
Joetown Rocks Promises Fun, Food, And Fireworks For All
This morning I came to the stark realization that a lot of the summer festivals have already passed us by!
Sartell's Summerfest, Sauk Rapids River Days, Granite City Days... all in the rearview mirror. Fortunately, there is still fun to be had this summer, beginning with this Thursday/Friday's JoeTown Rocks event at the Church of St. Joseph. After that, Cold Spring Hometown Pride Days and the Benton County Fair are still to come.
For my kids, Joetown Rocks is their favorite summer festival. While they love(d) the bike rodeo in Waite Park, the Sartell parade, Sauk Rapids Food Fest and everything in between.. the calendar only truly counts down to Joetown Rocks day.
1. THE CAKE WALK
I had never heard of a cake walk before my first visit to Joetown Rocks about ten years ago, but now I cannot imagine a world without it. While greedy, paddle-hoarding behavior has increased over the last few years, the gambling thrill of that spinning wheel is still a big enough draw that we make this our first stop most years.
2. THE KIDS GAMES
The kids' carnival games are fairly priced and fun for kids of all ages. The setup is really thoughtful, with some of the games having separate lines for the older/younger kids, the young workers are always super friendly and our kids always leave with a bag full of trinkets priceless treasures.
3. BINGO!
We love sitting down (under the shade) to try our hand at Bingo. It's really exciting (in the shade) to hear the Bingo caller call the number you needed to get one step closer to the prize. My son will empty his Rox piggy bank every summer to use his quarters for buying more Bingo boards (under the tent, that provides shade).
As an added bonus, the Bingo tent offers some shade from the sun.
4. GARY'S PIZZA
In years past, and presumably this year as well, Joetown Rocks has featured my sons' favorite pizza: Gary's. As an added bonus, the Gary's at Joetown Rocks is served in triangles... which is like seeing Harmon Killebrew in a Royals jersey... just a bit off.
5. THE PLAYGROUND
As an adult, the official Joetown Rocks playground looks like my version of a nightmare. Dozens of Gary's Pizza-and-sugar'd up children running full speed around a playground while rock music fires them up in the background. To my kids, however? Heaven. Where else can they find a playground that is guaranteed to be teeming with kids of all ages!?
6. STAYING UP LATE FOR FIREWORKS
A lot of the kid-friendly festivals wrap up during the late afternoon or early evening.. but not Joetown Rocks! We usually arrive in the early afternoon and stick around until the end of the always-epic fireworks display. The kids feel like they are getting away with something by staying up 'past ten!'
I'm guessing as they get older they may enjoy the live music, different foods and other stuff that there is to see and do.
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