Water Carnival in Detroit Lakes, MN

When it comes to celebrating summer, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota takes its time. The Jaycee-sponsored Northwest Water Carnival lasts a delicious week or more in the heart of summer - July 8-17, 2011. This will be the 76th annual!

An Admiral - a Jaycee member - Aaron Lauinger - resides over the extravaganza. There's also a princess. One lucky girl is crowned Miss Northwest; later she competes for the Miss Minnesota crown.

Do you love to build sand castles or ships? There's a competition for you. Tough enough to eat chili in July? Then the Carnival's chili cookoff is calling you.

Water fights, kids' games, geocaching, music and food and more food - the Northwest Carnival has it all for you.

And to top it off, get to Sunday's parade early. This tradition attracts thousands of people stretched out for a mile. The 2011 Parade of the Northwest is Sunday, July 17.

The Fourth of July may be over, but in Detroit Lakes, the fun is just getting started.

For more information about Water Carnival fun, select the Water Carnival button below to go to their website.