Boatville Drags to be held in downtown New York Mills

By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

The New York Mills Summer Celebration and Lund Mania event will kick off this weekend. Everything from a scavenger hunt to a classic car show will give families and community members much to do over the two-day celebration.

Friday’s festivities will begin with the Fish House Festival on Main Avenue starting at 10 a.m. and is being sponsored by the NY Mills Regional Cultural Center. The six hour event is free and open to all with custom-built spear house, wood creations being painted and raffled, folk art decoys, games, sidewalk chalk art, bubbles, Art in Your Park projects and a final raffle drawing at 6:30 p.m. with the grant prize of the artist-painted fish house. 

A youth decoy painting opportunity is also available for $5 per decoy with 20 spots available.

At 12 p.m., the Great Boat Hunt begins with winners receiving Mills Marks, usable at various businesses around town. Check the NYM Civic & Commerce Facebook page for each clue which will be given to help searchers find their model boats.

The Legried Community Pool is offering individuals of all ages a free swim opportunity from 1-5 p.m. From 4-7 p.m., a fish fry, food vendors, inflatables for kids and a pie and ice cream social will be available around town.

Make sure to stop by Centennial 84 Drive at 4:30 p.m. when the Boatville Drags will take place. Root for your favorite team and watch as they compete in miniature Lund Boats to cross the finish line.

“Boatville Drags are back in 2025 and better than ever,” said Latham Hetland, an organizer of Summer Celebration. “There may even be an opportunity for spectators to join in on the fun this year!”

The Lund Mania fishing tournament results and awards ceremony will take place on Centennial 84 Drive at 5:30 p.m. where the big winners will be announced.

“The Lund Mania fishing tournament filled up with 75 teams again this year and the competition will be fierce Friday morning on Otter Tail Lake,” said Hetland.

The annual parade will begin at 7 p.m. where a large variety of over 75 creatively decorated floats and smiling faces from local businesses and organizations hand out candy and goodies throughout the city. Parade entries will line up next to Lunds and work their way to Main Avenue, where they will turn and travel to Park Street, then Tousley, before turning left on Gilman Street and heading to the school.

To end the festivities on Friday, a street dance with live band “Whiskey Business” will take place at 9 p.m. across from Central Park. The event is free of charge.

On Saturday morning, the Lund Mania 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament will begin at 9 a.m. at the school. The tournament is sponsored by Lakes Basketball in partnership with the Civic & Commerce Association.

To end out the weekend fun, a classic car show will showcase over 75 classics on Main Avenue from 3-6 p.m.

“We are excited to have a car show for the first time in a long time,” said Hetland.