Lakefield prepares for Summerfest Subhead: Full slate of fun planned for kids, grown-ups

Jun. 10—LAKEFIELD — The fun has already begun for Lakefield's Summerfest, and it's set to continue all through next week and into the weekend, too.

"We have things for every single person," said Heather Hussong Reasoner, a member of the committee organizing this year's festival. "And there will be good weather."

Summerfest features so many events that it's hard to make a good list of highlights.

On Thursday, the Lakefield Business Association is having a community picnic on Main Street, serving free hot dogs from 5 to 7 p.m.

People with kids might want to make their way over to Lakefield on Friday for Family Fun Night, which starts with the Toddler Discovery Place Scavenger Hunt for preschoolers at 3:30 p.m. Then, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., the Lakefield Business Association has sponsored giant inflatables and games at North City Park. Should weather be poor, the festivities will be at the Immanuel School.

For the grown-ups, the Roxbury Band will perform starting at 8:30 p.m. Friday at the VFW.

"It'll be a fun, rockin' good time," Hussong Reasoner said.

Saturday's schedule is even more densely packed, with a car show starting at 9 a.m. at North City Park. The Craft, Vendor & Business Show starts at 11 a.m. there, and there'll be a variety of food trucks too. The Grand Parade, which begins at 2 p.m., will feature four different marching bands this year, followed by a community photo at 3 p.m. outside Dudley's.

Musicians Nikki Matteson, Rich Rue and Jim Wuerffel will play from 3:15 to 7 p.m. at the North City Park, with members of Lodestone and The Strangers, and a street dance featuring Tripwire will run from 8 p.m. to midnight at Dudley's.

"From Monday to Sunday, we have things going on every single day for all ages," Hussong Reasoner said, noting that just about everybody in the community champions an activity for Summerfest in order to make it happen. "It makes it really exciting to see how excited people are for Summerfest."

On Monday, the Medallion Hunt begins, with hints posted online and on the Lakefield public access TV channel. A 500 card tournament starts at 6:30 p.m. at the multipurpose building. To register, call (507) 662-5254. The Lakefield Library is hosting a story stroll on Main, and a 6:30 p.m. bedtime story time with a craft. Racheal Marie Designs will host a craft from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at North City Park, with registration required.

Tuesday's events start with a 10 a.m. storytime at Lakefield Library, and a 6 p.m. nerf battle and pizza party for teens and preteens, also at the library. A pinochle card tournament is scheduled for Tuesday, with a required registration at (507) 662-5254.

On Wednesday, Crafternoon will run from noon to 4 p.m. at the library, and the Legion Auxiliary will host a salad luncheon from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the American Legion.

The Aroi Thai food truck will be in North City Park starting at 5 p.m., and the movie at the park will begin at dusk, likely around 8:30 p.m.

Thursday's events include the community picnic with free hot dogs from 5 to 7 p.m. on Main Street. Lions will host bingo at 6:30 p.m. at the multipurpose center, and the Lakefield Pool will have a DJ for its late swim from 9 to 10:30 p.m.

On Friday, the Lakefield Library will have Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math Time from noon to 12:45 p.m. The Toddler Discovery Place Scavenger Hunt starts at 3:30 p.m., and Family Fun Night will run from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at North City Park. A pork feed will begin at 5:30 p.m. at North City Park, and the Lakefield Frogs will play Mountain Lake at 7:30 p.m. at the baseball diamonds. The Roxbury Band plays at the dance from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the VFW, and The Shed is hosting a steak and shrimp feed, with food and drink specials.

Saturday morning begins with a Belgian waffle breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Silverbacks, and registration opens for the Michelle Lesch 5K Cancer Walk/Run at 8 a.m., with the event beginning at 9 a.m. at North City Park. The Jackson County Historical Society is hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to noon. The Legion Best Meal Deal will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at North City Park and Legion Hall, featuring both breakfast and lunch. The Summerfest Golf Scramble starts at 9 a.m. at North Valley Golf Course and the Car Show kicks off at 9 a.m.

For those who prefer a boozier beginning to the day, the Shed is hosting a breakfast and Bloody Mary bar starting at 10 a.m. The Craft, Vendor & Business Show starts at 11 a.m. in North City Park, and the Knights of Columbus start serving ice cream in the shelter house at that time too, until it's gone. Snow cones and cotton candy will be available, and Papa's Smok'in Meat food truck will arrive at 11 a.m. The Panther "High School" Tour will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Jackson County Central Middle School, and Cruise Main Street starts at 1:15 p.m.

Events continue Saturday afternoon, with the parade starting at 2 p.m. followed by the community photo at 3 p.m. outside of Dudley's. Nikki Matteson, Rich Rue and Jim Wuerffel reunite to play with members of Lodestone and The Strangers from 3:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. at North City Park. Walking Tacos will be served from 3:15 to 5 p.m. at North City Park. Registration for the Kids Tractor Pull for those ages 3 to 11 begins at 3:30 p.m., with the pull itself beginning at 4 p.m. on Douglas Street near North City Park. Racheal Marie Designs Craft will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at North City Park, with registration required. The street dance, featuring Tripwire, will be from 8 p.m. to midnight at Dudley's.

The fun continues on Sunday, with a pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Legion, a community church service at 9 a.m. at North City Park and the Lakefield Youth Mites playing at 5 p.m. at the baseball diamonds.