10 FUN THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER

BY DETROIT LAKES TRIBUNE AND PERHAM FOCUS STAFF

1DINE AND DANCE (OR JUST GRAB LUNCH): TRUCKS & TUNES AND FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS, IN DETROIT LAKES

Nosh some food truck fare and get parked near the pavilion, and may or your jam on at the Detroit Lakes City may not include a little live music, too. Park on Thursday evenings, during Food Truck Fridays take place every Trucks and Tunes, then head back to Friday from May 21 to September 3, the park on Fridays for casual outdoor lunches at Food Truck Fridays. Trucks and Tunes brings multiple local food trucks together with live musicians at the park bandshell for fun outdoor from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. All events are free (except for the cost of food) and open to everyone. Sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Noon gatherings from 5-8 p.m. on select Rotary. Events may be canceled or Thursdays throughout the summer: relocated in the case of inclement June 17; July 1, 22 and 29; and August 12 Food Truck Fridays serve up casual weather; check local media ahead of the and 26. outdoor lunches courtesy of food trucks event for the more up-to-date info.

3TRY AND GET AN EAGLE

No, not the sharp-beaked kind — we don’t recommend that — rather, the golf kind. There are plenty of greens to swing a club on around here, with more than 10 golf courses in the Detroit Lakes and Perham areas. Detroit Lakes is home to the Detroit Country Club, Lakeview Golf Course, Wildflower, and Forest Hills, to name a few. In Perham, there’s the Lakeside Golf Club, while Balmoral and Thumper Pond are just short drives south. Tee ‘em up! 2HIT UP THE BECKER AND OTTER TAIL COUNTY FAIRS

The rides, the games, the and West Lake Drive) and the East entertainment, the animals, the Otter Tail County Fair held at the displays — and let’s not forget about fairgrounds in Perham (at the end the food! What’s not to love about of 4th Street SE). This year’s East a good county fair? Detroit Lakes Otter Tail County Fair is happening and Perham are each home to one, July 22-25, and the Becker County with the Becker County Fair held at Fair is going on July 28-31. For more the Detroit Lakes Fairgrounds (at info, visit beckercountyfair.com or the junction of Rossman Avenue eotcountyfair.org.

4VISIT THE ZOO

The family-friendly Trowbridge Creek Zoo, located northwest of Vergas on County Highway 17, boasts a zebra, camels and kangaroos as well as parrots, elk, deer, wolves, porcupines, alligators and many more local and exotic animals. A playground area for kids adds to the fun. The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day of the week from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends as weather permits before and after that. For more information, visit the zoo’s Facebook page or go to trowbridgecreekzoo.com.

5GET YOUR THINK ON

Now in its 28th year, the Great American Think-Off, a nationally famous philosophy contest held in New York

Mills, just down Highway 10 from Perham, will get folks thinking about “Which is more important: To win, or to play by the rules?” Hosted by the Cultural Center in New York Mills, this always-timely and thought-provoking event features a live debate amongst four of the nation’s top ‘armchair philosophers,’ with the audience picking the winner. This years’ debate will be held Saturday, June 12.

6GO OLD-SCHOOL WITH CLASSIC

Calling all classic car lovers: Detroit Lakes has the summer event for you! On the second Wednesday of every month in June, July, August and September, you can drive your favorite classic cruiser to Detroit

Lakes’ West Lake Drive for an evening on the City Beach from 4-8:30 p.m. Don’t have a classic car?

That’s okay, just come see the variety on display. More than 200 vehicles have been known to gather along the city’s mile-long beach for these fun monthly events.

7ENJOY A CONCERT AL FRESCO

Bring your lawn chair or a comfy blanket to sit on and nestle next to the Detroit Lakes City Park Bandshell for the Tuesdays in the Park summer concert series. These weekly outdoor concerts feature family-friendly performances by some of the area’s best musicians, playing every Tuesday in June through August. All concerts are free, with free will donations accepted. The music starts at 7 p.m. under the bandshell.

8WHOOP IT UP AT WE FEST

Detroit Lakes is home to one of the biggest country music concert and camping festivals in the upper United

States, WE Fest. Thousands of country fans descend upon the community every summer to get rocked by some of the genre’s biggest stars. Headliners in 2021 are Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley and

Florida Georgia Line, but there are many others. WE Fest is happening August 5-7.

9SHOP ‘THE FLEA’

Located five miles south of Detroit Lakes on Highway 59, the Shady Hollow Flea Market is open every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The market has more than 100 vendors, plenty of free parking, and food and beverages sold on site. Call 602-809-6661 or visit shadyhollowfleamarket.com for more information.

10 GET OFF THE BEATEN PATH: TINY-TOWN EVENTS ALONG ROADS LESS TRAVELED

Sometimes big fun comes in really small packages. We think these four events, all in towns of fewer than 1,400 people and all within an easy driving distance of Detroit Lakes and Perham, are well worth your time. • Frazee Turkey Days: Four fun-filled days of community dances, a demo derby, games, food and more, July 22-25 in Frazee. • Vergas Looney Days: A street fair, wiener dog races, food and more fun, August 12-15 in Vergas. • Ottertail OtterFest: A pancake feed, parade and games, August 14 in Ottertail.

A gathering of hundreds of classic steam engine demonstrations and exhibits spread over 210 rolling acres in the tiny town of Rollag. This one’s much bigger than you’d expect, with play areas for kids and plenty of food booths: The show attracts thousands of spectators and volunteers every Labor Day weekend. Visit rollag.com for more info.

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