by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
The four-day Rapids River Days celebration in Sauk Rapids was a whirl of activities, including the crowning of three city ambassadors, 188 runners/walkers in the Tanner Team Foundation’s Run-Walk, a dazzling and music-filled parade and a fun-with-food-and-music Food Fest in the city park along the river.
On Thursday night, three new city ambassadors were crowned at the annual Ambassadors’ Pageant at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School. Those chosen to represent Sauk Rapids officially at events through 2016 are the following:
- Sydney Burk, high school senior, daughter of Jason and Brenda Burk of Sauk Rapids. She was sponsored by the Furniture Closeout Center.
- Clo Meyer, who will study nursing this fall at the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth. The daughter of Todd and Jody Meyer of Sauk Rapids, she was sponsored by Fairview Gardens.
- Allyson Walz, high school senior, daughter of Kelly Walz of Sauk Rapids. She was sponsored by Bernick’s.
About a dozen young little-girl princesses were also crowned at the pageant.
Friday evening
Tanner Team Foundation Run/Walk also took place in Bob Cross Park. (See related story).
After the Tanner event, the big parade, with more than 80 units and 14 marching bands, thrilled the curbside crowds gathered all along Sixth Avenue N. The crowds stood up and applauded and cheered as three veterans’ groups led the parade: the VFW, the American Legion and the Vietnam War Veterans organization.
The spectators were visibly moved by the rousing music played by marching bands. Many parade watchers applauded with gusto as the colorful bands marched down the streets, many of them performing elaborate and ingenious choreographed steps and formations as they played their instruments.
The parade also included fire department rigs, police cars, organizations on floats, the city’s newly crowned three ambassadors, Sauk Rapids Citizen of the Year April Myers, Mayor Bruce Gunderson and even a few dogs.
Later, the following awards were announced:
- Best business float: Coborn’s.
- Best float by a non-profit organization: Foley Ambassadors.
- Judges’ Special Choice Award: Tanner’s Team Foundation.
- Best Marching Band, junior class: Milaca Middle School Marching Band first place; Sartell Middle School Marching Band, second place.
- Best Marching Band Class A: Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg Marching Band first place; Foley High School Marching Band, second place; Albany High School Marching Band, third place.
- Best Marching Band Class AA: Alexandria High School Marching Band, first place; Sartell High School Marching Sabres Band, second place; Owatonna High School Marching Band, third place; and St. Cloud Solar Marching Band, fourth place.
- Best Color Guard: Class A, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg Marching Band; Class AA, Alexandria High School Marching Band; Class AAA, Buffalo High School “The Herd” Marching Band.
- Best Percussion Section: Class A, Kerkohven-Murdock-Sunberg; Class AA, Alexandria; Class AAA, Champlin Park Marching Rebels.
Crowds also braved sweltering heat and humidity to stroll in the ample shade in Sauk Rapids Municipal Park, where many ruthlessly ignored their diets by ingesting an astonishing variety of finger-foods: corn-on-the-cob, pork-chop-on-a-stick, caramel corn, shish kabobs, cheese curds, barbecued turkey legs, smoothies, soda pop and more.
During Food Fest, many children had a ball at the Inflatable Park, climbing high up the inflatables, like a giant truck and a sinking Titanic. Many adults, either full of food or still chowing down, sat back and enjoyed the music of several bands: Kevin Lange and the Mississippi Drifters, The Receders, and the Honey Badgers.
Other Food Fest-goers thrilled to the demonstrations of brute strength in the Strongman/Strong Woman competitions on the north end of the park. Some of the contenders carried two weights, each weighing as much as 260 pounds, across an asphalt patch about 50 feet long and then back. Watching the grueling competition caused sweat to stand out on many a spectator.
Elizabeth Heinen of Sauk Rapids and her brother Wyatt swing high at the Rapids River Days Food Fest June 25 in Sauk Rapids Municipal Park. With the children is their aunt, Tammy Sanchez.
