WEDNESDAY, JULY 31
The Jumpin’ Jehosafats, a Dixieland, jazz and gospel group from Minneapolis, will perform today (Wednesday) at the Akeley United Methodist Church.
A dinner (with a freewill offering) will be served at 5:30 p.m. followed by the concert at 7 p.m.
THURSDAY, AUG. 1
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The Itasca Moraine Chapter of the North Country Trail Association has scheduled the third hike of the year, designed to accommodate persons staying at resorts, hotels and camp- grounds.
Thursday, Aug. 1, the resort hike is in the Longville area. Hikers are to meet at 10 a.m. at the North Country Trail parking lot just off
Highway 84, .8 mile south of the intersection with Highway 200.
Three hikes are scheduled that proceed east from the trailhead; a short hike to Co. Rd. 126, a 2-mile hike to Forest Road 2875 and a
3.5-mile hike to Forest Road 2875B.
Transportation is provided back to the trailhead parking area.
For more information on the hikes, call 218-675-5448.
Hubbard County Historical Museum’s noon Brown Bag Lunch series continues Thursdays in August.
The museum is located at 301 Court Ave., Park Rapids.
n Aug. 1 Alice Holz presents “ A day in the life of a pioneer family.”
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n “Wedding dresses throughout the years in photographs” will be the subject Aug. 8. Connie Henderson collects wedding photographs and will share her collection as part of a slide show.
The Toggery a room in the museum has a wedding dress display.
n The Braille alphabet and typewriter and other communications equipment is the Aug. 15 topic.
Gene Henderson will lead the program.
n Aug. 22, Jim Jasken will present presents “Arms of the Civil War.”
The Park Rapids Downtown Business Association will host The Seasonals, performing from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1 on the 2nd Street Stage.
Eclectic music by eclectic people, The Seasonals make high energy music and put their own spin on tunes from nearly every genre under the sun.
2nd Street Stage offers, a beer garden and family activities on 2nd Street between Main Avenue and Highway 71. Bring your own chair.
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The Sons of Norway will meet Thursday, Aug. 1 at Riverside United Methodist Church.
A board meeting will convene at 5 p.m. and the annual picnic and general meeting begins at 6 p.m.
Bring a plate, utensils and a dish to share. The picnic will be outside if weather is nice, inside in the event of inclement weather.
FRIDAY, AUG. 2
The Leech Lake Arts League, an organization of over 30 local artists from communities in northern Minnesota, will be having their annual show and sale of original fine art from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 2 and 3 in the commons of the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School in Walker.
Artwork will consist of original paintings in watercolor, acrylic, oil and pastel, as well as sculpture, fine jewelry, prints and cards.
Admission is free, several painting demonstrations will be conducted daily, and door prizes will be awarded each day of the show.
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Artists from Walker, Park Rapids, Bemidji, Pine River, Longville, and Nevis, as well as other surrounding communities, meet every Thursday at 9:30am in the basement of the American Legion in Walker, to paint together and learn from each other.
The shores of Spirit Lake will come alive at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2 when the Celtic music group, Ring of Kerry, performs.
The musical group based in Minnesota plays Irish music on a variety of Celtic instruments, including whistles, flutes, guitar, hammered dulcimer, fiddle and bodhran.
In the event of rain, the concert will be at the Menahga School Auditorium.
The concert is free.
Bring a lawn chair.. For directions or more information, visit www.soundsofspir itlake.com.
SATURDAY, AUG. 3
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The Class of ’54’s annual Logging Camp breakfast will be at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3.
Call Julienne Malm at 732-7031 or Donna Massie at 732-3488 for more information.
All classmates are welcome.
The Park Rapids Antique Tractor and Engine Club will salute Case tractors and equipment at the 21st annual Field Days from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Aug. 3-4 at the East 40 grounds south of Park Rapids on County Road 6.
Admission is $5 per day and children under 12 are admitted with no cost. With each paid admission a collector button is included.
