Carlton Daze turns up the heat

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It’s hard to believe that just a little over a month ago, a large portion of the city of Carlton and surrounding areas were under water following the record-setting June flooding. This weekend, the spunky little town proves it has more than kept its head above water as it pulls out all the stops to present its annual Carlton Daze Celebration.

“I think it’s very significant that the community was able to clean up the town as well as it has in time for Carlton Daze,” said Joe Beaupre, Carlton Chamber president. “We’re ready and rarin’ to go!”

The long-running celebration puts an emphasis on family fun during the three-day festival, set to run from Friday, July 27, through Sunday, July 29. Ongoing throughout the weekend will be a softball tournament beginning 6:30 p.m. Friday and starting up again at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. There will also be the annual 10-and-under Carlton Youth Baseball/Softball Tournament at the Chub Lake ball fields.

The celebration kicks off with the community garage sales from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, with maps available at local businesses. The Carlton Fire Hall will host a book, bake and rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the 20th Annual 5K Run/Walk is set for 6 p.m. Registration for the 5K event is from 3-4:45 p.m. at Four Seasons Sports Complex, and there will be a spaghetti feed sponsored by the National Honor Society from 4-8 p.m. Registration for the Kids Fun Races is set for 3:45-4:45 p.m. for children ages 4-5 years and 6-8 years. Races begin at 5 p.m.

Bingo will be on tap at the Carlton VFW from 4-9 p.m. on Friday, followed by live music from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. There will also be live music at the Third Base Bar from 8 p.m. until closing.

Saturday festivities get under way with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Carlton Area Stars of the Future Grant Program and Robert C. Rodd Memorial Scholarship Fund from 7-11 a.m. at Four Seasons Sports Complex. There will be kids’ activities, arts and crafts and a Carlton County Historical Society display at Four Seasons from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a moonwalk, dunk tank and bounce castle from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Robert and Lynn Holbrook comedy/magic show is slated for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

A treasure hunt will be held under the Big Tent at Art Dimensions Gallery and Gifts beginning at 10 a.m., sponsored by Art Dimensions and Frandsen Banks as a fundraiser for the library.

A volleyball tournament will kick off at the Third Base Bar at 8 a.m. Saturday, and the Carlton Daze Golf Tournament starts at 10 a.m. at Pine Hill Golf. The Carlton High School volleyball team will sponsor duck races at 2 p.m. on Otter Creek and a Beanbag Tournament at 4 p.m.

A free outside movie, “The Great Outdoors,” will be aired at the South Terrace football field beginning at 9 p.m.

Also on Saturday, the VFW will host a car show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Carlton Area Lions Auction at 11 a.m., a Texas Hold’em Tournament at noon, and a Steak Fry from 4-8 p.m.

Starting off Sunday’s activities will be Mass at St. Francis Catholic Church at 8 a.m. and a polka service at Bethesda Lutheran at 9 a.m.

A disc golf tournament gets under way at 10 a.m. at the South Terrace Disc Park, sponsored by Carlton Bike Rental and Repair, and the VFW will once again host bingo play from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The big Carlton Daze parade is set for 1 p.m., with lineup beginning at noon by the Carlton High School, organized by Wells Fargo-Carlton. Following the parade, the Carlton Volunteer Fire Department will hold an open house with demonstrations, kids’ activities, and refreshments.

The “Pedal to the Medal” tractor pull, sponsored by Carlton Community Education, will begin following the parade at the Four Seasons Sports Complex. Kids will love the exotic pets at the Lake Superior Zoomobile at Northern Pacific Park Pavilion sponsored by the Carlton Daze golfers.

Live music at the Third Base Bar from 2-6 p.m. tops off the weekend.

“This year’s Carlton Daze should be a good getaway release for everyone to come and have some fun,” said Beaupre.

Tags: carlton county, carlton, entertainment