The Benson High School Marching Band performs in the Rapids River Days Parade.
The Benson High School Marching Band marches by spectators, heading south on Sixth Avenue N. in Sauk Rapids.
The Benson High School Marching Band was a crowd-pleaser in the Rapids River Days Paerade.
Drummers pound out rhythms for the Sartell High School Sabres Marching Band June 24 in Sauk Rapids.
The Sartell High School Marching Sabres Band was one of the award-winners in the Rapids River Days Parade June 24 in Sauk Rapids. The Sartell Middle School Marching Band was also honored by judges.
The Junior Jackie Drumline amuses curbside crowds with their comical, off-the-wall antics and wild drum rhythms in the Rapids River Days Parade.
Members of the Sartell Middle School Marching Band pause for awhile during their march down Sixth Avenue N. in Sauk Rapids.
The Sartell Middle School Marching Band performs in the Rapids River Days Parade June 24.
The Sauk Rapids-Rice Marching Storm Band performs in the Rapids River Days Parade June 24 along Sixth Avenue N. in Sauk Rapids.
A girl waves from the window of Sauk Rapids Fire Departments’s Engine No. 2 rig in the Rapids River Days Parade.
Sauk Rapids Mayor Bruce Gunderson waves to spectators in the Rapids River Days Parade.
Spectators line the curbs at the Rapids River Days Parade in Sauk Rapids June 24.
The Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School Marching Band flute players perform a lilting tune in the Rapids River Fest Parade.
Members of the Benton County Posse and their trusty horses were one of the 80 units in the Rapids River Days Parade June 24 in Sauk Rapids.
The Vietnam Veterans of America unit garner applause in the Rapids River Days Parade.
The American Legion Color Guard received a standing ovation, cheers and applause when it was one of three units that led the Rapids River Days Parade. The other units were the VFW and the Vietnam Veterans of America, and those two were also cheered.
The Sauk Rapids VFW leads the Rapids River Days Parade in Sauk Rapids June 24.
Kerry Barbetti of Dundas (middle) trudges across the finish line carrying two enormous weights, each weighing 240 pounds. The grueling activity was part of the Strongman/Strongwoman competition at the Rapids River Days Food Fest in Sauk Rapids Municipal Park.
Darren Brutger of Rice feeds his son, Landon, a cheese curd at the Rapids River Days Food Fest June 25 in Sauk Rapids. The girls in the background are Lily Brutger (right) and her friend, Breckette Lunderigan of Sauk Rapids (left).
The Brutger family of Rice enjoy cheese curds at the Rapids River Days Food Fest June 25 in Sauk Rapids Municipal Park. The parents are Darren and Heidi. The daughters in the photo are Lily (back turned) and Emma.
Jami Phenow of the Sauk Rapids Riverside Lions barbecues turkey legs at the start of Food Fest, part of Rapids River Days June 25 in Sauk Rapids. The Riverside Lions use proceeds from the sales for many good causes, including the Leader Dog program and efforts to combat diabetes and the loss of hearing.
Twila and Steve Minter of Sauk Rapids relish their treats, a pork-chop-on-a-stick and brisket sandwich, at the Rapids River Days Food Fest June 25 in Sauk Rapids.
A sinking Titanic was the focus of lots of fun for rambunctious children who attended the Rapids River Days Food Fest June 25 in Sauk Rapids Municipal Park. The two children coming down the slide are Alivia Scholl of Sauk Rapids (near top) and her sister, Vivienne (near bottom). Their brother, Andrew, also went down the chute earlier. They are the children of Brian and Stella Scholl.
Kevin Lange and the Mississippi Drifters entertain an audience with class country-western songs at the Rapids River Days Food Fest June 25 in Sauk Rapids Municipal Park. The band was one of three that entertained listeners that day.
A family and friends stroll on the grounds of the Rapids River Days Food Fest June 25 in Sauk Rapids Municipal Park. As the day progressed, the park became very crowded with people enjoying the live music and the food.