PEQUOT LAKES — A fireworks show Friday night, July 3, will cap off Day One of Stars and Stripes Days in Pequot Lakes.
Trailside Park sits in the middle of the Crow Wing County city. All evening, food vendors and families are expected to dot the park, there to enjoy the bean bag tournament and live music before the night’s main attraction.
The Fourth of July will bring its own celebrations, including a craft fair, Great American speeches and, of course, the parade.
But two days earlier, the park was empty, save for a small group talking just off Patriot Avenue.
Chamber of Commerce Director Nichole Heinen showed Josh Cameron of Liberty Laser Works where he’d be setting up on Saturday.
“We have 50-some vendors this year," she said. "It’s the biggest year we’ve had for the Stars and Stripes Days.”
“I know it’s been a while since I’ve been up for it, but that’s — it used to just be a little bit along the [Paul Bunyan State] trail, and that was kinda it," replied Cameron, who is from the area and now lives in Georgia.
Earlier in the day, Heinen was in a meeting to finalize the parade route. Because of construction, the parade was set to deviate from its normal path. All the printouts had the new route mapped out.
“And the parade's in three days," she said. "But we’re switching it back to Front Street. That’s what people know.”
Heinen said the businesses along Front Street will be happy with the change; they’ve been really struggling during construction.
Abby Jacobs is the owner of The Swell Co. She’s worried about the impact on her boutique when Main Street closes later this summer.
But on Wednesday, she was full of excitement for her busiest day of the year.
“I love it. Everybody is so happy. They’re with family, and it’s, honestly just — I love being here at the store. I’m not disappointed I have to work," she said. " ... It is absolutely amazing to look at the window and just see our town bustling.”
Nearly a decade ago, a lot of people in Pequot weren’t sure what the future held.
After 20 years of anticipation and apprehension, the new Highway 371 bypass meant motorists would no longer be routed through the city.
“Sure, I mean, it was a big change," Heinen said. "But I think it’s also made our little town a bit more private. And not private, as in, a bad thing — more unique, almost. You have to want to come here.”
Heinen understands that feeling. She’s from Pequot and moved back to raise her family here.
She and others at the chamber started planning for Stars and Stripes Days in March.
In the last few days, they’re focused on all the little things.
“Like, the loon calling contest that we have? We have first-place little medals and stuff for the first-place winners," she said. "And we have to order those in advance. And then we have trophies for the first-place nonprofit and first-place for-profit floats.”
Stonemark Land Surveying is one of the defending champions. Last year, owner Pat Trottier’s daughter Karlie was atop the float dressed as the Statue of Liberty.
“We threw it together the day before in like three hours," he said, noting as of Wednesday he hadn't registered for the parade (it was on that day's to-do list) and wasn't sure what the float would look like.
“Another thing that I do every year is I get slightly larger than snack-size candy, like the best candy we have, and give it to the judges. Openly. As an open bribe.”
Trottier admitted his wife, Deanne, is the true float mastermind.
Two big festivals in a two-week span
While the Fourth may be the busiest weekend, Pequot Lakes is best known for Bean Hole Days.
The first Bean Hole Days was in 1938, and it became an annual event in the ‘60s.
The centerpiece is exactly what it sounds like: Huge cast iron pots full of beans — named Lena, Sven, Ole, Big Bertha and Baby Olga, obviously — are lowered into a hole to be cooked overnight and then shared with everyone the next day.
While Heinen said she loves planning for both festivals, Bean Hole Days is a bit more fun. Because after King and Queen Bean are crowned and everyone gets their beans:
“Elvis comes out. Chris Olson. And Elvis performs every Bean Hole Days,” she said.
Olson is a local legend. He’s been commemorating "The King" for over three decades.
“But we also have merchandise that we sell for Bean Hole Days," Heinen added. "And that’s fun for me. Because we have mugs and shirts that people buy year after year after year, and they come year after year from many different states because it’s just such a unique event.”
So if you didn’t make it to Stars and Stripes Days, you still have a chance to visit Pequot Lakes on July 14 and 15 and have “a rootin’ tootin’ good time.”
