Chamber Links: news and updates | | May 29th, 2025 | Volume 7 Issue 5 | | This Newsletter is Powered by Catalyst Member | |
Rolling Into Summer
As we roll into summer, things are buzzing here at the Lake City Chamber! We’re just one week away from Tour de Pepin and one month out from Water Ski Days—two incredible events that showcase the best of our community.
Read more from Heather's blog here
| | Enjoy These Upcoming Area Events | | |
Tour de Pepin
June 7th, All Day
(Ohuta Beach Park)
Tour de Pepin offers bicyclists from amateur to expert an opportunity to experience LaPepin from the saddle. This supported ride features manned rest areas with food and water and your choice of routes.
Choose between 32, 40 or 50 mile rides between Lake City and Stockholm and get transported via boat or bus. Or, you can enjoy the 72 or 100 mile full loops all the way around the lake!
Whether you ride or not, join us for a free after-ride party at Ohuta, with live music, food, and beverages!
More here
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Water Ski Days!
June 26 thru 29
(Across Lake City)
The 53rd Annual Water Ski Days is going to be another big celebration. Lake City will be abuzz for our annual summer party, June 26th-29th. Be treated to live concerts, an arts and crafts fair, gravity-defying water-ski shows, a grand parade, a classic car show, and much, much, much more!
In 2025 we'll be adding more live music, more community events, and more WATER SKIING!
Look for our annual Water Ski Days edition newsletter in June for a full line up, and visit waterskidays.com for all updates in real time!
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Rotary Circle of Life Run
Sat June 28, 11am-3pm
(Underwood Park)
The Lake City Rotary Club Circle of Life Run returns in 2025.
Enjoy a Half-Marathon, 10K or 5K in beautiful Lake City, MN on Saturday, June 28th!
This incredible route truly features some breathtaking views. The course is measured and timed and is great for runners of all ages.
Runners and walkers will take off from Underwood Park.
Proceeds from this community event will support a Rotary exchange student program as well as other community focused initiatives!
Register here
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Strawberry Tea Party
Saturday, June 7th, 3pm
(Chickadee Cottage)
The Chickadee is open for the season, and you know what that means... they'll be hosting their seasonal tea parties!
On June 7th, revel in all things strawberry (YUM!) at this berrylicious event. This is truly one of the unique happenings and places that Lake City has to offer. See you for a cuppa?
Reservations are required.
Call (651) 345-5155
See their event page for more info
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Ribs and Music
Thursday, May 29th, 5-8pm
(Kelly's Lake House)
Kelly's opening their patio and boat docks are another sure sign that the warm season is upon us! Check out their lovely and bright new mural while enjoying their house smoked ribs and live music by the talented Tony Cuchetti on Thursday May 29th.
Kelly's hosts musicians throughout the summer, be sure to follow their Facebook page to see who they have coming in the days and weeks ahead.
| | | Join us for Learning and Networking Opportunities | | |
Protect Your Business from Fraud
Date: Monday, June 16th
Time: 11am to 1:30pm
Location: AmericInn conference room, 1615 N. Lakeshore Dr.
Lake City, MN 55041
Join us for this essential Lunch & Learn session on Small Business Fraud Prevention, where we'll discuss common fraud schemes, warning signs, and practical steps to safeguard your business. Learn how to protect your finances, data, and reputation from costly scams. Don't miss this opportunity to stay informed and proactive!
Presented by: Rochley Gross, Fraud Specialist, Forward Bank
RSVP here
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Q-Media Business After Hours
Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025
Time: 5-6:30pm
Location: Lake Hits 95, 117 S Washington Street, Lake City
Let's meet at Lake Hits 95 for May's Business After Hours event! Enjoy beverages, light snacks, and great conversation with the folks from Q Media, the Chamber, and fellow members of the Lake City area business community.
Learn more and RSVP here
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Wake Up with Heather
Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Time: 8:00am
Location: Lake City Chamber of Commerce Office. 122 N Lakeshore, Dr
An engaging opportunity to connect with Chamber staff and fellow members at this monthly Member Forum.
Note: This month's meeting will be at the Chamber office, not the library as usual.
"Wake Up With Heather" is an open forum designed to help you get involved and discover how the Chamber can better support you and your business. Snack on coffee and baked treats and let us know your ideas and needs!
Send Heather an email for more info
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4th Annual Chamber Golf Tournament
Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
Location: Lake City Golf
This year's Chamber Golf Outing at Lake City Golf will have the theme of Hollywood!
Join us for a fun day at this beloved course with proceeds funding Lake City's Community Pride Scholarship fund and other important Chamber initiatives.
Join as an individual or as a team. Registration fees cover 18 holes of golf, cart, range, dinner, drink ticket, and live music. On course prizes and the famous raffle add to the fun! Don't miss out on this great event!
