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By the time you are reading this Karl Oskar Days will be in full swing. The annual Karl Oskar Days Snuff Box Hunt is underway. Clues will be posted around Lindstrom at noon. If you have a KOD button, and you are the lucky finder of the snuff box, you will be $500 richer. On Thursday, along with the snuff box hunt continuing, there will be another Ladies Night Out. If you attended the last Ladies Night Out, you know what a great time it was and this one should be just as fun. It starts at 5 and runs until 9.

When attending Ladies Night Out, the good people that hold the event are asking for your help. There is a campaign going on to extend the Chisago Lakes Information Center operating hours. If you would like to donate, your donation would go directly to adding a staff person to man the Chamber building on the weekends. Also, if you would like to volunteer to work at the Information Center they would love to talk to you. You can reach Brenda or Amber at 257-1177.

On Friday, Karl Oskar Days really gets rolling, beginning with the Taste of Tingsryd Lunch at the Lindstrom Community Center. This is your chance to sample all kinds of Swedish delicacies and enjoy the music of Swedish folk singer Ross Sutter. The taste runs from 11:30 to 1 p.m.

At 6 p.m. on Friday is one of my favorite parts of Karl Oskar Days. The annual Queen's Tug-O-War features teams of area youth and one queen or queen candidate, trying to pull another team of youths into a huge pit of mud. When the tug-o-war is complete, all you have to do is turn around and the Karl Oskar Days Kiddie Parade will be parading down the street in front of Lindstrom City Hall (Sylvan). If your children would like to partake in the parade, they can register at the parade line-up.

Following the Kiddie Parade, all of the area's best youth bands will be showcasing their talents in Lions Park beginning at 8 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and be prepared to be impressed. Some of these bands are really talented and fun to watch.

Saturday is easily the most actionpacked day of Karl Oskar Days. You have the Lindstrom Loppet that starts at 7 a.m., at 7:30 a.m. the annual Karl Oskar Days Golf Tournament kicks off. Back in Lindstrom, there is a Farmers Market and a Classic Car Show that are both held at St Bridgets Church. There will be arts and crafts displayed at Library Park next to the chamber starting at 9 a.m., along with music in the park most of the day. The ever-popular cribbage tournament begins at the Swedish Inn at 2 p.m. and the fun-filled day is capped off with the Karl Oskar Days Parade that begins at 6 p.m. sharp. Don't miss the street dance that begins at 8 p.m. at Lions Park. This year's dance will feature the rock band Deuce, a local favorite.

Sunday, the festivities get rolling bright and early with a Pancake Breakfast at the Masonic Lodge at 7 a.m. Once again you will have a chance to take in the arts and crafts at Library Park. There will be a pie eating contest at the Chisago Lakes Information Center at 1:30 p.m. Hopefully the weather holds up for the Bald Eagle Water Ski Show at 6 p.m. at the Lindstrom Beach Park. There will be a Beatles tribute band playing that will take you up to the Karl Oskar Days Fireworks Show that starts around 10 p.m.

I know this sounds like a lot of stuff to take in, but believe me, you will have a good time in any and all events you decide to take in. I hope to see you there!

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