Brainerd Dispatch: News | Brainerd, Minnesota | Brainerd Lakes Area News on brainerddispatch.com

Home > NEWS >

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

E-mail

Forums

Summer's last gasp

By JENNIFER STOCKINGER

Staff Writer

The hot summer weather came six weeks late this season and flew by just as fast as it always does. And it's almost over.

If you go

Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul

When: Gates open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day through Labor Day. Fairgrounds open until midnight.

Cost: $11, adults 13-64; $9, seniors 65 and over; $8, children 5-12; and free for children under 5. Parking is $9.

Renaissance Festival, Shakopee

When: Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends, Labor Day and runs through Sept. 28.

Cost: $19.95, adults; $10.95, children 6-12; and $17.95, seniors 65 and older. Parking is free.

The Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley

When: Open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Labor Day.

Cost: $14, adults 13-64; $9, seniors 65 and older; $8 children 3-8; and free for 2 and under. Parking is $5 per vehicle.

Como Zoo, St. Paul

When: Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cost: Free, but a suggested donation of $2 per adult and $1 per child.

Valleyfair, Shakopee

When: Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Labor Day.

Cost: $37.99 for ages 3-61 who are 48 inches tall or more; $16.99 for those under 48 inches tall; and free for children 2 and under. Parking is $10.

"Eye to Eye" Theater, Central Lakes College, Brainerd

When: 6-10 p.m. Friday.

Cost: $17, adults; $15, senior citizens and children.

Kelly Joe Phelps Concert and Dinner, Deep Portage

When: 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Cost: $20 per person.

SKATYRS concert, Crosslake Town Square.

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Cost: Free.

But, hey, don't pack away the swimsuits, beach hats and smiles just yet. We have one more long, holiday weekend left to have fun in the sun before we send the kids off to school and get back to a more structured routine.

Whether you stay in the Brainerd lakes area or head elsewhere for Labor Day weekend, the options are endless and depend on how much money you want to spend.

If you don't have a lot of cash and you don't want to drive out of the Brainerd lakes area, there's plenty to do here. There's an abundance of lakes to choose from to go fishing, boating or just to take the kids to one of the public beaches to go swimming and/or have a picnic. The many lakes are one of the main reasons why my family moved here, like many other residents who choose to live here. My family could spend the entire day on the lake.

Well, to be honest, we could live on the lake every day.

And to spend the day at a nearby lake can be fun and inexpensive.

Terri Erickson (right) of Terri Tots in Baxter took Jake Stockinger (left), 4, Ella Pusc, 2, Madi Halverson, 3, Mackenzie Stockinger, 6, and Kalli Hedlund, 8, to Whipple Beach in Baxter Friday as one last hurrah of the summer. Brainerd Dispatch/Jennifer Stockinger
» Purchase reprints of this photo.

People already have been taking advantage of the last days of summer to get together. Michelle Dickens and Dana Mattson, both of Brainerd, and Tracy Watson, Little Falls, and their children spent the day Friday at Whipple Beach. They said it was a nice get-away before school starts. Mattson said her family has a farm in Milaca and they're having a family get-together there over Labor Day weekend.

For those of you who aren't into a weekend at the beach, there are various other things going on in the area over Labor Day. Events include the Coca-Cola Muscle Car Shoot-Out at Brainerd International Raceway, the sixth annual Rally Up North motorcycle event and the Brainerd Lakes Downhill Drags Soap Box Derby. And Friday night, Central Lakes College is presenting "Eye to Eye," a musical tribute to Elton John and Billy Joel.

For more of a nightlife experience, Suicide Blonde, Christy Love and Dave Hudson will perform at Manhattan Beach Lodge over the weekend, a Kelly Joe Phelps concert and dinner is set Saturday at Deep Portage and a SKATYRS concert is set Saturday at Crosslake Town Square.

If you haven't done this yet this summer, another activity is to tour the Oxtrot art expedition. The art expedition is a display of 24 Babe the Blue Ox statues that were designed and painted by area artists and have been on display at various businesses in the lakes area since the fishing opener. It'll end Labor Day.

Having a three-day weekend does give me the itch, however, to check out events across the state. There are tons of things to do outside the lakes area for those who want to spend the money on gas. Hey - look at the bright side - at least gas prices went down a little since mid-summer when prices spiked at $3.99 a gallon.

The main featured event this time of season is the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul. Attending the state fair has been a tradition for many families with the fair offering fun for all ages from the daily parade to the grandstand events.

If the state fair isn't for you, there is the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in Shakopee to consider. This festival provides a medieval atmosphere with entertainment by the famous, "Puke n Snot" and other stage acts called "Dragon Scales and Faerie Tales" and "Children's Knighting Ceremony."

Other Twin Cities options include the Minnesota Zoo or Como Zoo or the Mall of America, which offers more than just your typical shopping experience.

Fairgoers flocked to the Minnesota State Fair on Friday at the State Fairgrounds in St. Paul. Big crowds are expected at the Great Minnesota Get-Together through Labor Day - the final day of the annual event. Brainerd Dispatch/Brian S. Peterson
» Purchase reprints of this photo.

Then there's always Valleyfair. Valleyfair is teaming up with Green Giant for the 32nd annual Labor Day Weekend Corn Feast. Guests at Valleyfair will be treated to an unlimited supply of free corn on the cob from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., while supplies last.

On a smaller scale of rides closer to home, don't forget about Paul Bunyanland at This Old Farm in rural Brainerd. And there's miniature golf courses and go-cart tracks.

And then there are a ton of things to do on the North Shore and Duluth. Or how about Living History Day in Little Falls?

The options for a one-day or weekend get-away are only limited by your imagination and determination - and, of course, the price tag.

JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.

Note: Comments are not edited and don't represent the views of The Brainerd Dispatch. Please read our posting rules in the terms of service policy. To report a post that may be inappropriate, click the triangle alert icon.