See you on the Nokomis Days scavenger hunt

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I love finding the small town in a big city.
When I moved down to Minneapolis after working for my hometown newspaper in Cambridge, Minn. for a decade, I was delighted to find that sense of community that I had cultivated at the STAR newspaper within the pages of the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger. And so I reached out to write for the neighborhood newspaper. That was about 13 years ago.
When I heard that Crazy Days/Nokomis Days was getting a reboot in 2021 after a 30-year hiatus, it reminded me of the small-town events I had covered for years and grabbed deals at. There’s something about bringing people out all at the same time on the same streets to check out their local businesses, listen to music, participate in fun activities, shop, and eat great food.
That’s how we build community.
And so I jumped in, too. I’ve been serving on the Nokomis Days planning committee and am now a board member of the Nokomis East Business Association (NEBA), a group that focuses on connecting local businesses and community members. They were behind the Treasure Hunt during the long COVID-19 winter of 2020, annual tree lightings at Oxendale’s, and more. They meet up for happy hours and coffee times, and gather in the lower community room at McDonald’s Liquor every third Wednesday at 6 p.m. Reach out to our friendly volunteer Heidi van Heel at nokomiseastba@gmail.com to learn more about the meet-ups and memberships. Or, browse www.nokomiseastba.com. 

SCAVENGER HUNT
This year’s Nokomis Days is Aug. 2-4, the first weekend of August. It always rains at some point, but that doesn’t stop the fun. Events are spread out around East Nokomis over the three days of the festival, and there’s something for everyone. Each business organizes its own piece of the event, whether it is coming up with a great new drink, hosting a parking lot party, or giving away freebies.
Be sure to thank them for their part as they’re doing something extra for the community on top of operating small businesses.
At the helm of our planning committee are Heidi van Heel of the home-based hvh Engage! and Jackie Sawyer of Nokomis Tattoo. Jackie’s husband, Mike Welch, helped kick start the festival in 2021 after he got to talking with the folks at Nokomis Shoes, who had never stopped having their annual sidewalk sale.
At each event, keep an eye out for passwords. Post to the NokomisEastBA Instagram account with #NokomisDaysHunt for a chance to win.

ART CONTEST FOR T-SHIRTS
This year’s Nokomis Days t-shirt design was created by Nora from Keewaydin, who landed the big one in the first Nokomis Days Kids Art Contest for grades three to five. Order yours at nokomislife.com. Not only will you have a unique, limited-edition t-shirt, but you’ll be supporting the Wenonah and Keewaydin Community Schools PTA who get a portion of each sale. Pre-orders are open through Sunday, July 28.
Last year, NEBA donated $600 to Every Third Saturday through the t-shirt partnership with NokomisLife and Bitter Buffalo.
Look for second-place winner Ilana’s designs on this year’s temporary tattoos. Other submissions are posted to the Instagram account.

FRIDAY TO SUNDAY
The festival kicks off on Friday with a concert and artisan market behind Nokomis Tattoo from 5-8 p.m. Performing this year will be Nate Way, Chris and Miguel, and The Quick Fix.
Be sure to get some free gelato earlier in the day at Natalie Lyon Agency’s Farmers Insurance. There will also be games, prizes, and swag under the U.S. Bank tent. (And if you’re feeling like you need more gelato, head over to Fat Lorenzo’s for their special flavor, spicy chocolate, available Aug. 2-4).
End Friday night at the 4th annual Carbone’s Music Festival where eight groups will be playing over two nights. There will be pizza slices and Fulton beer from the Fulton Airstream – plus games, prizes, and much more.
On Saturday, start with a pancake breakfast at Trinity Lutheran Church and bring donations for the food shelf housed there, browse through the vendor fair in the Oxendale’s parking lot, and pop in to the Workshop along 34th Ave. to see who wins this year’s clay Throw Down.
Head over to New Branches Summer Celebration along Minnehaha Parkway for free hotdogs, chips, cookies, lemonade, games, chalk art, face painting, Quilt Studio To Go, Pride Tent, 32nd Street Jazz Band, All-Ages Drum & Song Circle, Broadway Revue Sing-Along and more.
Check out what’s happening at the businesses along 54th St. Watt Cycleworks will be offering tire changing and basic bike maintenance lessons at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Try your hand at the potter’s wheel at The Cracked Pot Studio, or create a one-of-a-kind sculpture using a variety of clay texture and sculpting tools.
Bring your classic car or just yourself to the Nokomis Days Classic Car Show at McDonald’s Liquor & Wine. Across the street is the Town Hall and NENA parking lot party. Help paint a neighborhood art installation in the parking lot – all while DJ Rock the Monkey spins tunes.
Meet your new best friend in the Nokomis Tattoo parking lot during the Underdog Rescue event. Bring the kids to the Tipsy Steer kiddie duck pond for prizes, and enjoy food and drink specials all day.
On Sunday, join neighbors for community worship and a blessing of animals at Lake Nokomis Community Center Outdoor Pavilion behind the new pickleball courts.
The Wellness Center MN will have free chair massage, Float Tank rubber duckie prizes and more. On the sidewalk outside of the Wellness Center MN, Lady and the Beard are putting on a Sidewalk Extravaganza with fun for all ages.
End your Nokomis Days at the Bull’s Horn parking lot party with delicious food, coffee from SunBean, vendors, music, and the collab beer with Venn Brewing. When you stop by the Venn tent, get a Nokomis Days coupon for the taproom.

SEND ME YOUR PHOTOS
Find the schedule, coupons, and more in the special section on pages 8-9 of this month’s newspaper.
If you cut the schedule out and put it on your fridge or carry it around all weekend, shoot me a photo! We’ll post it on our social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram). Email tesha@LongfellowNokomisMessenger.com or tag us.