Summer festival season is rolling now

With the Fourth of July in the rearview mirror, planning for all the other Carlton County community festivals heats up. Here's a short list of all the fun, so you can make a plan.

Agate Days, Moose Lake, July 13-14

It's the 55th annual Moose Lake Agate Days with the The Gem & Mineral Show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 14 at Riverside Arena, with a free kids dig outside. Saturday is the big day, and the Clark-Olsen Agate Stampede down Elm Avenue at 3 p.m. is not to be missed. There's also Art in the Park all day Saturday, plus a pancake feed 7:30-10 a.m. at the park and free entry to the Agate and Geological Interpretive Center at Moose Lake State Park on Sunday. Enjoy the steak fry at Moose Lake Fire Hall starting 4 p.m. Saturday and Brewfest with live music in the Moose Lake Muni parking lot 5-8 p.m. Saturday.

Wrong Days in Wright, July 19-21

Tiny Wright wakes up for this annual celebration, with softball and volleyball tournaments all weekend, a car show, steak fry, OGNIB (bingo), live music, a parade, fireworks and pie. What more could a person want?

Carlton Daze, July 26-28

This annual event features a huge parade at 1 p.m. Sunday, a thriving car show starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, live music all weekend, horseshoe and corn-hole tournaments, bingo, poker, crafters galore, a spaghetti feed, book sale, myriad food and drink vendors and even polka worship services. In addition to a 5K race in town Friday evening, the celebration also encompasses the Minnesota Voyageur ultramarathon, a 50-mile race that starts and ends in Carlton Saturday. Paddlemania features exciting and daring whitewater kayak runs on the St. Louis River on Saturday afternoon. Following the parade head to the fire hall for free hot dogs and root beer floats and a bubble dance party and coin hunt at the park.

Esko Fun Days, Aug. 6-10

Things kick off with the National Night Out celebration Tuesday. Saturday, Aug. 10 is the grand finale, and includes the Burkholder 5K, the Fun Days parade, games in Northridge Park and a street dance.

Ma & Pa Kettle Days, Aug. 9-10

Ma & Pa Kettle Days come to Kettle River the second weekend in August. The iconic mud bog will be back after a six-year hiatus for a mud splattering good time. Steak fry Friday night, Pancake breakfast, pie social, midway, live music, mud bog, and bingo on Saturday.

Carlton County Fair, Aug. 15-18

There's too much to list here, but think 4-H exhibits, horse racing, car races and so much food. Find out more at carltoncountyfairmn.com or just head to the fairgrounds in Barnum because there's plenty going on.

Lakehead Harvest Show, Aug. 23-25

Bring the whole family to the Lakehead Harvest Show at 70 E. St. Louis River Road and get ready for a trip into the past on this old-school working farm. There's lots to see and do. Volunteers demonstrate all kinds of farm activities using old-school equipment to thresh, plow, crush rocks, plane wood and even make shingles. There's also food, blacksmithing, tractor pulls and a petting barn.

Cloquet Labor Day, Sept. 2

The Cloquet Labor Day parade starts at 11 a.m. and makes its way down Cloquet Avenue, mixing a local flavor with lots of statewide politicians each election year. Check out the car show 10 1.m.-3 p.m. at the NorthEastern Hotel & Saloon while you're in town.

Wrenshall Brickyard Days, TBD

Cromwell Harvest Festival, Sept. 6, 7, and 8

Enjoy three days of food, fun and music, centered around the pavilion, starting with a steak fry on Friday, plus cornhole, a beer garden, live music, bingo, a horse show, pancake breakfast and Alzheimer’s walk.

Cloquet's West End Flourish, Sept. 14

Celebrate Cloquet's historic West End with family-friendly fun, sales, exhibits and food available from noon to 5 p.m., perhaps longer.

Look for more detailed and updated information in the Pine Knot News the week before each celebration.