Make a plan: Summer festival fun

With July Fourth in the rearview mirror, summer festival season is heating up in Carlton County, and so are the crowds.

Following are some community events around Carlton County this next month:

Wrong Days in Wright, July 16-18

Friday, July 16

Rummage sale at St. John's Lutheran 2-5 p.m.

Steak fry in the Big Top 4-7 p.m.

Kids' games – Extreme Teen Youth Group

Pie social at Bethlehem Church 5-7 p.m.

Queen and King Coronation 7 p.m. at the Big Top

"O-G-N-I-B" bingo at Bethlehem Lutheran Church 7:30-9 p.m.

Minnesota Sings Contest in the Big Top 7 p.m.

Fireworks at dusk

Saturday, July 17

Parade at 10:30 a.m. starting at the Groth Lumber area

Button drawings after the parade

Special button drawing at 1 p.m. for cash prizes

Vendors, crafters, flea market all day in the park and the Big Top

Rummage sale continues at St. John's, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Music in the Log Pavilion in the park 1-3 p.m., bring your own chairs

Volleyball tournament in the park

Softball tourney all weekend

Kids' games and bouncy house 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Cribbage tourney 3-5 p.m. at firehall. Play to lose!

Bean bag tourney 5 p.m. in the Big Top

Music by Sunny Side 8 p.m.-midnight at Big Top

Sunday, July 18

Community worship service 10 a.m.

Softball and volleyball tourney continue.

Music and gun raffle ticket drawing 6 p.m. at Kalli's Bar

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Agate Days in Moose Lake, July 17-18

After a year's hiatus, the 51st (almost) annual Moose Lake Agate Days returns next weekend. The Gem and Mineral Show is open to all 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, July 17 and 9 a.m.3 p.m. Sunday, July 18 at Riverside Arena. Check out the world's premier Lake Superior agate show, as well as fossils, jewelry, equipment, food and more. Admission is free.

Art in the Park 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, July 17. Take in handmade art and crafts, and live music at Moose Lake City Park. Bring your own chair.

The Clark-Olsen Agate Stampede on Elm Avenue is a victim of the ongoing pandemic and will not be held this year. That's when organizers drop 400 pounds of agates and $400 in quarters in two dump truck loads of rock in downtown Moose Lake, then crowds scramble to find treasures amongst the chaos. "Because so many people attend the stampede and because of the tight crowds, the decision was made to cancel for one more year," organizers wrote on the Moose Lake Chamber web page, adding that they didn't feel it would be safe for volunteers or the community. They hope to bring back the stampede in 2022.

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Carlton Daze, July 23-25

Carlton Daze covers three days of all kinds of fun. There's a thriving car show, sports tournaments, horseshoes, bean bags, bingo, garage sales, music, food and drink, a tractor pull and more. The parade at 1 p.m. Sunday is one of the highlights of the busy weekend and is followed by an open house at the Carlton Fire Department where revelers can enjoy free hot dogs, root beer floats and a bubble dance party.

Events surrounding the annual festivities also cover a lot of ground. In addition to a 5K race in town Friday evening, the celebration also encompasses the Minnesota Voyageur ultramarathon, a 50-mile race that starts in Carlton and goes to the Duluth zoo before returning to the high school. Then there's Paddlemania, which offers an entire weekend of events revolving around whitewater rafting and kayaking, including kayak races that end near the swinging bridge at Jay Cooke State Park.

Look for a full schedule of events in next week's Pine Knot News.

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Esko Fun Days, August 3-7

Esko will celebrate National Night Out 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3 at Northridge Park, and Esko Fun Days events run through Aug. 7. Activities include a parade, the history mystery medallion hunt, bingo and ice cream social in Northridge Park, the Kristin Burkholder 5K, games and a grass volleyball tournament, a street dance and food trucks. Look for more details later this month.