Karl Oskar Days is upon us, where has the summer gone? Take a kid fishing

Don’t look now, but Karl Oskar Days is here. Okay, okay, technically it begins next week, but we do have one event tomorrow that is a huge part of Karl Oskar Days. I am referring to the Karl Oskar Days Queen Coronation. The coronation begins at 7 p.m. and is held at the PAC at the High School. There are some great girls in this year’s coronation. I would like to invite you and your family to come enjoy the coronation. Just a side note: If you have a young daughter like I do, bring them to the coronation. They will absolutely love it. Remember your Karl Oskar Days buttons. As with most Karl Oskar Days events, you will receive a discount at the door if you are wearing your 2012 KOD button. The buttons are available at stores and businesses around the area. As for the rest of the Karl Oskar Days festivities, they get rolling on Wednesday. That is when the clues for the annual snuff box hunt...wait what? 

I have to work on the 4th of July? Umm anyway, the clues will be posted on the 4th of July. Clues can be found at Wally Carlsons BP, Lindstrom Foods, Lindstrom Antique Mall and of course the Chisago County Press. On Thursday, grab your girlfriends and head up town for Ladies Nite Out. You will be treated to great deals from local businesses as well as restaurants. On top of great shopping and fun times, you will get to create your very own straw hat. Ladies Nite Out begins at 4 p.m. and runs until 9. Friday, Karl Oskar Days goes into full motion with a community arts and crafts fair at Memorial Park. Food vendors will also be on hand if you get thirsty or hungry. At 6 p.m. is the ever-popular Queen’s Tug-O-War challenge. The newly crowned queen and her court will take their teams to the mud pit across from Lions Park and try to get the opposition into the mud pit. As soon as the tug-o-war is complete, you are invited to turn around and take in the 2012 Karl Oskar Days kiddie parade. Kids of all ages will meander down Akerson Street and then onto Sylvan Avenue, all dressed in their favorite costumes.  When the kiddie parade has finished, you are invited into the Lindstrom Community Center for an evening of Bingo. This year the Battle of the Bands has moved. In years past, the battle has been held at Lions Park.

This year they have moved it to Beach Park. You are invited to come hear some extraordinary local talent perform down by the lake. The Battle of the Bands should have a nice crowd on hand, because Beach Park is the site for this year’s Fireworks Over the Lake. The fireworks will be set off just out from Beach Park and are always well attended.   On Saturday, there is the annual Karl Oskar Days golf tournament at the Chisago Lakes Golf Course. At 8 a.m. is one of the largest 5K races in the north metro. The Lindstrom Loppet usually has close to 1,500 runners/walkers. You can register the day of the race at the Lakes Free Church on Olinda Trail. Back up town, there is a Farmers Market taking place in St. Bridgets parking lot. Also at St. Bridgets, there is a classic car show, where you will find amazing old cars restored to pristine shape. Trinity Lutheran Church will host this year’s 3 on 3 basketball tournament.

The basketball begins at 10 a.m. in the parking lot. The Karl Oskar Grand Day parade will be Saturday evening at 6 p.m. so get there early to reserve your spot. This year’s street dance will be held in the Muni and the Liquor Store’s parking lot. The featured band will be Slamabama with the warm up band being the winner of the Battle of the Bands. On Sunday, you are invited to a pancake breakfast at the Masons Lodge on Highway 8. The cakes start flipping at 7 a.m. and run until noon. There is a new Lumberjack log rolling show this year that will take place at 1 p.m. back down at Beach Park. And finally there is an open trap shooting contest at the Sportsmens Club that begins at 2 p.m. Is that enough events to keep you busy? Please come on out an enjoy some or all of the great events.  It should be a terrific time. I have to apologize.  A couple of weeks back was Father’s Day. I completely forgot to mention this or wish people a Happy Father’s Day. I don’t know if it was the fact that I was on our fourth baseball tournament in five weeks, or simply the fact that the longer time goes by without having my father in the world, the less meaning certain things seem to hold. Either way, I messed up.

So I hope you had a wonderful Father’s Day and were able to spend it with your loved ones. I will not forget to wish everyone a wonderful and more importantly a safe Fourth of July. I know there are plenty of do-it-yourselfers when it comes to fireworks. All I have to do is look out my back porch to see the fireworks already taking place over Chisago Lake. Let’s try to make this an accident free Fourth of July. I took my son and his buddy out fishing this week. We knocked off work a little early and headed out to a small local lake. The weather was spectacular. We brought along a boat picnic and some cool drinks.

We had such a great time in that boat. These 12 year old kids were either catching fish, eating or laughing. It was just what I needed. We sometimes take for granted the pure beauty that is right before our eyes. The lake we were on (not giving up my secret spot) was so quiet and filled with fish, it was like being on a vacation up north. If you get a chance to take your child fishing, I would recommend doing so. It is something you will always remember and I guarantee they will too.