Lakefest set to be success

Waseca resident Tom Sexton has fond memories of watching the fireworks and listening to the music during the city’s annual Lakefest celebration.

Those memories prompted him to take on a leadership role for the 18th annual festival on Tuesday, July 4, after he heard that nobody else was interested.

“When I heard Lakefest wasn’t going to happen, I raised my hand to lead it after talking with my wife about it,” Sexton said.

Before this year, Waseca County History Center’s executive director Joan Mooney was the leader of the festival. After a few years of doing a bunch of planning, especially during Covid-19, she wanted to step back and focus on other projects, according to Sexton. “She is involved in so many things,” he said. “We’re good friends.”

But he didn’t realize she wouldn’t lead Lakefest this year until he happened to attend a meeting for the Waseca Lakes Association in the first week of April. “It wasn’t going to happen unless I stood up.”

Sexton grew up close to Clear Lake Park, where nearly all of Lakefest’s activities take place. His family moved around for a while, including to Omaha, Nebraska, before returning to Waseca in the 1970s, where he lived next to E. F. Johnson.

“It was a booming time in Waseca when E. F. Johnson and Brown Printing were doing so well,” he said.

His family moved to Apple Valley in the late ‘70s, and he graduated from Rosemount in 1981. After spending 26 years in the Air Force, he retired in 2012.

Throughout his time moving around the country, one thing was constant: he always returned to Waseca in time for Lakefest.

“I usually stayed with my grandma,” he reminisced. “The bands and fireworks were always fantastic.”

It’s why when he heard there was a chance that it wouldn’t happen this year, he stepped up.

He said he understands why no one else volunteered. “It is a bit time consuming,” he admitted. “I’ve got a lot of folks who are helping me out.”

Sexton is receiving help from the Waseca Lakes Association and many others whom he has recruited for help with the music and other activities.

Individuals who are helping him this season are 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, Kid Games Chair; Tom Krause, Marketing Chair; Justine Meyer, Marketing Technical Expert; and Charli Harguth, Graphic Artist.

“I have a great team backing me,” Sexton said. “We’re looking forward to having a great day.”

Lakefest, Waseca’s July 4 celebration, will start with the 18th annual Freedom Run. Registration is at 7:30 a.m. with the kids’ one-mile at 8 a.m. and the five-mile run to follow. Additionally, the Wiggle Butt Dog Walk will begin at 8:30. Participants in the dog walk will be able to receive a t-shirt and dog scarf for their furry friends.

Lakefest activities continue through the afternoon with live entertainment. Five musical acts are set up for this year: Pete Klug from noon to 1:30 p.m., Generation Gap from 1:45-3 p.m., Melissa Schultz from 3:30-4:45 p.m., Los Tequileros from 5-7 p.m., and Gary West from 7:20-9:30 p.m.

During the half-hour break between Generation Gap and Melissa Schultz, there will be a boat parade on Clear Lake with Mayor Randy Zimmerman, Molly Penny, and Dale DeRaad judging the entries. Sexton and his wife, Jeanne, will give the judges a ride on their pontoon to see the boats up close. To enter, scan the QR code on the Lakefest flier.

There will be food and drinks provided by The Mill, Lucia’s Cocina, Carribean Jerk, and Snobiz in Clear Lake Park. Other activities include kids’ games and volleyball and bean bag tournaments; signup is by QR code.

At 10 p.m., Sexton and company will “hand over the baton” to Discover Waseca for the fireworks over Clear Lake.

“We want to make this year’s Lakefest fun not only for the people attending, but for those volunteering,” Sexton concluded. “We want to make this a hometown event and make people feel like they can come back, even if they moved away.

“I was in the Air Force for 26 years. I’ve always wanted to come back here. When you’re serving, events like these are what you’re trying to preserve. I hope this event makes people remember why we’re such a great country.”