A 1949 Case VA tractor will be raffled off.
Gates open at 7 a.m., serving breakfast at the pavilion until 10 a.m. at the beginning of both days. A flea market/swap meet will feature antiques, crafts and collectables.
Saturday’s events include sawmill demonstrations from 10 to 11 a.m., a tractor parade around the grounds at noon, a tractor pull with weigh-ins starting at 11 a.m. and ending at 1 p.m., field demonstrations at 11 a.m.
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After lunch the tractor pull will be held at 1 p.m., with nine farm classes and three open classes and the afternoon activities will be announced.
Sunday morning after breakfast, devotions will be held in the church from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m., gospel music at the pavilion starts at 11 a.m. and going until noon.
Also during that time there will be field and sawmill demonstrations. Lunch at the pavilion starts at 11 a.m. Following that, from 1 to 2 p.m., there will be the tractor parade around the grounds followed by the youth pedal tractor pull in the pavilion from 2 until 3 p.m. The tractor raffle will start at the end of the day.
This year a Pinewood Derby track will be set up for junior racers.
Other ongoing activities on both days are combining, threshing, tractor plowing, sawmill, shingle making, blacksmith shop, lath making, snow fence making, tractor displays, parades, horse related machinery, vintage implements, stationary gas engines working displays, miniature railroad, petting zoo, ice cream and popcorn, prize giveaways every half-hour, silent auction and items in the office.
“People movers” will take participants around the grounds both days.
For more information, contact Noel Allard at 732-5100 or Jim Wright at 732-8567.
SUNDAY, AUG. 4
Dorset will be hosting the 26th annual Taste of Dorset festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4.
The day is a food- and fun-filled extravaganza, with the restaurant capital of the north woods offering a myriad of mouthwatering treats.
Live music and games, horse-drawn wagon rides, face painting, minnow races, a quilt auction, silent auction, author book signings and info booths will engage audiences of all ages. The University of North Dakota’s Power On Team will present science experiments.
Four-year-old Mayor Robert Tufts, who’s gained international eminence during his tenure in office, is seeking re-election. A mayor parade begins at 12:30 p.m. with the buck-buys-a-vote drawing for the next mayor at 2 p.m. By mayoral proclamation, free candy and balloons will be distributed all day.
MONDAY, AUG. 5
Monday, Aug. 5 from 10:30 a.m. to noon, the public is invited to “Arms Around the Armory” at the Armory building in Park Rapids.
Come learn about and be a part of the community collaboration effort to establish the Armory building as the Upper Mississippi Center for the Arts: a home for arts activity, arts education, and cultural events in the Park Rapids Lakes Area.
This event is co-sponsored by Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council (PRLAAC) and the Region 2 Arts Council (R2AC).
It is free and open to the public. Coffee and mid-morning snacks will be provided.
The agenda for the morning includes an introduction to PRLAAC and R2AC, a presentation on the Upper Mississippi Center for the Arts, time for Q&A and tours of the Armory.
Armory Square is located on Highway 71 and 2nd Street in Park Rapids.
An RSVP is required; email staff@r2arts.org or call 218-751-5447 or 800-275-5447 Thursday, Aug. 1.
The Park Rapids chapter of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association (MDHA) will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5 at the Environmental Education Building on the fairgrounds in Park Rapids.
TUESDAY, AUG. 6
The Hubbard County Sheriff’s Department will host the 5th annual Night to Unite from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6 at the Law Enforcement Center parking lot.
A free BBQ dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. with K-9 demos, featuring Oakley, at 6:45 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Night to Unite celebrates partnerships in preventing crime.
Participants will meet local deputies, boat and water patrol, SWAT, Command Center, ATV and snowmobile units, the Sheriff’s Posse and Explorer Post members.
There will be a child ID station and dunk tank for the K-9 Unit.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 7
The local farmers market will celebrate National Farmers Week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7 with treats, prize drawings and free samples.
