STARS & STRIPES DAYS
WINTERFEST
Celebrate our independence at the Pequot Lakes Stars and Stripes Days in Trailside Park honoring our heritage with food vendors, music, games, parade, and fireworks.
Have cabin fever? Crosslake has the cure. Celebrate Winterfest, a threeday festival, in early February for oldfashioned winter fun. Beginning Thursday, daily clues are released for the Lost Medallion Hunt with more than $1,000 in prizes. Friday, there’s a kick-off party at the Crosslake Community Center with fun for everyone: sledding, skating, horse-drawn wagon rides, s’mores, and a huge bonfire. Saturday is a full day of activities with the ice carousel, helicopter rides (weather permitting), cross country skiing, Italian Olympics, and shopping. Stop in to participating businesses to warm up and get free soup as part of the annual SoupFest. Don’t forget to vote for which business has the best soup—pride and a golden ladle trophy are on the line!
On July 3, try your hand at the bean bag toss or listen to live music. Once the sun sets, the spectacular fireworks burst into the night sky. On July 4, come for the all-you-caneat pancakes, kids’ games, craft fair, and the Stars and Stripes Parade!
BEAN HOLE DAYS Join in the historic Bean Hole Days, which dates back to 1938. City bankers asked local farmers to come into town for the day, and they served the farmers beans that baked overnight in the ground as part of a community event. Today, Bean Hole Days is a reminder and celebration of Pequot Lakes’ history. The Burying of the Beans ceremony begins July 14 and is accompanied by a community picnic. Lines form early on July 15 for free beans. Trailside Park in the center of town is teaming with people visiting craft vendors, playing games, and enjoying free beans.
CROSSLAKE DAYS Visit in September and attend the annual Crosslake Days celebration. Crosslake is beautiful in the fall as the trees burst into hues of auburn and amber. The crisp air is the perfect backdrop to cool the heat of the chili cook-off contest. Taste the free samples and vote for your favorite. Local businesses compete for the coveted trophies and for bragging rights! A missing chili pepper hunt, outdoor movies, kids’ games, shopping deals, a bazaar and flea market, and live entertainment make this a fun familyfriendly event.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE If you haven’t experienced Crosslake’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, you’re missing out on the best parade in the state (WCCO-TV’s Viewers’ Choice for Best Parade in Minnesota)! One visit and you’ll come back year-after-year. The Crosslake community rallies around this family friendly event. Float after float is buzzing with activity, music, and candy. Stretch your legs and take in some fresh air by running (or walking) the annual Clover Dash 5k, which takes place the morning of the parade. Eat pancakes made by local firefighters, ride in a hot air balloon, and buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes (more than $10,000 in prizes are given away). Local shops and restaurants offer deals when you show your blinkie button. End the night dancing away at one of the area establishments with live music. Make the Crosslake St. Patrick’s Day Parade your next tradition.
1 STARS & STRIPES DAYS JULY 3–4, 2020 PEQUOT LAKES, MN
2 BEAN HOLE DAYS JULY 14–15, 2020 PEQUOT LAKES, MN
3 CROSSLAKE DAYS SEPT 24–26, 2020 CROSSLAKE, MN
4 WINTERFEST FEB 4–6, 2021 CROSSLAKE, MN
5 ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE MAR 13, 2021 CROSSLAKE, MN