Steamboat Days in Carver, Minnesota!

Not every year do Gary and I get the opportunity to
attend the infamous "Steamboat Days" in Carver.
With our wedding anniversary around the same weekend
we are usually out of town doing our own celebrating.

This year we decided to stick around and in doing so
this allowed us to hit a few fall festivals in our
humble surrounding communities.

First up, Steamboat Days in Carver.
Well, mostly...it's a drinking event, most festivals
are, right? But this little 2 block, 3 bar town on
the Minnesota river albeit a growing town has some
bragging rights...they have "midget wrestling" and it's
going on later today. Yesterday they had mouse races.
Yes folks, this here's a stop you should add to your
"bucket-list" of towns to visit.
Here's some shots from last night.10D 50mm1.4 no flash.








Next on the list is "The Defeat of Jesse James Days"
in Northfield, MN. This used to be referred to as
"Jesse James Days" until they decided that they shouldn't
glamorize or celebrate him but the defeat! They actually
do a reenactment at 11, 1 & 3 everyday! It boasts the very
first "smoke free" parade in Minnesota (if not the nation)
several yearsback...that's right, no more Marlboro Man here
anymore! This town is nestled right along the Cannon river and
folks, Northfield is the home of "Malt-o-Meal" yep!
(my favorite was always chocolate!) This is a great little
college town as well. St. Olaf is here and and Carlton
Great shopping and some darling little spots to eat too.
Gary's from here and his mom is still living in town.

Sorry, I'm starting to sound like Jason Davis!

3rd on my list is yet another small town on the water
but this one is Excelsior on Lake Minnetonka.
They have "Apple Dayz" every year this same weekend.
My sister and I used to call it "crapple days" cuz
we always go thinking that we are going to find some cute
little thing there and we never do. It's mostly local vendors
lining the main street in Excelsior selling crafty, specialty
stuff. It's still fun to go because that's also where I grew
up and I always run into folks I know.

So there , that's this weekend's activities in a nutshell.

What will you do this weekend? Tell me about your town's
festival in a comment below.