The market is located on Highway 34 a block east of the Highway 71 intersection.
Trinity Lutheran Church of Laporte will serve its annual chicken dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7.
No reservations are needed. A freewill offering will be received. Proceeds go to local, state and national charities.
Celebrate Recovery Park Rapids will present Doug Hallock in a free concert at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7 at Strait Rail Ranch on Highway 13 just south of Nevis.
The classic rock musician from Tennessee will address brokeness, salvation and recovery. CDs will be available and a freewill offering received. For more information, go to www.doughallock.com .
THURSDAY, AUG. 8
The Hubbard United Methodist Church will host its annual pig roast from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, with tickets available for purchase at the door.
“All proceeds from the dinner benefit a variety of local and national mission programs supported by United Methodist Women (UMW),” explained the Rev. Laurie Kantonen, pastor of the church.
“We are proud that the money raised from this event goes to those most in need,” said Wanda Meade of Menahga, co-chair of Hubbard UMW and chair of this year’s event.
The “all hands on deck event” is an intensive but “team building” undertaking for the local congregation, with most of the members involved in the preparation, cooking, or serving of the dinner.
The menu features roast pork, corn-on-the-cob, potato salad, broccoli salad, fresh rolls and homemade pies.
“It requires a lot of work but it is also a wonderful opportunity to visit with friends and neighbors,” added Karen Lundstrom of Nevis, a member of the church who is in charge of the kitchen workers. “Last year we served 500 people and we are looking forward to seeing at least that many again this year.”
FRIDAY, AUG. 9
Legends and Logging Days celebrates the area's logging heritage with exciting wood chopping, log sawing, ax throwing, spring board chop and more.
This year's event will be held Friday and Saturday, Aug. 9-10 at the East 40 Tractor Grounds. Visitors will find an array of family activities during the two -day event plus:
A pre-1840 encampment with tomahawk and archery demonstrations and costumed historical interpreters will demonstrate and discuss what it was like to live centuries ago.
Master chainsaw sculptors create masterpieces Friday and Saturday with the completed sculptures auctioned off to the highest bidders.
Loon calling competition will have awards for best calls in age categories.
A unique marketplace of artists, crafters and demonstrations, such as glass encased beehives, will be on site.
Watch Dutch oven cooking with samples of apple crisp and beef stew.
A chili contest will have cash prizes and sampling.
A loggers breakfast will be served Saturday morning starting at 7 a.m.
Terrapin Station will provide bluegrass, country, folk and Celtic music, setting the tone for this family-oriented, old-fashioned event.
The unique grounds with a historic farmhouse, blacksmith shop and working sawmill will engage imaginations. Visitors will feel like they have stepped back in time when exploring the 40-acre property, with plenty of space for parking.
The annual Water Wars will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8 on Main street.
For more information, go to www.parkrapids.com .
The Northern Knights celebrate their 30th annual Run to the Rapids street rods show Friday and Saturday, Aug. 9 and 10 in Park Rapids.
Saturday kicks in bright and early on Main street with a show-n-shine and trophy presentation at noon.
There will be drawings for cash and prizes all morning for registered participants. Must be present to win; club members not eligible.
For more information on this year’s Run to the Rapids contact Dave at 732-0020, Mike at 732-9445 or Fred at 732-0252.
For decades, classical music drifts across the waters of Hoot Owl Lake, come August.
Musicians arrive by invitation-only to rehearse throughout the week for a Friday performance, this year's concert slated for 8 p.m. Aug. 9 at Hoot Owl Resort.
The Borderline Philharmonic Orchestra is a collaboration of 40-plus musicians. The group formed a half-century ago, originally staging performances on the Minnesota-Canada border, hence the name.
Performer and director Bill Arimond has been arriving since 1978. The core group of musicians comes from the Twin Cities area, he said, but performers arrive from Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
Many of the performers have been with the group for decades.
