Eighty -two years of celebrating by ‘Looking Back . . . Leaping Forward’
It is June – and that means that Pow Wow – a Mountain Lake mid-month staple – is set to be unleashed, chock full of festivities, food and fun. The focus site for the events is Mountain Lake City Park – with activities going on in-and-round the square-block set aside as a park by the Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad and given to the city with the stipulation that it remain a park.
This year will note the 80th anniversary of the celebration under the theme, “Looking Back . . . Leaping Forward.” Events will begin on Friday, June 13 with the Miss and Little Miss Mountain Lake Pageant and will run until Tuesday night, June 17, with events winding down around 10 p.m. with the raffle drawing of a $1,000 grand prize, three $500 cash prizes – as well as prizes donated by local businesses. This year will feature an Adult Scavenger Hunt – with clues given out at specific events (look to the following calendar of events to find out where and when).
The first Pow Wow was held on August 24, 1923, as a one-day event. The festival was given its name by Mountain Lake native, Frank Balzer, who had returned home after attending college at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. While a student at Carleton, Balzer recalled an event called a Pow Wow, which was roughly translated as “a gathering,” and believed that accurately described what were the growing plans for event by its originators. The day included games for the boys and girls, along with a Zephyr Band concert.
Additional early Pow Wow activities included the Cottonwood County Junior Pig show, the winners winning free trips to the Minnesota State Fair; demonstrations by the champions in sewing and baking contests, tugs-of-war, ball games and automobile, horse, wheelbarrow, foot sack, fat men and greased pig races.
There were no Pow Wow celebrations for a total of 11 years, spanning the decades, due to a number of reasons, including an infantile paralysis pandemic that closed down events in 1930, 1931 and 1932; World War II stopped short festivities in 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945 and 1946. It returned again in 1947, but none was held from 1948 through 1951. However – since 1952 (when it was extended to a two-day affair) – Pow Wow has continued year-after-year – in unrelenting fashion.
Here is the 2014 Pow Wow line-up:
Friday, June 13
* Miss and Little Miss Mountain Lake Pageant, 7 p.m., Mountain Lake Public School Auditorium. (First Clue for Adult Scavenger Hunt.)
* Freedom Riders Rally at Franz Park, located south of Mountain Lake. (Details on the Miss and Little Miss Mountain Lake candidates will be published next week.)
Saturday, June 14
* Freedom Riders Rally at Franz Park, located south of Mountain Lake, continues today.
* Disc Golf Tourney, Lawcon Park, 10 a.m. (For ages 13-plus. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. $5 participation fee. Winner receives an award. This is an 18-20 hole recreational tourney. Proper disc golf etiquette and knowledge of the rules are expected. Amateurs only. Tournament should be completed by approximately 12 noon.)
* Mountain Lake Public School display of high school annuals, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the high school.
* Freedom Riders Mystery Run, 11 a.m. (Registration at Franz Park.)
* Alumni Baseball Game at Munson Field, 12 noon. (Second Clue for Adult Scavenger Hunt.)
* Mountain Lake Public School display of high school annuals, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the high school.
* Freedom Riders Motorcycle Parade down 3rd Avenue, 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 15
* Mountain Lake Assembly of God Pancake Breakfast at Mountain Lake City Park Gazebo, 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
* Mountain Lake Ministerial Association Community Worship Service, north side of City Park, 10 a.m.
* Food Stands open in City Park/Mountain Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Booth opens, 11 a.m. (Third Clue for Adult Scavenger Hunt.)
* 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, north side of City Park, 12 noon.
* Mountain Lake Area Booster Club Dunk Tank in City Park, 12 noon to 3 p.m.
* Registration opens for 41st annual Mountain Lake Pow Wow Road Race, 2:30 p.m., sign-up and all races start at the public high school.
* Mountain Lake Pow Wow Road Race Fitness Walk (1 mile and 2 mile), 3:15 p.m.
* Half-Mile Run, 3:55 p.m.
* Mountain Lake Mile Run, 4:15 P.M.
* 4-Mile Run, 4:30 p.m.
* Pow Wow Kiddie Parade down 3rd Avenue from Peterson Thrifty White Drug and Gifts to City Park, 5:30 p.m.
* Antique, Classic, Hot Rod Car & Tractor Parade and Park-N-Show down 3rd Avenue, 6 p.m. (Registration begins at 5 p.m. at Town’s Edge Auto, located on 3rd Avenue at the east edge of Mountain Lake. Rubber tires only allowed. First 60 line-up participants receive a Dash Plaque.)
* Mountain Lake Ministerial Association-sponsored event, City Park Bandstand, featuring House of Aaron Music (Aaron and Nikki Peterson of Mountain Lake), 7 p.m.
Monday, June 16
* Food Stands open in City Park, 10 a.m.
* Commercial Stands open in City Park, 10 a.m.
* Petting Zoo opens in City Park, 12 noon.
* Mountain Lake Area Booster Club Dunk Tank, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
* Midway Opens, 2 p.m.
* Hillbilly Bob in City Park during the afternoon and in the evening’s Grande Parade. Sponsored by Town’s Edge Auto of Mountain Lake.
* Grande Parade down 3rd Avenue, 7 p.m.
* “Love To Sing” Karaoke and Beer Garden, outside at The Laker Grill, 8 p.m.
* Mountain Lake Area Booster Club Dunk Tank, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
* Bob & The Beachcombers Concert, City Park Bandstand, 9 p.m.
Tuesday, June 17
* Kids Scavenger Hunt in City Park, 11 a.m. (Clues given out every hour until the medallion is found.)
* Food/Commercial Stands, Midway and Petting Zoo open in City Park, 11 a.m.
* Mountain Lake Area Booster Club Dunk Tank, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
* Kids Pedal Tractor Pull down 10th Street, 3 p.m.
* Talent Contest, City Park Bandstand, 7:30 p.m. (For additional information, copy and paste this link: http://www.cross-countiesconnect.com/2014/06/registration-open-for-11th-annual-pow-wow-talent-contest/)
* “Love To Sing” Karaoke and Beer Garden, inside at The Laker Grill, 8 p.m.
* Raffle drawing for $1,000 grand prize, three $500 cash prizes and other prizes donated by local businesses.
* Raffle Tickets are now on sale at Mountain Lake businesses.
* For more information, contact 1-507427-2999 or 1-866-685-2531.
* Look for a future article on Pow wow photos from history.