Register here
Sponsor this and other events here
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Kiwanis Survey
The Lake City Kiwanis Club has kicked off its HundredX Fundraiser. The club asks you to complete quick surveys which raise $1.45 each for Kiwanis activities with zero cost to you!
How to support:
Text "SHARE" to 90412 or Click here and select the Lake City Kiwanis Club in the "which organization are you funding" dropdown.
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Lake City Featured in National Ad Campaigns
Explore Minnesota is running springtime online and social media ads with two major publications, and you may recognize one of the featured locations! :)
In recent online ads with National Geographic and Travel + Leisure Lake City received nods as a must visit location in the state. In Nat Geo's "Ten Spots for Lake Life Leisure and Fun in Minnesota", Lake City is called out for its scenic vistas, River Walk, and water skiing history. Travel + Leisure's "Sounds Like Summer in Minnesota", extolls our natural uniqueness, water skiing, Hwy 61, golfing, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
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Great River Road Named USA Today's "Best Scenic Drive"
USA TODAY's 10BEST assembled a panel of travel experts to nominate gorgeous scenic routes. Then, readers voted to decide the winners, all of which have been designated scenic byways on a state or national level. Online voting ran from April 7 through May 5, and thanks to an incredible effort from fans of the scenic byway, the Great River Road took the top spot over other incredible routes like the Natchez Trace Parkway, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Route 66, and the Pacific Coast Highway!
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Visit Lake City's Travel Guide
Work has officially begun on the design of a new 2 year (2026/2027) visitor and community guide, with printing on tap to begin in fall with a broad statewide and regional distribution in time for the holidays as a goal. The 10,000 copy guide run will be printed in full color, with perfect binding, and a soft touch cover, giving it a polished look that will be a perfect keepsake for coffee tables and bookshelves.
Chamber staff will be visiting and contacting local businesses and organizations for ads over the upcoming weeks. Secure your perfect spot in the guide early by getting in touch with Heather now at director@lakecity.org or by phone at (651) 345-4123.
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Braver Angels Workshop
When: Tuesday, June 17, 6:30-8 pm
Where: Bluffview Elementary School Cafeteria
Host: Braver Angels Minnesota State Alliance
Partners: Lake City Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, Masons, Greater Lake City Area Foundation
We can learn to disagree better in polarized times, which means accurately seeing where we differ and where we share common ground.
Workshop goals
- More understanding of the values and concerns of people who differ from you politically
- Better skills for listening in a way so that the other person feels heard
- Better skills for sharing viewpoints in a way the other person might hear — even if they disagree
Register here
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Lake City Area Arts: Art in Motion
In the lead up to this year's Tour de Pepin, the Lake City Area Arts organization has put together a fun downtown-wide exhibit featuring decorated and adorned bicycles by local individuals and organizations! Experience the public art, record the title and source of each bike, and turn it in to LCAA for a chance to win LCAA Memberships and Chamber Bucks! Contact LCAA to learn more at lakecityareaarts@gmail.com
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"The Anxious Generation" Discussion
Date: Thursday, May 29th
Time: 6pm - 7:30pm
Location: Lake City Public Library
Join Goodhue County Health and Human Services and the Lake City Public Library this Thursday, May 29th at a community conversation about "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt. The book explores the link between social media use, smart phones, screen time and the impacts on youth mental health. Registration is encouraged but not required.
| | | Chamber Community Pride Scholarship Winners | | |
At the Chamber, we believe that the strength of a community lies in the hearts of those who choose to give back. We created the Community Pride Scholarship to honor students who demonstrate a spirit of service, leadership, and pride in Lake City. This scholarship isn’t about GPAs or test scores, it’s about initiative. And it’s about the belief that giving your time and energy can help shape a better future, not just for yourself, but for the entire community.
This year, we are proud to award two $500 scholarships to two brilliant young women who penned amazing essays that embody the spirit of community pride: Morgan Majerus and Matalynn Mears
| | Water Ski Days Button Design Winner | | Each year the Chamber collaborates with the art departments at our local schools to find the best designs for our annual Water Ski Days button. This year’s competition saw a tremendous increase in participation, with 34 student submissions! While we wish every entry could win, one design took home the prize and will be The 53rd Annual Water Ski Days official button design! That design belongs to none other than Alyvia Schroeder. Alyvia will also take home $100 in Chamber Bucks to spend in local businesses. 2nd Place went to Cecelia Larson – Awarded $50 in Chamber Bucks, and 3rd Place went to Adelyn Richardson – Awarded $25 in Chamber Bucks. We'd like to also thank the Lake City Chamber Board of Directors and Chamber Ambassadors, who had the impossible job of choosing the winners, and were impressed by the creativity and community spirit captured in each submission. | | | | |
