The Big Lake community rallied all last week and made the 2021 Big Lake Spud Fest a resounding success!

Though the weather was “iffy” for a few of the days, patrons came out of the woodwork to attend many of the celebrations and showed their support for their hometown,  annual festival. 

Thursday saw the Big Lake Ambassadors go through rehearsals for Saturday’s cornonation, the Big Lake Library will host a Family Night at the Library and at 4 p.m., the festival and carnival began setting up for the weekend festivities.

Concessions under the main food tent were hosted by the Knights of Columbus and the lines were very long — but well worth it and after the leate night talent show by the Big Lake cheerleaders, the fireworks were shot in the sky and many “oohed” and “ahhhed” for the 20-minute program. 

On Friday, the carnival reopend and ran all day. Dozens of rides, carnival games and challenges were on the docket as kids and adults were all smiles from the fun and thrills. At 5 p.m., the annual Guns & Hoses softball game between the police and fire departments kicked off the softball tournament. The BLPD took the contest, 22-16 and currently lead the all-time series three agames to two.

Bingo was a popular event throughout the weekend as well as the ever popular beer tent.  The Departures played live music at the main stage area where guests reminisced about the cover songs they were hearing or hit the dance floor to trip the light fantastic.

Saturday morning, the softball tournament began under cloudy and grey skies. The Spud Run Motorcycle Ride also started their engines and roared through the city from Tootsie’s Bar on one end to the Buff on the other.

And of course, at 11 a.m., the well received parade slowly traveled down Eagle Lake Road through town to the delight of kiddos and parents. FLoats and their helpers distributed Whoppers, licorice, gum, Tootsie Pops, Jolly Ranchers, Smarties and even refreshing freeze pops to all who gathered along the parade route.

A contest was held to reward the top three floats in the parade and the first place finisher was the Big Lake Early Childhood float. Second place went to the Saint Paul Bouncing Team and third went to the Evolution Tae Kwon Do float.

Following the parade, guesta took to the carnival area for rides, lunch or sugary treats and also visited the Middle School area where the SpudINC Robotics team was planning on holding demonstrations of their robot, however, because of the rain, they had to shut things down.

The Big Lake Women of Today also held crafts over by the tennis courts and early afternoon, the Big Lake Ambassadors held their coronation under the main tent for the judges.

The Dance Caravan of Otsego performed on the main stage for one hour and at 8 p.m., the music of Sweet Siren will got people on their feet on the main stage

The Big Lake Lions hosted their annual Potato Pancake breakfast at the main food tent Sunday morning and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Spud Daze Marketplace opened up with  over 20 local vendors and their wares.

Electric Steel was the featured band on Sunday and played from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the main stage area and at 1 p.m., visitors tasted and voted on their favorite potato soup in a contest at the main food tent area.

Don’t forget! Next year is scheduled to be one of the festival’s biggest years as Spud Fest  celebrates their 50th year in 2022!