A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
Oldenburg Arts and Cultural Community members promoted its Honey Bee Festival during Sunday's Carlton Daze Parade. This year's festival is Aug. 6 and 7 in Carlton.
Although August is just around the corner, the summer festival season isn't slowing down. Carlton County will be bustling with activity for the next week-and-a-half with Esko Fun Days, the Honey Bee Festival, Wrenshall Brickyard Days, and Ma & Pa Kettle Days all coming back after last year's Covid cancellations.
The Honey Bee Festival returns to the Oldenburg House in Carlton next Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7. Oldenburg House proprietor Glenn Swanson is eager for the festival to resume.
"This [the pandemic cancellations of 2020] has been heartbreaking for us," said Swanson. "We're excited about finally being able to do something."
The Oldenburg House plans on having masks available for those who choose to wear them. The festival is outdoors, and social distancing will be encouraged. Both days will feature local Northland music acts including Icon Man, War Bonnet, Lesser Planets, Sara Thomsen, as well as Minneapolis-based Minor Mischief A Capella featuring UMD vocal jazz alumni. The group will be working with the Bee Friendly Arts day campers earlier in the day.
The Saturday agenda includes a barn dance under the tent with Terrence Smith. The same day, the Honey Bee Festival will host a SWARM bike ride event. Starting at Wussow's Concert Cafe in West Duluth at 10 a.m., the SWARM bikes to the festival grounds off the Munger Trail at Oldenburg House. Participants will receive a 20-percent festival ticket discount, a T-shirt, and a complimentary beverage.
A variety of vendors will be selling health and beauty supplies, art, and other bee-related goods.
The Oldenburg gates open at 2 p.m. Friday and 12 p.m. Saturday. Check out the ad on the back page of this week's Pine Knot or visit oacc.us or the OACC Facebook page for more.
Esko Fun Days
Esko Fun Days runs Tuesday, Aug. 3 through Saturday, Aug. 7. Kicking off the celebration is the National Night Out gathering 5:30-7:30 p.m Tuesday at Northridge Park. Wednesday includes a senior lunch at Northridge Park and an open house at North Country Ride. There's bingo and an ice cream social Thursday. Friday highlights include a cornhole tournament at the Esko football field starting at 6 p.m.
Saturday is the grand finale of all the fun, with a 5K race in the morning, a grass volleyball tournament all day, the 11 a.m. parade and a street dance that evening. Ask about the ongoing History Mystery Medallion Hunt.
The 24th annual Kristin Burkholder 5K walk/run begins at the Esko High School sports complex at 8 a.m. Registration is $30 for adults, $25 for students, and $17 for kids ages 5-11. All proceeds are donated to scholarships for Esko students. The grass volleyball tournament, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., is open to ages 15 and up. Registration is $30 per team.
The Northwoods Band is playing the street dance Saturday.
For more Esko Fun Days information, go to http://www.esko.k12.mn.us.
Brickyard Days
Wrenshall Brickyard Days runs Friday, Aug. 6, through Sunday, Aug. 8.
Events kick off Friday with the Community Night Out celebration at City Hall. One of the weekend's highlights is the parade at 11 a.m. Saturday (line up in the school parking lot at 10:30 to participate). Look for vendors in the park following the parade, with bingo at Silver Brook Town Hall, inflatables, selfie scavenger hunt, and music. There will also be events at Bricks Pub and Grub after the parade, including a bean bag tournament and a live band. The Brickyard Days Car Show runs 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
The volleyball tournament starts at 9 a.m. Sunday at Deer Park Court.
Ma & Pa Kettle Days
The 36th annual Ma & Pa Kettle Days in Kettle River will be celebrated Aug. 13-15. Although the count does not include last year due to the pandemic, the festival is back.
Friday's activities include a beer garden, outdoor grill, and street dance 4-8 p.m. There will be food vendors and a beer garden all Saturday, as well as a barbecue cookoff, Bloody Mary bar, cornhole tournament, food drive, children's activities, and outdoor entertainment. At 8 p.m., there will be a street dance.
Enjoy a Sunday Funday starting at 11 a.m., which includes a Bloody Mary bar, the Battle of the Bars (Tower Tap vs. Mikey's Bar), and acoustic entertainment by Taylor at the Tower Tap. There's more information at Ma & Pa Kettle Days' Facebook page.
More to come
More fun activities continue through the end of August. The Carlton County Fair runs Aug. 19-22. The 60th annual Lakehead Harvest Reunion will be celebrated Aug. 27-29 in Esko. Keep your eyes on the Pine Knot News for more information.
