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19th Annual Waconia Open

Monday, July 14 | 11:00AM

Island View Golf Club

7795 Laketown Pwky, Waconia

The 19th Annual Waconia Open is set for Monday, July 14. The tournament kicks off with an 11:00 AM shotgun start, and this year with a Wild West twist. So round up your team and get ready for a rootin’-tootin’ good time! Registration is open now!

A Message from the President

Building a Strong Workforce



Christine Fenner

President, Waconia Chamber of Commerce

The strength of Waconia and our surrounding community comes from the talent and dedication of YOU. Workforce development is the foundation for growth, stability, and success in Waconia, Carver County, and across Minnesota. As business leaders, educators, and elected officials collaboratively address workforce challenges, we’re striving to build and advocate for a strong workforce. Over this past week, there were a few events that highlight these continued efforts. continue reading...

Legislative News

Reasonable and responsible state government

• Fiscal Responsibility
• Good governance through accountability and transparency

Economic competitiveness

• Taxes
• Workforce
• Bipartisan solutions that reduce costs

Welcome New Members

Ambassador Visits

Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings - Chamber Invited

You're invited to join the Waconia Chamber team at these upcoming member visits.

• April 9, 4:00PM: McDonald's Waconia
• April 10, 12:00PM: Gongoll Beef
• April 28, 10:30AM: Molly's in St. Boni

RSVP requested: Email Chelsey at ckoubsky@destinationwaconia.org

Member Renewals

We appreciate your support!

Thank you to all our renewing members for your investment in the Waconia Chamber. We are looking forward to 2025!

Borderwerx

Darabi Dermatology

George and Carol Braunwarth

Jersey Mike's

Mutts on Main

Never Bored Adventures

Parley Lake Winery

Ruthie's House Vintage

Schram Vineyards

Shed & Fence Co

The Stash of Waconia

Triple Crown Home Team

Waconia 1 Collision & Auto

Waconia DandyLions

Waconia Veterinary Clinic

More Chamber News

March Luncheon Recap

Workforce Summit



Thanks to the panelists and everyone who attended today's Workforce Summit Luncheon! We had an insightful discussion on key workforce challenges including retention, workplace wellness, AI and more. Let's keep building a strong workforce in Waconia!

Lunch catered by chamber member Sweet Wink's.

Panelists: Matt Bergmann, Laketown Electric Corporation; Christopher Ferguson, Bywater Business Solutions DBA CD Products; Jayme Miller, DHA CPAs; Dr. Enid Schonewise, Waconia Public Schools; Barb Sprengeler, Lakeview Clinic

Milestones to Celebrate

Congratulations on your milestone! Wishing you continued success.

Celebrating 20 years!

Celebrating 50 years!

Do you have a milestone coming up? Let us know - we'd love to celebrate you in the next newsletter! Email ckoubsky@destinationwaconia.org.

Waconia Works

5th Annual Waconia Works Signing Day: Seeking Participants

Tuesday, May 6 | 7:30 - 8:30AM

Waconia High School

Signing day is an opportunity to recognize Waconia High School seniors for their decision to enter the workforce post-graduation with a local company in the area; and to highlight the local businesses that provide those opportunities. In the past we’ve highlighted students that are entering the manufacturing, trades, and/or automotive workforce. If you know of a student and business that would be interested in participating, please email Christine at cfenner@destinationwaconia.org for more details.

Member News & Happenings

Elite Nutrition - New Owner Whitney Peterson

My name is Whitney & starting April 8 I am the face you will see behind the counter at Elite Nutrition! I have been involved with Herbalife for numerous years & decided to jump in head first. I am so excited to get to continue to serve the community, help you get the results you want & continue on Elite Nutrition!

I cannot wait to meet all of you, build relationships with you & continue on Elite Nutrition! There is a lot of exciting things coming & I can’t wait to share all of it with you! Watch Facebook for updates, hours, & more!

Waconia Putt Putt Challenge

Saturday, April 5

Check-in: 11:00AM

Event starts: 12:00PM

The Waconia Putt Putt Challenge is almost here! Get your friends together for a day of fun for $20! Tickets available at participating businesses, including chamber members Hoppers, Pangea Cafe, Garage Bar & Bowl, The Waconia Saloon, and the American Legion.

Putting starts at the bar where you buy tickets.