Rehearsing four times a day for a week, the Borderline Philharmonic will play an assortment of chamber works for ensembles and orchestral pieces Friday evening, the music chosen by the performers.
"Doors open" at 7 p.m. with the audience welcome to picnic on the lawn. Bring a lawn chair.
From Park Rapids, head 16 miles north on Highway 71 and turn west at Highway 113. Round 68 curves to reach the Hoot Owl (approximately 16 miles, watch for a tower).
Admission is free; but a freewill offering will be received.
SATURDAY, AUG. 10
The 14th annual Laporte Days, sponsored by the Laporte-Benedict Lions Club, will be held Saturday, Aug. 10.
Roller skating with special prizes will be held Friday night.
Saturday’s events include a flea market, crafts and food vendors.
A pancake breakfast with a special Harold Cotant Memorial Fly-in will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Baptist Church.
The 3rd annual walk/run on the Paul Bunyan Trail will begin with registration from 7 to 7:45 a.m. with the race at 8 a.m. Medals will be awarded the top three male and female finishers. An awards ceremony follows the race.
Kids games will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon with a scavenger hunt at the flagpole on the trail.
The Lions lunch wagon will be serving food from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pre-parade entertainment begins at 12:30 p.m., including a 4-H dog show.
Kids parade line-up (no animals or motorized vehicles) is at 1 p.m. with the parade at 1:30 p.m.
Grand parade line-up is at 1:30 p.m. with the parade at 2 p.m. (Contact Lion Chuck at 218-224-2974 to enter.) Post-parade entertainment begins at 3 p.m. at the trail with adult and family games from 3:30 to 7 p.m.
Lions bingo and raffle drawings begin at 7 p.m. at the Lakeport Fire Hall.
Local clubs and churches are invited to use this time for a fundraiser, whether providing a meal or having a booth at the flea market. There is no cost to youth groups, but they must register. Call Lion Shirley at 218-224-2601 to register for flea market spaces.
This is a greater Laporte area celebration. Local businesses and neighboring towns - from Lake George to Wilkinson, Walker to Bemidji – are invited to bring a float to the Sunday afternoon parade. Call Lion Chuck at 218-224-2974 for parade and walk/run information.
MONDAY, AUG. 12
The Mantrap Valley Conservation Club Auxiliary will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12 at the clubhouse.
For those interested, members will meet for lunch at noon in Emmaville. Contact Helen Marsh at 652-3295 for reservations.
A support group meeting for celiac disease will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12 at Wadena Alliance Church, 1428 S. Jefferson St., Wadena.
The monthly, free informational meeting is held to help people with celiac disease learn more about the disease - what to eat, how to cook and bake using gluten-free flours and ingredients.
Informational materials will be available along with some gluten-free recipes. A potluck supper is served. Along with a gluten-free dish to share, bring about eight copies of the recipe to share.
Call Pat Johnson at 218-631-2170 for more information.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 14
Individuals who will by 11 years old by Aug. 14 are invited to enroll in the Minnesota Firearm Safety course to be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Aug. 15 and 16 at the Environmental Education Building on the fairgrounds in Park Rapids.
Registration will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14 at the Environmental Education Building, at which time books will be handed out. All students must register Aug. 14 in order to participate.
There is no maximum age limit for participants. Topics include safe firearm handling, firearm care, hunter ethics and responsibility, wildlife management, field and range testing and other topics.
For more information, call Russ Johnsrud at 732-8411 or Ron Norenberg at 237-9356.
FRIDAY, AUG. 16
The Mantrap Valley Conservation Club is hosting a chicken fried steak dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16 at the clubhouse located 1.5 miles east of Emmaville on CSAH 24.
The meal includes chicken fried steak with country style gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, salad and homemade pie.
A freewill offering will be received. Proceeds will be used for sponsored projects and renovations.
