Glenwood’s annual celebration is July 28-31

Glenwood’s 66th annual Waterama, set for July 28-31, is one of the oldest continuous summer celebrations in Minnesota and will again feature all the fun-filled family activities for which it has become known.  

Just some of those activities include street dances, food and merchandise vendors in the Glenwood City Park, a Grande Day Parade, Kiddie Parade, a junior and senior Waterama queen coronations, sports tournaments, laser tag, the unique Pontoon/Boat Parade, fireworks, waterski shows and much more.

The Waterama Street Dances this year will again feature two familiar bands– The Johnny Holm Band from 9 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. on Friday and Arch Allies from 9:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. on Saturday.  The street dances will be held in front of Lakeside Ballroom. 

A complete list of events are listed below and will be featured in the annual Waterama Booklet that will be available free all over the Glenwood area.  

Purchase a Waterama 

Button

The Waterama Button Committee is now selling buttons for the 66th Annual Glenwood Waterama.

The buttons, which include valuable coupons from local businesses, are just $2 per button.

“Waterama buttons are worn as a badge of pride around the Glenwood area,” say Waterama Button Committee members and the money raised from button sales helps fund the annual Waterama festival.

Those who purchase a button also have a chance to win cash prizes, including the top cash prize of $1,000. Buttons can be purchased from board members and are available at many local businesses.  They will be available for sale throughout the annual Waterama Celebration.

Waterama Schedule of Events

Friday, July 22nd

• 7:30 am  Rise and Shine breakfast with Flag Raising Ceremony at City Park

Tuesday, July 26th

• 9 am  Medallion Hunt – 1st clue released on KMGK 107 and at Glenwood Chamber of Commerce

• 9 am – 3 pm  Historical Exhibit by Pope County Museum at Eagle Bank Lobby

• 10 am – 4 pm  Central Square Art Gallery public exhibit, artist Jules Bowman

Wednesday, July 27th

• 9 am  Medallion Hunt – 2nd  clue released on KMGK 107 and at Glenwood Chamber of Commerce

• 9 am – 3 pm  Historical Exhibit by Pope County Museum at Eagle Bank Lobby

• 10 – 11 am Wonderful Waterama, with the Traveling Tree House, Barsness Park

• 10 am – 4 pm  Central Square Art Gallery public exhibit, artist Jules Bowman

• 7 pm  Showstoppers presents “Bye Bye Birdie” at the MAHS auditorium

Thursday, July 28th

• 9 am  Medallion Hunt – 3rd  clue released on KMGK 107 and Glenwood Chamber of Commerce

• 9 am – 3 pm  Historical Exhibit by Pope County Museum at  Eagle Bank Lobby

• 9 am – 6 pm  Senior Citizen Craft Shack at Pope County Fairgrounds

• 9 am – 5 pm  Crazy Days at local businesses

• 10 – 11 am Wonderful Waterama, with the Traveling Tree House, Barsness Park

• 10 am – 4 pm  Central Square Art Gallery public exhibit, artist Jules Bowman

• 7 pm  Showstoppers presents “Bye Bye Birdie” at the  MAHS auditorium

• 7 pm Basketball Shootout at City Park (Registration at 6:45)

• 8 – 11 pm Glow Beach Party at City Park, music by Soulful Sounder. FREE giveaways

Friday, July 29th

• 9 am  Medallion Hunt – 4th clue released on KMGK 107 and Glenwood Chamber of Commerce

• 9 am – 3 pm  Historical Exhibit by Pope County Museum at Eagle Bank Lobby

• 9 am – 6 pm  Senior citizen Craft Shack at Pope County Fairgrounds

• 9 am – 5 pm  Crazy Days at local businesses

• 9 am  Tennis tournament at MAHS/City Park tennis courts

• 10 am – 4 pm  Central Square Art Gallery public exhibit, artist Jules Bowman

• 10 am – 5 pm  City Park Boardwalk Sales at City Park

• 11:30 am Pie eating contest – Magnifi Financial

• 2 – 6 pm Bremness Gallery is open featuring the work of Gloria Pfeifer and Jack Pfeifer

• 5 – 7 pm  Packet pickup and registration for Rotary 10K, 5K run/walk Glenwood State bank Magic Mile at the Pope County Museum parking lot

