Daze and Knights Festival Just Around the Corner

Written by Meghan Gutzwiller

St. Michael will celebrate its annualDaze and Knights Festival only two weeks from now, Aug. 9-11.

The town’s original event, a German celebration called Bierstube Days, ended after years of celebrating with sausage, beer and polka bands, but St. Michael residents came together to bring back a festival for the local community.

Now in its seventh year, the Daze and Knights Festival will bring back the popular inflatables, parade, medallion hunt and live music.

Event chair Amy Dehmer said some of the highlights of the 2013 festival include:

• Live music in the beer garden. Friday night will featureGreene and Hurst, Lamont Cranston Band on Saturday night and Shane Martin Sunday afternoon (note: the evening performances are for those ages 21 plus).
• Fireworks at the city hall lawn, which have been moved to Saturday night this year. The show is put on by Hollywood Pyrotechnics.

Some new attractions this year include:

• Magnificent Mile Mud Run Sunday morning
• Volleyball tournaments on Saturday
• Pedal pull contest for kids ages 4-11 Sunday

And don’t forget about the returning favorites:

• Medallion hunt begins Monday
• All-city garage sales beginning Wednesday
• Inflatables Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Friday, August 9

• Beer tent and live music
• Meat raffle and open mic night at the beer garden
• Medallion hunt kicks off courtesy of Great Northern Bank. Check St. Michael Patch and the bank's website for clue updates and information.

Saturday, Aug. 10

• Bean bag toss tournament
• Beer tent and live music
• Business expo 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Chalk Walk 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
• Sawdust treasure hunt at 11 a.m.
• Craft fair and farmers market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Parade starts at 1:30 p.m., featuring STMA’s marching band
• Water fun at a hydrant near the parade route after parade
• Pork chop dinner at beer tent
• Fireworks

Sunday, Aug. 11

• Magnificent Mile Mud Run
• Bingo from noon to 3 p.m.
• Classic car show 10 a.m to 3 p.m.
• Pig roast and food shelf fundraiser 3 to 6 p.m.
• Petting zoo
• Pedal pull for kids
• Gonzo the Clown

Registration forms and more information about these events can all be found on at festival's website.

Dehmer said the event is here to stay for the second weekend in August, despite a previous attempt to switch the festival's weekend.

Festival planners had tried to switch the festival dates to get a carnival on board, but Dehmer said the weekends where a carnival was available did not work for local police, who already had too many other local celebrations and other events that require additional police support. The planning committee decided to maintain the August weekend for St. Michael’s festival after receiving positive reviews of the inflatables, which they have in lieu of a carnival.

Dehmer said they aim to put on a festival that has something for everyone to enjoy and that doesn’t break the bank for families.

“We really want it to be more family-oriented,” Dehmer said. “We want there to be something for everyone, that’s our motto.”

If you are willing to volunteer to help with set up, take down or help events run smoothly during the Daze and Knights events, please contact Amy Dehmer or Brian Mielke at stmichaelfstvl@gmail.com.

Mielke said they need about 50 volunteers that weekend, but so far only have 15.

Be sure to check back with St. Michael Patch for updated information on St. Michael Daze and Knights.

Join St. Michael Patch, follow us on Twitter and "like" us on Facebook.