, historic and just plain interesting of the annual community celebrations across Minnesota. They鈥檙e not necessarily the biggest gatherings and who鈥檚 to say which one is best, but each has an army of organizers and fans that make the trip from near and far each year to slap on sunscreen and bug repellant, grab a lawn chair and a beverage and revel in the fun of another Minnesota summer.
In chronological order, we hope you can get out and enjoy:
Gopher Count, Viola, June 19-20
It may shock you to know that for the first European settlers in Minnesota who were plowing the land and trying to survive via agriculture, the gophers were not a beloved bunch of college athletes from Minneapolis, but rather a despised pest that was more valuable dead than alive. In 2024, tiny Viola will celebrate 150 years of the annual gathering where folks would count up the number of deceased gophers they had amassed, and claim a bounty on the rodents. Billed as Minnesota鈥檚 oldest community celebration, this rare midweek gathering includes the crowning of royalty, a grand parade, live music and fireworks.
Water Tower Festival, Pipestone, June 28-30
Amid the rolling hills and spinning wind turbines of southwest Minnesota, Pipestone has always been a gem of a community, filled with history and fantastic architecture like the downtown Calumet Inn and the community鈥檚 instantly recognizable water tower. The latter provides not only water pressure, but a rallying point for Pipestone鈥檚 annual community celebration, held on the final weekend of June each summer. In 2024 the three-day gathering features a kids鈥� parade and burger feed to kick things off on Friday, a parade, art fair, car show and street dance on Saturday, and a community worship service to close out the weekend on Sunday morning. And a stop at nearby Pipestone National Monument is a must when visitors come to town.
Fourth of July, Eveleth, July 3-4
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It has been said that if you have never seen Elvis, the Pope and Ronald McDonald playing an instrumental version of 鈥淏eer Barrel Polka鈥� together, then you鈥檝e clearly never seen the . Formed in the years after World War II by veterans from the Iron Range who would get together to play music periodically, the Clown Band is the centerpiece of one of the great Independence Day parades in Minnesota. More than 50 amateur musicians journey to Eveleth from across the state and across the country each year to march in a stunningly colorful array of costumes while belting out some fantastic sing-along favorites for the masses lining the streets of this historic mining town.
Wrong Days, Wright, July 19-21
Since the turn of the century, Wright鈥檚 population has nearly doubled, and is now well over 150 per the 2020 census. But for two days in July each year, this map dot on the road between Brainerd and Duluth swells thanks to the celebration that we feel has the best name of all of them. Four years ago, when much of the state and the nation was shuttered due to the pandemic, Wrong Days went on as planned, with the official slogan, 鈥淲e鈥檙e still Wrong in Wright, in a World Gone Awry.鈥� Highlights include a parade, softball and volleyball tournaments, a medallion hunt and the chance to win big at OGNIB (which is bingo, with the letters 鈥� fittingly 鈥� in the wrong order).
Lumberjack Days, Stillwater, July 19-21
A century ago, Bemidji and Grand Rapids were certainly not the only places where tired men, covered in sawdust, would make their way into town from the remote logging camps. Stillwater鈥檚 strategic location on the St. Croix meant that Minnesota鈥檚 most scenic river town was an epicenter for the logging industry as lumberjacks cleared the Minnesota and Wisconsin forests nearby for building materials. They celebrate that history every summer with a community celebration which includes a parade, a pickleball tournament, a stunt show, outdoor yoga on the riverfront and live music from one of the region鈥檚 favorite Prince tribute bands.
Great River Shakespeare Festival, Winona, July 27-28
The river bluffs surrounding Winona and the endless bays and coves of the Mississippi River have attracted visitors for centuries. Probably not as far back as the 1600s, but they pay tribute to that era鈥檚 most renowned playwright each summer in Winona anyway. As they have done for more than two decades now, the performing arts center on the Winona State University campus will host a celebration of Shakespeare, with performances of some of his legendary works (鈥淢uch Ado About Nothing鈥� and 鈥淗amlet鈥� are on the 2024 playbill) along with conversations about the Bard鈥檚 works, ice cream socials and other community celebrations of the fine arts.
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Lake Bemidji Dragon Boat Festival, Bemidji, July 31-Aug. 3
For a few days every summer, the bustling harbor in Hong Kong, and the pristine lakes of Beltrami County, literally on the other side of the world, have something in common. In a popular summer tradition, hundreds of onlookers line the shore of Lake Bemidji, not far from the iconic statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, to watch colorfully-painted human-powered wooden boats make one Minnesota lake their raceway. The traditional Chinese boats each have a 22-person crew, with 20 paddlers, one person to steer and another pounding a drum to keep the paddling in a steady rhythm. In addition to two days of races, there is a food court, parades, live music and other dry land offerings.
Bayfront Blues Festival, Duluth, Aug. 9-11
From Bayfront Festival Park, which is one of Minnesota鈥檚 best outdoor music venues, visitors have a view not only of Duluth鈥檚 iconic Aerial Lift Bridge and the bustling inland harbor. In a concert there in the summer of 1999, American music legend Bob Dylan pointed out the little house in the city鈥檚 Central Hillside neighborhood where he was born in 1941 and lived until his family moved to Hibbing. The link between music and the Twin Ports is decades old, as is Bayfront Blues, which began more than 30 years ago and has featured some of the genre鈥檚 legends including Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, Little Richard, Delbert McClinton, Robert Cray, Wilson Picket, Blues Traveler and Solomon Burke.
Potato Days, Barnesville, Aug. 23-24
Just a few miles up the road from this farm town on I-94, in Moorhead, the high school teams are known as the Spuds. But the love for America鈥檚 favorite legume is strong throughout the region, as evidenced by Barnesville鈥檚 annual community gathering which celebrates agricultural heritage and the many, many ways that potatoes are a part of life in Minnesota. In addition to standard fare like a parade and live music, Potato Days includes picking and peeling contests, a Miss Tator Tot pageant and a competition where the winner is honored for the best sculpture made of mashed potatoes. And the region鈥檚 Scandinavian roots are celebrated as well, with a hotly-contested lefse cook-off.
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