Kiss a goat and pickleball part of Madison Lake festivities
Paddlefish Days…has anyone ever seen a real-life paddlefish? They historically occurred in the Minnesota River, but the population has dwindled, with most paddlefish staying in the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, according to the Minnesota DNR.
Anyone in Madison Lake during the parade on Saturday, July 27, got to see what a paddlefish looked like in gigantic statue form. The four-day celebration included several bands playing music (with IV Play at the street dance), a 5k, softball tournaments, a goat-kissing contest, and many other festivities.
Thursday, July 25, was a warmup to all the Paddlefish Days activities. Bands and Burgers at the Lucky Lure featured music by What Could Go Wrong and burger specials from 6 to 9 p.m. Those looking to take a golf cart (or ATVs and UTVs) for a spin around town were treated to a tour of the city and lakes, starting with food and conversations, and entertainment from GTX Duo at Stoufers Auto Sales.
If checking out the local music scene (and perhaps barhopping on a Friday night) is one’s idea of fun, they had their fill on Friday. Before the guitars started playing, a kiddie parade took place on 400 Main Street at 6 p.m., with an open house shortly after until 8 p.m. Boats also had a parade of their own at 6 p.m. near “The Landing.”
All three bars in town had music playing. From 7-10 p.m., Powerhouse performed at the Landing on Madison, blaring their horns, tickling the ivories on the keyboard, and belting to their heart’s desire. For those looking for a harder-edge rock band, there were two options: Problem Child at the Anchor Bar and Grill at 8 p.m. or Nowhere Fast at the Lucky Lure at 9 p.m.
Saturday was the busiest day of Paddlefish Days. The morning was filled with sheepshead tournaments, runners participating in the Patrick Freeberg Memorial 5k race and walk at North Shore Park, a Farmers’ Market from 9 a.m. to noon at Lindbergh Park, and a softball tournament at the Madison Lake Legion Field starting at 8 a.m.
All day, Paddlefish Days attendees could satiate their hunger with the Mad Town Chow Down; food vendors were open throughout the day. The Goofy Goat Farm, featuring cute goats, inflatable slides and jungle gyms, trampolines, and face painting, was from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Following the grand parade at 1 p.m. was a cornhole tournament at 2:30 p.m. and a fascinating historical presentation by Larry Kortuem at 3 p.m. featuring an interview with Major Dr. Joseph Eckert, John F. Kennedy’s flight surgeon who flew with the president on Air Force One from the beginning of his presidency to his assassination.
If history on JFK’s assassination wasn’t your speed, seeing a lucky winner of the kissing-a-goat contest surely was the entertainment you needed. At 3:30 p.m., Adam Weinandt was announced as the winner with 640 votes to Bree Meyer’s 630. He had to repeatedly kiss the goat for the cameras trying to capture the moment.
The day ended with bingo from 5-7 p.m., beer tasting in the bingo tent by Paddlefish Brewing from 4-7 p.m., and the Madison Lake Fire Department’s Street Dance featuring IV Play as the headliner at 9:15 p.m. with the Murphy Brothers Band opening for them at 6 p.m.
Sunday was a light day, and Paddlefish Days ended on a good note. The softball tournament that began on Saturday continued, a pickleball tournament took place at 10 a.m., and TrainWreck closed out the festivities with a concert at the Landing from 3-6 p.m.
Paddlefish Days is one of the last local small-town celebrations of the summer. As summer winds down, so will the amount of music blasting, parade floats hitting the streets, and pageants taking place. Madison Lake likes to party, and that was on full display all weekend long.
