Get ready to rock out in Moose Lake

Moose Lake will celebrate the state gem - the Lake Superior agate - by throwing its biggest party of the year this weekend: the 55th annual Moose Lake Agate Days.

The event includes a gem and mineral show in the hockey arena (with a free kids' dig outside) and free admission to Moose Lake State Park and its Agate and Geological Center both Saturday and Sunday, July 13 and 14. One of the area's three agate pits, near the Moose Lake airport, will also be open all weekend for those who enjoy searching for agates in the wild.

The big day is Saturday, which kicks off at 7:30 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the Moose Lake City Park, overlapping with Art in the Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring art, crafts and live music galore, plus swimming at the city beach.

Folks will have to leave the park for the wildly popular and unique Clark-Olsen Agate Stampede, which starts at 3 p.m. in downtown Moose Lake. For the uninitiated: people line up on both sides of Elm Avenue and wait for dump trucks to drive down the road, dropping all kinds of rocks and gravel, plus 400 pounds of agates, and hundreds of dollars in change. Once the dump trucks have passed, the crowds hustle into the street to comb through the rocky mess for hidden treasures.

The Fireman's Steak Fry starts at the firehall at 4 p.m., followed by Brewfest 5-8 p.m. in the Moose Lake municipal parking lot. This is the first time Brewfest is being held in conjunction with Agate Days. Close to 20 breweries will gather at the Moose Lake municipal parking lot with live music by Blackhoof's Campfire Tour. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 that day.

Moose Lake Area Chamber of Commerce marketing assistant Alicia Miller said they were busy Wednesday with last-minute preparations for all the fun, coolers and plenty of water, since temperatures are expected to be warmer than usual.

"Folks should definitely be mindful of the weather, wear sunscreen and stay hydrated," she said. "If you get hot, come check out the gem and mineral show - we'll have lots of fans in there. Or people can go swimming for free at the city park or the state park."

Find more details at https://www.mooselakechamber.com/agate-days.