Waconia Wine Hop

Saturday, April 5 | 12:00-6:00PM

Sovereign Estate

9950 North Shore Road, Waconia



Hop your way around Waconia Wine Country for a special SPRING tasting at three award-winning wineries all located within 5 miles of each other in beautiful Waconia, MN! Each winery will offer a wine tasting of 4 different wines, special wine deals, live music, and great food! Visit all three wineries and be entered into a drawing for a Waconia wine basket! Check-in times begin at 12 NOON and plan to do the tour in about 3 hours. Choose a winery and time where you would like to start and then hop to the next following the order below. We ask for an RSVP start time so we can spread out guests and lines and make for the best guest experience. Actual tasting fees will be sold at the door of each location.

Ceramic Classes at Mocha Monkey

On Sale Soon!

Registration opens April 6

Mocha Monkey

115 S Olive St, Waconia

Join us for fun and creative ceramic classes, open to all ages and skill levels! Whether you're a beginner or a pro, come get your hands dirty and make something amazing. Kids classes in May, June, and July include cupcake, bird's nest, slab jars, and more! Adult classes include coil pot and slab mug.

Destination Waconia Tourism Committee

with speaker from U of M Extension

Tuesday, April 8 | 9-10:00AM

J. Carver Distillery

1320 Mill Ln, Waconia

Join us at the Destination Waconia Tourism Committee Meeting as we welcome Colleen Carlson from the University of Minnesota Extension! She’ll speak on Ag Production Systems for Carver County as we explore new opportunities for agritourism marketing in the Waconia area.

Home Buyer Seminar

Tuesday, April 8 | 6-8:00PM

Waconia Brewing Company

201 S Vine St, Waconia

Join Triple Crown Home Team, Scheff Insurance, and Antler Home Mortgage for a Home Buyer Seminar on April 8 at Waconia Brewing Company. Fill out the registration form in its entirety and receive a free beer!

Three Strategies to Boost Business Value in 2025

Thursday, April 10 | 8:30-10:00 AM

Waconia Chamber Office

201 S Vine St, Waconia

Join the Waconia Chamber and Deborah Everson to unlock your retail potential with '3-2-1 Success!' This interactive presentation will help you gain actionable insights and practical strategies you can implement right away. FREE! RSVP requested - Open to all chamber members!

Timeline:

8:30 Networking

8:45 Presentation begins

9:15 Q&A

9:25 Retail Committee Meeting

10:00 Adjourn

Rolling Hearth Pizza & J. Carver Cocktail Event

Friday, April 11 | 5:00PM or 7:00 PM

J. Carver Distillery

1320 Mill Ln, Waconia



You and your friends are invited to join us and experience a unique blend of artisanal flair with our J. Carver Cocktail and Gourmet Pizza Pairing Event on April 11 with seating times at 5pm or 7pm.

For $60 plus taxes and fees, indulge in: A handcrafted J. Carver cocktail to welcome you, a gourmet artisan pizza by Rolling Hearth Bistro, a 750 ml bottle of your choice: J. Carver Vodka, J. Carver Gin, or J. Carver Straight Bourbon. Availability is limited to ensure an exclusive experience. Reserve your spot for either 5pm (doors at 4:45) or 7pm (doors open at 7pm).

4th Annual Waconia Easter Egg Hunt

Sunday, April 13 | 12:30-1:30 PM

Waconia City Square Park

S Spruce St, Waconia, MN



Join Nate Matousek State Farm and Trinity Lutheran Waconia for the fourth annual Easter Egg Hunt with 10,000 eggs! Treats, drinks, and Easter Bunny visits will begin at 12:30pm followed by the egg hunt at 1:00pm! Immediately after the egg hunt will be the raffle basket giveaway! There will be donations collected to support Waconia’s food shelf, Gather & Grow. All donations greatly appreciated. The food shelf is currently in need of diapers, especially sizes 4-6. 

Chamber After Hours

Tuesday, April 15 | 4-6:00PM

Location: Laketown Electric Corporation

8470 MN-5, Waconia



Hosted by: Laketown Electric Corporation & Waconia Living Magazine

Join us to network with local professionals at the Chamber After Hours hosted by Laketown Electric Corporation and Waconia Living Magazine. No registration needed—just stop by, connect, and enjoy!

Congrats to Waconia Living Magazine on six years of sharing Waconia stories!

Rising Star Dance Summer Classes BOGO 50% Off

BOGO 50% off Expires April 18

Rising Star Dance Academy

564 Cherry Drive, Waconia

Register for a 5-week summer dance or tumbling session class and get the second summer session dance or tumbling class 50% off. Enter BOGO in the comments section during registration.

