Kaposia Days festival returns June 28-30

Jake Spitzack
Staff Writer

Get ready to shine with community pride! South St. Paul’s annual Kaposia Days celebration is returning June 28-30 and there are ample opportunities to partake in the fun. For those new to the community, the summertime tradition has been held since 1976 and its name honors the area’s earliest known residents: the Kaposia band of the Mdewakanton Dakotah. Most events are free, but some have an admission charge. Purchase a button to take advantage of discounts. They’re $3 and available at Central Square Community Center, 100 7th Ave. N., and several local businesses. This year’s button design winner was South St. Paul fifth-grader Eva Wunderlich. All information was accurate as of press time but is subject to change. For more information, visit kaposiadays.org.

Kick-off Celebration
Get the festivities rolling a day early by celebrating 5-7 p.m., Thursday, June 27, at the Croatian Hall, 445 2nd Ave. S. The event features food and raffle drawings.

Medallion Hunt
A medallion will be hidden on South St. Paul’s public lands and whoever finds it gets $300. Two clues will be released each day on the Kaposia Days Facebook page, beginning Sunday, June 23, and one final clue will be released Friday, June 28.

Grande Parade
Grab your lawn chairs! Decorative floats and other vehicles get rolling at 6:30 p.m., Friday, June 28. The route begins at 12th Avenue and travels down 12th Ave. to Southview Boulevard then turns south on 7th Avenue South. The final block of the parade, between 6th and 7th streets, is a “Quiet Zone” (no horns, sirens or lights). This year’s grand marshal leading the parade is The Boys Scouts of America Troop 9095, and the legacy honoree is the South St. Paul Choralettes. Live cable coverage by Town Square Television will be aired on Channel 14.

Kids Fishing Clinic
Learn how to tie knots, bait a hook, identify fish and more at the fishing clinic held 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, June 29 at Simley Pond, 80th Street and Cahill Avenue in Inver Grove Heights. Poles and bait provided.

Kiddie Parade
The South St. Paul Mayor’s Youth Task Force is hosting the annual Kaposia Days Kiddie Parade on June 29. This year’s theme is “South St. Paul Businesses.” The parade departs at 10 a.m. from the corner of Marie and 6th Avenue North and travels a few blocks north on 6th Avenue. Participants should arrive at 9:30 a.m. to register.

Wrestling
After a decade, professional wrestling returns to Kaposia Days featuring some of the best wrestlers of the upper Midwest. The show is 2-5 p.m., June 29, in the North Parking Lot of Concord Lanes, 365 Concord Exchange N.

Bingo
Test your luck at bingo, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday, June 29, and noon-5 p.m., Saturday, June 30, at 5th and Marie. Stick around on Friday for disco bingo held 7-9 p.m.

Craft Fair & Flea Market
Shop from dozens of artisan vendors and learn about local businesses, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, June 29, at Central Square, 100 7th Ave. N. To pre-register for a booth, visit kaposiadays.org. After June 10, all registrations must be completed the day of the event. Cost to register is $25 per space. For more information, contact Julie Foote at 651-450-2366 or drjulie@sspfamily.com.

Softball Tournament
Teams will hit the softball diamonds at Kaposia Landing Fields, 800 Bryant Ave., on June 29, for the state’s second largest softball tournament. Registration must be done before the event. All players must be age 18 or older. To register, call Rich at 651-455-1725.

Beanbag Tourney
A doubles cornhole tournament begins at 10 a.m., June 29, at the Lions Pavilion at Kaposia Landing, 800 Bryant Ave. Participants must be age 18 or older unless accompanied by an adult. Registration is 9-9:45 a.m., the day of the event. Cost is $50 per team, cash only.

Classic Car Show
Vintage automobiles will be on full display, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., June 29, at the South St. Paul Secondary School parking lot, 700 2nd St. N. Registration is the day of the event only.

Touch-a-Truck
Kids can explore fire trucks, police trucks, dump trucks and other large vehicles. Free. Details were not available as of press time.

Pancake Breakfast
Enjoy a stack of pancakes and sausage 9 a.m.-noon, Sunday, June 30, at Fury Motors, 1000 Concord St. S. The meal is free with a Kaposia Days button.

Kite Fly
Colorful kites will fill the sky noon-3 p.m., June 30 at Roosevelt Field, near 5th Avenue South and 5th Street South. If it’s raining, the event will be canceled and won’t be rescheduled. Kites and assistance will be available. Free.

Open Skate
The South St. Paul girls’ hockey team will host an open skate 1-3 p.m., Sunday, June 30, at Doug Woog Arena, 141 6th St. S. Skate rentals are $2. Admission is free with a Kaposia Days button or $5 without.

Concert
The Inver Hills Community Bank will give a free performance 4-5 p.m., June 30, at the Central Square Amphitheater.

Fireworks
The Kaposia Days closing ceremony is 7:30-10:15 p.m., June 30, at Ettinger Field, 700 2nd St. N. It will feature food, live music by Complete Music, and a dazzling fireworks show that begins at dusk. The pyrotechnics company will conduct testing every hour until the show begins, beginning at 4 p.m. Youth under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult during the fireworks.

Kaposia Days swag, such as t-shirts, hats and bags, are available. Place your order early to be received in time for the big weekend. For more information, visit kaposiadays.org.

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