It’s Spud Fest time!

Big Lake’s 2025 Spud Fest week officially began Thursday and will culminate with a weekend of fabulous family fun!

Earlier in the week, clues for the 2025 Medallion Hunt commenced and within three clues a young family discovered the medallion on school territory (see separate story on the medallion in this week’s edition of the Patriot).

Thursday, the festival featured a pickleball tournament, a kids bike rodeo and parade, Ambassadors selling brats and hot dogs at the main food tent, music provided by Party Wagon, ECFE at the Fair, a Potato Spud Car Derby, a balloon artist and the ever-popular carnival.

Friday, the carnival opened at 1 p.m. with Party Wagon doing music once again. The beer tent opened at 4 p.m. and ran until midnight. Bingo started at 5 p.m. as well as the popular Guns & Hoses softball game. Concessions kicked off at 5 p.m. and the band, Stuck in the Middle played from 8 p.m. to midnight. Fireworks closed out the day at around dusk.

Saturday, a Run the Lakes 5k will see runners hit the streets at 8:30 a.m. The softball tournament got underway at 8 a.m. while the Spud Run motorcycle ride takes off at 10:30 a.m. The annual parade starts winding its way through the streets at 11 a.m. at the same time the Marketplace opens up for the day. The carnival again opens up at noon as well as concessions and the beer tent. Belly dancers from Dance Caravan start performing at 1 p.m. while bingo commences in the bingo tent. The Big Lake Women of Today host a kids fun tent from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Don’t forget to celebrate the Big Lake Ambassadors coronation at the high school from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Six to Midnight is the band playing from 8 p.m. to midnight when the festival closes for the day.

On Sunday, the softball tournament gets underway early at 8 a.m. as the car show registration opens around the same time. The cars can be viewed starting at 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The BL Ambassadors are hosting a potato pancake breakfast for the early risers. Marketplace opens at 9 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. The beer tent opens early (10:30 a.m.) and runs until 3:30 p.m. Ron Moshier will be playing music to dance to starting at 11 a.m. The carnival opens up for the last day at noon and concessions starts at 1 p.m. until food runs out. Bingo starts being played at 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. with the festival closing at 4 p.m.

Locals, get out and enjoy this yearly festival that brings people of all ages together for amusement and entertainment.