1. Grab grub at Nevis Sites N’ Bites
Nevis will host this year’s Sites N’ Bites on Sunday, June 9. The event showcases food from local restaurants along with work by local artists and crafters. Stop by the Nevis Chamber building and food shelf booth to purchase a Sites ‘n Bites Passport for $5 or five food shelf items. Get the passport stamped at locations on the card to be entered in a drawing for gift certificates to local businesses.
2. Admire creativity at Dorset festival
Dorset’s annual Boardwalk Art Festival celebrates Minnesota creativity. This family-friendly outdoor event takes place along the popular boardwalk, which is lined with artists, craftspeople and authors. Join the street fair on Saturday, June 22.
3. Get your pic with Paul
Akeley’s 75th annual Paul Bunyan Days festival is planned for the weekend of Friday through Sunday, June 28-30. Most festival events will take place at Paul’s Patio in the center of town. The festival features a kids’ fishing contest, a parade, bands, dances and more. Go to akeleychamber.com for more information.
4. Rock out on Main Street
Bring a lawn chair to Main Street, downtown Park Rapids and enjoy free, outdoor concerts from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays from June 13 through Aug. 15. The Park Rapids Downtown Business Association hosts the live concerts, featuring regional bands, a beer garden and family activities.
The Park Rapids Water Ski Team is holding free, family-friendly shows this summer at Halvorson Beach in Nevis. Shows start at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 29, July 13 and Aug. 3.
Boating is one of the best ways to enjoy the Heartland Lakes Area. The larger recreational lakes around Hubbard County are popular for pontooning, kayaking, canoeing, fishing and water sports.
7. Throw out a fishing line
Whether standing on a resort dock or casting from a boat, you can try to catch a “big lunker.” In May, shore fishing is a wonderful way to enjoy a day at a lake without a fancy boat or equipment. In June, try fishing in the early morning or evening.
Hubbard County’s beautiful natural resources provide the scenery, while numerous trails offer outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to explore year ‘round.
The Heartland Trail is a 49-mile, multiple-use trail, open to non-motorized use.
The Paul Bunyan Trail is 115 miles long, extending from Crow Wing State Park to Lake Bemidji State Park. It’s the longest of Minnesota’s state trails and the longest continuously paved rail-trail in the country.
The North Country National Scenic Trail is one of 11 National Scenic Trails in the U.S. and the only one in Minnesota. Anyone walking this trail is in for a treat as it meanders through forested hills and valleys interspersed with rivers, lakes, and numerous wetlands. Maps, events and suggested hikes are available at www.northcountrytrail.org
Hubbard County is an ATV enthusiast’s playground. There are miles of ATV and OHV trails around.
Sculptures created by Minnesota artists dot downtown Park Rapids and Red Bridge Park. Stroll along the trail to enjoy a dozen new sculptures. All artworks remain in place for a year and are available for sale.
Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.