Lakefest brings energy, fun

This year’s annual Lakefest brought family fun to Clear Lake Park in Waseca on the Fourth of July holiday. Tom Sexton, this year’s Lakefest Chair, volunteered for the position when it became clear that the event could not go on without new leadership;  planning began in April. Lakefest, which is put on by the Waseca Lakes Association, was in danger of  being canceled had Sexton not stepped in; previous leaders had chosen to withdraw from their positions. For the occasion, Sexton assembled a committee to manage the various aspects of Lakefest, including Duane Rathmann, Freedom Run Chair; Trevor Kanewischer, Food and Beverage Chair; Abbe Hoehn, Adult Sports and Games Chair and Music Coordinator; Jennifer Johnson, Boat Parade Chair; Brittany Krueger, Kids Games Chair; Tom Krause, Marketing Chair; Justine Meyer, Marketing Technical Expert; and Charli Harguth, Graphic Artist. “Give them credit, not me,” said Sexton, adding that it was thanks to the effort of volunteers that Lakefest was able to happen this year.

Sexton said that his favorite parts of Lakefest are “seeing everyone down here relaxing, enjoying Lakefest, remembering what our country stands for and how our country started in 1776.” Sexton added that “Waseca needs to keep events and continue to grow them,” emphasizing the importance of continuing the tradition of Lakefest. Outside of his new role on the Lakefest committee, Sexton is involved in many organizations in the community, including the American Legion and VFW, and has volunteered for various groups in the past. Sexton’s family has lived in the Waseca area for nearly 100 years and he owns a home along Clear Lake, so taking up the position was a natural fit.

Lakefest included a full day of events and live entertainment, starting with the Freedom Run at 8:30 a.m. Ten community children ran the mile, four dog walkers participated in the “Wigglebutt Dog Walk,” and 40 adults ran the five-mile main event: Cole Streich, already at least a four-time winner of the event, continued his winning streak. Other Lakefest attendees with a competitive bent had the opportunity to play in beanbag and volleyball tournaments in the afternoon.

Kids’ activities, including a coloring contest and face painting by Hazel Moore, were also available. 

Pete Klug, the first performer to grace the Lakefest stage, started singing at noon. The blues and folk singer is a New Richland native and 2005 NRHEG graduate, though he now lives in Eagle Lake. “Waseca is kind of a hometown for me,” said Klug, who's performed at Lakefest several times in the past. Klug fondly remembers attending Lakefest and the fireworks over Clear Lake when he was younger and said he is happy to be part of continuing the tradition as an adult. Generation Gap, a Mankato-based grandfather/grandson country duo consisting of Rob Scheitel and Carter Quast, performed next. At 3 p.m., the music took a brief pause for one of the main events of the day: the Lakefest Boat Parade. 

The Boat Parade took place on Clear Lake, with a large crowd of spectators watching from the beach. Providing narrative about the various “floats” was Molly Penny, a radio personality known for doing the KOWZ 100.9 FM morning show from Owatonna. “She graduated from Waseca High School, so it’s like coming back home for her,” said Jennifer Johnson, the boat parade chair. Judges consisted of Penny, Waseca Mayor Randy Zimmerman, and Dale DeRaad. They selected five boats in three divisions: “most patriotic,” “most creative,” and “craziest party barge.” The simply titled “Party Barge '' won its division unopposed, while Aspyn Acres, a Waseca-based animal rescue, had the “most creative” boat.  Aspyn Acres’  boat was helmed by an inflatable mallard and was followed by a trail of real-live ducks, a fascinating spectacle that was one of the most memorable sights of the day. A boat owned by Tasha Volkmann won the award for being the “most patriotic.” Each winner took home a cash prize.

After the boat parade, live music resumed with a set of covers by Waseca-based performer Melissa Schultz. In addition to singing hits like “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus and “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips at live gigs in southern Minnesota, Schulz teaches music lessons in the community. Los Tequileros and the Gary West Band also performed on the Lakefest stage as day turned to night. Once it was dark, community members got to enjoy a fireworks show over Clear Lake. Emerging from near-cancellation, the joy of Lakefest was able to shine through as the Waseca community and volunteers came together to support their town’s Fourth of July tradition.