The Lake Itasca Pioneer Farmers will host the 38th annual three-day reunion/show Aug. 16-18 on its show grounds located adjacent to the north side of Itasca State Park on Minnesota Highway 200.
Incorporated in 1976, the LIRPF is dedicated to the preservation and display of historic, rural/logging related Americana for the cultural, educational, entertainment and heritage-related benefits of the public. They are also a non-profit corporation.
During the reunion/show, there will be many attractions including log-handling and loading using horses, lumber sawing on a 95-year-old sawmill, lumber planning, shingle and lath making, birdhouse, broom and rope making and grain threshing and grinding, tractors, vehicles, antique tools, model engines and machines and more.
Displays include a 100-year-old rural schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, log house, church, store, women’s activities building and more.
Over two dozen rustic-framed buildings are located in the park-like area on the grounds, which contain an auditorium, logging museum, kitchen, blacksmith shop, engines, models and toy displays, hot-air engine displays and other activities.
Some exhibits include the historic Lake Itasca Post Office, with completely restored 1940 interior and early Redby Machine Shop with machines and equipment. Adjacent to this site is another area housing the historic Itasca Park sawmill, the historic A.J. Levorsen sawmill engine and the Roy Hemmerich Logging Memorial.
For more information on this event, go to the LIRPF website at www.itascapio neerfarmers.com.
SATURDAY, AUG. 17
Bethany Lutheran Church in Nevis will be the site of a blood drive from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 17.
Appointments may be made at www.unitedblood services.org or by calling 800-917-4929. With each donation, donors receive a free total cholesterol test and earn points in the UBS Hero in Me rewards program.
Volunteer blood donors must be at least 16, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. Additional height/weight requirements apply to donors 22 and younger. Donors who are 16 must have a signed permission slip from a parent or guardian.
Forestedge Winery hosts its annual art fair Saturday and Sunday Aug. 17 and 18 Located 14 miles north of Akeley on scenic Highway 64, the Forestedge Winery Art Fair features art, music, wine and food.
The art fair features selected artists exhibiting and selling works of art. The different mediums will be pottery, porcelain, jewelry, fiber, leather, wood, painting and more.
There will be a free wine tasting as well as wine sold by the glass, and local area restaurants will provide food. Also, of course, there will be Forestedge Wine sold by the bottle or case in the winery.
The art fair will also be featuring jazz music on the beautiful cobblestone bistro for all to enjoy.
For more information contact the winery at 218-224-3535.
SUNDAY, AUG. 18
St. Theodore’s Catholic Church in Ponsford will host the 13th annual all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18.
The menu features homemade spaghetti sauce, pasta, garlic bread, slaw salad, relishes, cucumbers and freshly baked pies.
The raffle begins after dinner, with top prizes of $150 and $100 cash, a hand-carved Minnesota Lady Slipper and handcrafted Star quilt. Many gift certificates and other prizes will be awarded.
SATURDAY, AUG. 24
The annual Headwaters Remote Controlled (R/C) Fun Fly will be held by the Park Rapids Remote Controlled Model Flying Club Aug. 24-25.
The event begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and runs through 5 p.m. Sunday, weather permitting. There may be lighted helicopters and gliders operated over the airfield.
Participants come from as far away as North Dakota, and as long as they are members of the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics), they are welcome to enter any crafts approved by the organization.
Food, prizes and high-flying fun will be available both days, as well as camping for the hard-core fans.
The R/C Club airfield is located 4 miles west on state Highway 34 and south on Co. Rd. 30 (or 109th Ave.). Signs will be posted.
To learn more about the Headwaters R/C Flying Club, visit their website at www.headwatersrcclub.org .
MONDAY , AUG. 26
Hubbard County Historical Museum will present “Small Talks” by local women at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26.
Telephone operators, car hops and more will be the topics of conversation.
The meeting will be held in the lower level of the Law Enforcement Center just north of the museum. The building is handicap accessible. Refreshments will be served.
