Last Saturday, locals were treated to the 11th annual Big Lake Block Party at McPete’s Entertainment Center. The day was filled with partly cloudy skies and cooler temperatures and flocks of neighboring residents stopped by to enjoy some summer fun!

The first 100 youths received a bag of goodies upon entrance to the facility. Kids could also receive their own balloon from the Funtime Funktions balloonist. Many children signed up to register to win a bicycle while others ventured to play fishbowl, Jenga, Plinko, toilet paper toss, bowling and go mini-golfing. 

The Big Lake Ambassadors were on hand to provide fun facepainting. Students from Evolution Tae Kwon Do & Starz Dance performed for the guests and then everyone let loose to enjoy water balloon dodgeball for an hour or so sponsored by The Wave Youth Center!

The Block Party event wouldn’t and couldn’t be enjoyed if not for the wonderful plethora of sponsors they attract each and every year. The Platinum Sponsors included: Big Lake Spud Fest, Coborn’s and McPete’s. The Gold Sponsors were: Big Lake Area Veterinary Hospital, Big Lake Police Department--Drive Safely, Cargill, Cherrywood Advanced Living, Connexus Energy, Kwik Trip, Liberty Bank, Minnco Credit Union and Sherburne State Bank.

Silver Sponsors were Guardian Garments, Lupulin Brewing Company, Old National Bank and Xcel Energy.

The Bronze Sponsors were Becker Spine, Big Lake Lions, DATASuccess, Friends of Big Lake Library, Michelle Backlund CPA, Minnesota Limited, Park Dental and The Bank of Elk River.

The bike sponsors were Big Lake Area Veterinary Hospital, Big Lake “Do It Best” Lumber, Big Lake Police Department-Drive Safely, Big Lake Spud Fest, Cargill, CentraCare, Cherrywood Advanced Living, Connexus Energy, Kwik Trip, Liberty Bank, Minnco Credit Union, MN State Senator Mary Kiffmeyer, Sherburne State Bank and State Farm--Cory Laugen Insurance. 

The Community Sponsors included Big Lake American Legion Auxiliary, Big Lake Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, Monticello Times/Shopper and Patriot News.

Winners of the bikes and their sponsors were:

Max Kuhlman of Foley-Big Lake Area Veterinary Hospital; Tiffanie Lurd of Big Lake--Big Lake “Do It Best” Lumber; Hudson Jurek of Big Lake--Big Lake Police Department; Elliot Sabi of Monticello--Big Lake Spud Fest; Aiden Haag of Elk River—Cargill; Nick Newman of Elk River--CentraCare Health; Parker Lee of Big Lake—Cherrywood Advanced Living; Amanda Huvtari of Plymouth--Connexus Energy; Cheyenne Bayer of St. Cloud--Kwik Trip; Maci Buesgens of Becker--Liberty Bank; Gabe Halay of Big Lake--Minnco Credit Union; Nevi Buesgens of Becker--MN Senator Mary Kiffmeyer; Ann DeVine of Big Lake--Sherburne State Bank; Levi of Big Lake--State Farm-Cory Laugen Insurance.

“Although we had cooler weather and cloudy skies, kids and families had a great time at our Big Lake Block Party last Saturday Aug 21st at McPete’s,” exclaimed Committee Chair and Gold Sponsor Dr. Kristi McAlpin from Big Lake Area Veterinary Hospital.  “Fourteen kids won bikes, scooters and skateboards and Big Lake Lions raised over $270 for high school scholarships from their dunk tank. Even Mayor Paul Knier got ‘dunked’ a few times!”