Rapids River Days Will Return for a Big Splash Next Week

(KNSI) – A three-day stretch of live music, food and local competition is just around the corner in Sauk Rapids.

The city’s annual Rapids River Days Festival will be held from Thursday, June 25, to Saturday, June 27, and will kick off with a Medallion Hunt on Thursday. Clues will be given out between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. each day until the medallion is found and will be posted on the Rapids River Days website and the festival’s Facebook page.

Whoever finds the medallion will receive a $500 cash prize and must turn it in to the Sauk Rapids Government Center during normal business hours. If the medallion is found when the center is closed, the winner must contact event chair Marla Elness at 320-248-8444 to arrange the official turn-in.

The Rock the Riverside Concert Series, currently in its sixth year, will return to the festival this year. The show will be held at the Clearing on River Avenue starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 25. Seth Doud will open the show at that time, followed by the headliner, Mace, at 7:00 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase on site.

The festival will host the 23rd Annual Miss Sauk Rapids Pageant Program at Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 25. The program is open to young women in their junior year of high school or up to 19 years old who either live in the Sauk Rapids-Rice communities or in School District 47.

In addition to being crowned royalty, candidates will participate in several activities to learn about the city of Sauk Rapids. These activities will involve team building, personal growth and community involvement. Those who want to apply for the pageant can do so on the Pageant page of the Rapids River Days website.

The Rapids River Days parade will start at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26, beginning at Sixth Avenue near Pleasantview Elementary School and ending near Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School. Ten different marching bands will be featured, including ones from the city’s middle and high schools, along with bands from Sartell and Foley.

A float decorating contest will allow participants to take home $200 in cash if their design wins best in one of six categories. Categories include Best Business, Best Non-Profit, Best Youth Group, STORM Green & Gold, We Love Sauk Rapids and Top Truck. Each entry can win in only one category. An application to enter can be found on the Parade page of the Rapids River Days website.

Saturday, June 27 will bring together 25 food vendors for the festival’s Food Fest, held from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Municipal Park. New York-style hot dogs, quesadillas, crab fritters and pizza will be served. Live music will be provided throughout the day by Sawyer’s Dream, Thunder Road and HoneyBadgers. Food tokens will cost $1 each, while beer tokens will cost $3 each.

Joan’s Ark will provide a petting zoo and pony rides, and AirMax Trampoline will have multiple bounce houses on site for kids. Airbrush tattoos will also be available.

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