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The wait is finally over. This winter has been cold and long, and quite frankly, we need a break. We really need a break.

Our break has arrived. This weekend the 2009 Celebration of the Lakes is taking place, and I hope you plan on attending. The weather gurus are telling us that temps should be around 25 degrees. If that is so, it would make perfect weather for spending the weekend out on the lake.

The event gets rolling Friday night with old time movies upstairs from the Olde Theatre Antique Mall in Center City.

Then on Saturday the event really ramps up. The first hot air balloon launch will start at 7:45 a.m. Make sure to bring your camera. At 10 a.m. the annual 5K run/walk gets off and running. Also Saturday morning, there will be Kitty Kat snowmobile races beginning at 10.

On South Lindstrom Lake you will find Grand Prix car ice racing. Racing begins at noon.

Back on North Center Lake, the ever popular kiddie parade begins at 11:30 a.m. you are encouraged to enter your children in costume and/or on a float (sleds). Prizes will be handed out for age groups.

Something new to the Celebration of the Lakes this year is snowmobile drag races. Unlike the radar run where the machines run one at a time, they will compete against each other side by side. If interested, you can register between 8 and 11 a.m.

If you come out on Saturday, you will also find dog sled rides, helicopter rides, Belgian horsedrawn hayrides, and as always, there is a huge heated tent to warm up in with great food and drinks.

If you always thought you would like to ride in a balloon, but were not sure about the heights, you can take a balloon tether ride from noon until 2 p.m. You will hop in a balloon and ride up in the air tethered to the ground. It is great experience for smaller children and wary adults.

If you missed the morning launch, there will be a second launch at 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Again, please bring your camera. Some of the afternoon launches produce some really stunning photos.

Saturday evening, there will be a snowmobile torchlight parade that gets going at 4:30. You are invited up to a church fundraiser spaghetti dinner at the Chisago Lake Lutheran Church in Center City. The spaghetti feed runs 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

The City of Lindstrom would like to invite you to end your day skating under the lights. There Will be an ice skating party in Lions Park on the oval pond.

Sunday, the celebration gets moving bright and early again, with the first balloon launch scheduled for 7:45 a.m. After watching the balloons lift off, go warm your family up with some hot pancakes at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lindstrom. The pancake feed runs from 8 until noon.

The ever popular medallion hunt begins Sunday at 10 a.m. with clues being posted at the main tent every hour. The lucky finder of the medallion will walk away with $100, but you must have a button to claim your prize.

You can see how fast your snowmobile really is by entering it in the radar run. $20 gets you three runs.

Sunday also will play host to ice bike relays. You are encouraged to dress up as crazy as you can and try to maneuver you pedal bike on an icy track.

At 1 p.m. there is the annual fishing contest. The entry fee is $5 or $3 with a button. There are tons of prizes given out so bring your ice fishing gear.

At 2 p.m., you are encouraged to come to the big tent and try some chili at the chili cook off. If you have a great chili recipe that you think is different and better than other people's, you should enter it in the contest. There will be prizes given away for best overall, hottest, and most unique.

Finally, the Celebration of the Lakes finishes up with the awards presentation at 3 p.m. The 2009 Community Ambassador will be honored as well as the chili winners.

I know this sounds like a lot to take in, but the beauty of the Celebration of the Lakes is that it is so casual. You are free to come and go as you wish. If you already had plans on Saturday, you can come on Sunday. If your family likes to snowmobile, then drive to the celebration on your snowmobiles. Just make sure you get out to the celebration. If you don't, you will be missing some great times and the best part of it all....its free!

Last week in our "volunteering opportunities in Chisago City" we mistakenly called September 11 Remembrance Day. We should have called it Patriots' Day. We apologize for any confusion.

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