It's high time for summer festivals

Summer festival season is upon us. This weekend Moose Lake and Wright will celebrate their signature events, with Agate Days running Saturday and Sunday and Wrong Days in Wright kicking off Friday.

Wright may be the only city in Carlton County that can still claim an “annual” festival, as organizers there did not pause the Wrong Days in Wright celebration because of the pandemic. It was business as usual last year — with masks added to the mix — and it’s business as usual this year: think three days of smalltown fun for everyone. Check out the rummage sale and steak fry, kids’ games, a pie social, coronation, Minnesota Sings competition and fireworks Friday. Saturday features a parade with local celebrities Jennie Hanson and Jake Kachinske as grand marshals.

Agate Days highlights include the Gem and Mineral Show at Riverside Arena Saturday and Sunday and art and music at Moose Lake City Park all day Saturday.

Carlton Daze returns the following weekend, July 23-25. There’s a 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. Or head to the swinging bridge at Jay Cooke State Park to watch the kayak racing starting just before 2 p.m. Saturday.

The fun continues in August, with Esko Fun Days Aug. 3-7, Brickyard Days in Wrenshall Aug. 6-7 and Ma & Pa Kettle Days in Kettle River from Aug. 6-8.

More information

Find a detailed Carlton Daze schedule on Page 10. Read the Wright-Cromwell News column on Page 15 for more on Wrong Days.

The Pine Knot will have the festivals covered each week with pictures and stories.