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Published June 30, 2010, 12:00 AM

Paul Bunyan Days 2010

Akeley, Minnesota celebration June 26-28, 2010


If success is measured in children’s smiles, the 62nd annual Paul Bunyan Days was a rousing one. Jenna Volkmann, 4, of Henning was proud of the lunker she lured from the lake. (Jean Ruzicka / Enterprise)

  • If success is measured in children’s smiles, the 62nd annual Paul Bunyan Days was a rousing one. Jenna Volkmann, 4, of Henning was proud of the lunker she lured from the lake. (Jean Ruzicka / Enterprise)
  • Lyle and Carol Edelman served as grand marshals. (Jean Ruzicka / Enterprise)
  • Eli Kramer, 5, of Forest Lake was a BMX rider in the children’s parade. (Jean Ruzicka / Enterprise)
  • Anthony Goehring 7, of Akeley and Kiana Hoppe, 5, Parkers Prairie compared their catches in the kids fishing tournament Saturday. The pier on 11th Crow Wing was awash with kids, the fish cooperating nicely. Paige Leeseberg, 9, of Park Rapids caught the biggest fish and Gabe Bryant, 9, of Akeley, the most. (Jean Ruzicka / Enterprise)
  • On foot, on horseback and in wagons they came. Miss Park Rapids Melodie Englund arrived in a pony- driven wagon. (Jean Ruzicka / Enterprise)
  • Nevis firefighter Ron Leyba hopped out of the truck and gave his audience of kids young and old a surprise. (Jean Ruzicka / Enterprise)
  • Paul Bunyan reigned over the parade, which fortunately saw no rain. Musicians and politicians, firefighters and royalty headed down Broadway, entertaining a large crowd. (Jean Ruzicka / Enterprise)
  • Sen. Mary Olson, DFl-Bemidji, right, rode in on horseback. Several area politicians joined the parade, including Frank Homer and Cory Aukes, contenders for Hubbard County sheriff. (Jean Ruzicka / Enterprise)
  • Paul Bunyan’s gift to Lucette, a music box with a ballerina (a.ka. Shannon McGrath, 8, of Akeley), captured imaginations in the children’s parade. (Jean Ruzicka / Enterprise)
  • Yertle comes across the finish line! Linzie Bliss, 5, of Leavenworth, Kan., watched with excitement as her turtle crossed in first place in the run of the reptiles. A record 93 kids signed up for the event. (Jeanb Ruzicka / Enterprise)