Medallion Hunt, Parade and Car Show Headline Waite Park’s 60th Family Fun Fest

(KNSI) – One of central Minnesota’s longest-running community celebrations reaches a milestone this summer.

The Waite Park Family Fun Fest marks its 60th year with events running Monday, June 8th, through Friday, June 12th.

Mike Linquist is serving as this year’s Family Fun Fest president, a role he held years ago before stepping away. “They asked me to take it over this year because it is the 60th anniversary. We’ve got a great crew putting this on, and I’d like to thank all the volunteers.”

Asked what it costs to take part, Linquist kept his answer simple.
“Everything is free. We do have food trucks and some beverages that will be served in the park, so if you’re hungry or thirsty, come on out. There’s plenty of everything for everybody.”

The week kicks off Monday with the Medallion Hunt. Clues will be posted daily at 8:20 a.m. on the festival’s Facebook page, and organizers say the medallion will be hidden somewhere on public property within the City of Waite Park. It will not be buried. Whoever finds it is asked to take a photo with the medallion and post it to Facebook. The prize is a $300 Visa gift card.

Wednesday, June 10th is Kids Day, with activities centered at Community Park beginning at 11:00 a.m. The lineup includes a kids’ project build, carnival games, inflatables and a bubble machine, free train tours at the STARail Museum, kids’ crafts and tattoos, free bike helmet fittings from the Waite Park Police Department, and cookie decorating. The St. Cloud Lumberjacks will also be on hand for some hockey fun. The day wraps with the Kiddie Parade, which steps off at 4:15 p.m. Organizers encourage children to dress in red, white and blue, with cash prizes for top entrants.

Thursday, June 11th brings the City-Wide Garage Sale from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the Waite Park Friends of the Library book sale, in a new location at Community Park, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Martin Marietta will again offer its quarry tours from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $1 and include a hot dog, chips and water served at the quarry. The Grand Day Parade rolls at 6:30 p.m., starting near the Waite Park Library and ending at Community Park, with live music from Raised on Radio and food vendors and beer gardens in the park into the evening.

The festival closes Friday, June 12th, headlined by the 14th annual “Best of Show” car show from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Community Park. General admission is free, with a $10 entry fee per show car and awards presented at 8:00 p.m. A DJ provides music from 5:00 to 9:30 p.m., and food vendors and beer gardens are open through the evening.
Organizers note that no animals or alcohol may be brought into Community Park during the festival. Commemorative 60th-anniversary t-shirts will be on sale Thursday and Friday for $20.

Festival updates, including any weather-related changes, will be posted on the Waite Park Family Fun Fest Facebook page.

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