The Best Days Of Summer

For 68 years the city of Minneapolis (and its lakes) have been host to the Aquatennial, an homage to the "City of Lakes" and an antidote to the long days of winter.

The festival, held this year from July 18th to 27th is always the third full week in July. Early promoters determined years ago that this was the driest week of the summer. But alas, it can also be one of the hottest and stickiest times of a Minnesota summer.

Festivities start of with a massive block party in downtown Minneapolis, and end 10 days later at Midtown Market, sprawling complex of buildings in South Minneapolis that once housed retail giant Sears.

In between are two parades (including a torchlight parade), a tennis tournament, milk carton boat race, speed boat racing, a 5k run and lots and lots of fireworks. In all, there are 70 planned events with many other events that are timed to coincide with the Aquatennial.

If you are planning on visiting the Twin Cities during the Aquatennial, there are thousands of hotel rooms just waiting for you! And don't forget a visit to the largest shopping mall in America, the Mall Of America.

For more information, just click on the the Aquatennial skipper pin and you will be taken to the official Aquatennial website.