by Dennis Dalman
news@thenewsleaders.com
More than 40 free family-fun activities will be available Saturday, Aug. 10 when the fifth annual “Take a Day Off on the Mississippi River” takes place again.
The perennially popular event will take place, rain or shine, at Stearns County Mississippi River Park at 41300 CR 1, which is seven miles north of Sartell on the river road.
Activities will take place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Many children will win prizes.
Activities include fishing, river rides, archery, river education and much more. There will also be live, wild animals for visitors to enjoy.
On-river fun will include canoes (such as a large voyageur-style canoe), kayaks, pontoon tours, paddle boards and an electro-fishing demonstration.
No experience is necessary for any of the activities and all needed equipment will be provided.
Other things to do are kids’ games, birdhouse building, nature art, laser shooting, park tours, river tours and more.
Animals from the Minnesota Zoo can be viewed starting at 1 p.m.
Special presentations will happen at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.
“Take a Day Off on the Mississippi” is sponsored by the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Stearns County Parks Department, Benton County, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Cloud State University and many local businesses.
Tyler Rudderforth, 11, of St. Joseph, tries his hand at archery Aug. 11 during the fourth annual Take a Day Off on the Mississippi River event. It was his first time attending the event.