• 5 – 9 pm Water Wars/Inflatables/Axe Throwing at City Park

• 6 pm  Senior & Junior Queen candidate revue at City Park Bandshell

• 7 pm  Showstoppers presents “Bye Bye Birdie” at the  MAHS auditorium

• 9 pm – 12:30 am Street Dance featuring the Johnny Holm Band in front of Lakeside Ballroom. Presale tickets at Screen Prints Plus until 3:00 pm on Friday July 29th. ($10 – cash or check only). Tickets $15 at the gate (Cash only) CASH Bar only inside dance area for 21+ adults

Saturday, July 30th 

• 6:30 – 11:30 am tee times Waterama Golf Tournament at Minnewaska Golf Course

• 8 am – 3 pm Glenwood Public Library used book sale, Glenwood Public Library

• 8:00 am 45th annual Glenwood Rotary 10K, 5K run/walk and Glenwood State Bank Magic Mile

• 8:30 – 11:30 am Pope County Farmers’ Market at Barsness Park

• 9 am Medallion Hunt – 5th clue released on KMGK 107 and at Glenwood Chamber of Commerce

• 9 am  Sand Sculpture Contest, south side City Beach

• 9 am  Sand Volleyball Tournament at Barsness Park  (6 person co-ed)

• 9 am  43rd annual Waterama softball tournament at  Barsness Park

• 9 am – 12 pm  Car, Tractor and Motorcycle Show at  Barsness Park

• 9 am – 6 pm  Senior citizen Craft Shack at Pope County Fairgrounds

• 9 am – 3 pm  Crazy Days at local businesses

• 9 am  Tennis tournament at MAHS/City Park tennis courts

• 9:30 am Yoga on the City Beach sponsored by Minnewaska Wellness & Fitness

• 9:30 am ASB Bean Bag tournament at Barsness Park (begins at 10:00)

• 10 am  Men’s Alumni soccer game at Museum Field

• 10 am – 5 pm  City Park Boardwalk Sales at City Park

• 11 am – 4 pm Bremness Gallery is open featuring the work of Gloria Pfeifer and Jack Pfeifer 

• 11 am  Swim races at City Beach for youth 18 and under

• 11 am – 9 pm Water Wars/ Inflatables/Axe Throwing at City Park

• 1:30 pm 66th annual Kiddie Parade

• 2 pm Waterama Junior Royalty Coronation at City Park Bandshell

• 2 pm Jam session with the Terraplanes at the Ann Bickle Heritage House. Bring your instrument and play along or just come to listen and enjoy. The house will be open on Saturday for tours.

• 2:30 pm – 4:45 pm Balloon art; Friendship bracelets (free event) at City Park

• 2:45 pm Registration ends for Kid’s Prize Giveaway

• 3 pm Waterama Kid’s Prize Giveaway at City Park

• 3:30 pm Kids Tractor Pull at City Park sponsored by Midwest Machinery

• 3:30 pm Axe Throwing contest between Waterama Brass and Glenwood Rotary at City Park

• 5 pm  Showstoppers presents “Bye Bye Birdie” at the MAHS auditorium

• 6:30 pm Bald Eagle Water Ski Show on the shores of Lake Minnewaska near City Park

• 7 pm Mic Sterling at Central Square

• 9:15 pm Midwest’s only lighted Pontoon Parade on the shores of Lake Minnewaska starting at City Beach

• 9:30 pm – 1 am Street Dance featuring Arch Allies in front of  Lakeside Ballroom. Presale tickets at Screen Prints Plus until 3:00 pm on Friday July 29th. ($10 – cash or check only). Tickets $10 at the gate (Cash only) CASH Bar only inside dance area for 21+ adults.

• 10 pm  Fireworks display over Lake Minnewaska (rain date July 31st)

Sunday, July 31st

• 8 am – 11:30 am Annual Rotary Pancake breakfast & Sausage feed at City Park

• 9 am  Tennis tournament at MAHS/City Park tennis courts

• 9:30 am  Community Church service at the City Park Bandshell

• 10 am – 5 pm City Park Boardwalk sales at City Park

• 10:30 am Visiting Queens’ Welcome luncheon, invite only. Rolling Forks Vineyard

• 11 am – 5 pm Water Wars/Inflatables/Axe Throwing at City Park

• 1 pm  Waterama Grande Day Parade

• 3 – 5:30 pm Cimarron in City Park

• 3:30 pm Bald Eagle Water Ski Show on the shores of Lake Minnewaska near City Park

• 6 pm Waterama Senior Royalty Coronation at City Park Bandshell

• 7 pm Flag lowering closing ceremony at City Park following coronation

* All events are subject to change. 

Please visit www.waterama.org for the most up-to-date schedule of events.