Waconia Shop Hop

Saturday, April 19 | 9AM-4PM

All around Waconia

Eggstra-special deals all over town featuring a grown up egg hunt! Participating businesses will have plastic eggs filled with deals. Hop from shop to shop and enjoy a day of fun & shopping in Waconia. 

Vandy's Grille Easter Brunch

Sunday, April 20 | 10:00AM-2:00PM

Vandy's Grille

7795 Laketown Pkwy, Waconia



Get ready for an exciting Easter Brunch experience! We'll be serving up delicious traditional favorites along with some elevated options that you won’t want to miss. Stay tuned for more details! Adults: $32, Kids ages 3-10: $12. Call today to reserve your seat!: 952-856-1672

Molly's Easter Brunch

Sunday, April 20 | 9:00AM-3:00PM

Molly's

8516 Kennedy Memorial Dr, St. Boni



Easter Brunch is more than a meal- it's a moment. A table full of color, care and culinary joy. This year's menu is a celebration of spring's return and the beginning of a new chapter as we proudly reintroduce ourselves as Molly's. Our menu is rooted in seasonality and reimagined with heart. Crafted with Intention. Served with Soul. Join us for a brunch that blooms and help us toast the start of something beautiful at Molly's.

Reserve your seat, bring your people and let's eat something extraordinary together. Call to make reservations: 952-446-1600

Waconia Lions Wild Game Dinner

Sunday, April 26 | 4-8:00PM

Carver County Fairgrounds



For over 40 years, the Waconia Lions Club has hosted the Wild Game Feed—one of their largest and most beloved fundraising events of the year! With over $15,000 in prizes and a mouthwatering menu of wild game appetizers (think smoked elk, walleye fingers, buffalo meatballs & more), it’s a can't-miss event that supports great causes. Tickets available online, at Mackenthun's Fine Foods, or call 612-396-8709 or 612-396-1358.

Downtown Waconia Reconstruction - Phase 3

The Waconia Downtown Reconstruction Project will improve the streets, utilities, pedestrian facilities, and drainage of the downtown area. The project will be constructed in four parts with phase 3 happening in 2025.

Phase 3 – two blocks of 1st St., one block of Olive St., and one and a half blocks of 2nd St.

Click below for a map of the project area and more details.

Now Hiring

BCS Hiring Clerical Support Assistant

BCS Is seeking a Clerical Support Assistant to join the HIM staff full time, Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm. The position works directly with the HIM team accessing remote EMRs extracting needed clinical and non clinical data in support of the professional billing processes. Entry level - earnings $16.25-$20.03/hr depending upon experience.

Waconia Comfort Hiring

Residential HVAC Service Tech - Level 3

To provide maintenance and repairs on a wide variety of residential and commercial heating and air conditioning systems according to company standards providing the customer with a high-quality experience. Assist with training Service Technicians Entry Level – Level 2.

Post your jobs on DestinationWaconia.org

and the Waconia Works Facebook Page.

21st Annual Sister Saturday

Saturday, May 10 | 9AM-4PM

All over Waconia

Specials all over town at shops, bars, and restaurants! Plan your ladies’ shopping and dining day in May with all-day deals & steals at over 30 participating Waconia businesses.

9:00AM Strolling Swag Bag Giveaway - 50 at each location!

Frattallone's Hardware & Garden or Ruthie's House Vintage

*NEW!* We’re shaking things up this year with an interactive twist on the Sister Saturday Swag Bags! Pick up a bag and stroll from shop to shop to collect goodies from participating businesses.

*See website for Strolling Swag Bag details!

There's still time to participate! Register today by clicking the link below.

Questions? Email Chelsey at ckoubsky@destinationwaconia.org.

Waconia Events Calendar

Mark your calendars for these fun events happening in Waconia this year! For more events and details, visit DestinationWaconia.org.

If you have an upcoming event, add it to the Community Calendar. Click for instructions to add your event.

SAVE THE DATE!

19th Annual Waconia Open

Monday, July 14 | 11:00AM shotgun

Show off the Waconia Community!

Send us your best photos

We’re looking for stunning spring and summer photos of Waconia! Whether it’s a beautiful sunset over the lake, northern lights, vibrant flowers downtown, or your favorite local spot, we’d love to see it. Share your best hi-rez shots to be featured on DestinationWaconia.org, social media, and event marketing. Send photos to ckoubsky@destinationwaconia.org.

Chamber Luncheon

- April Luncheon -

Social Media Storytelling for Your Business

Thursday, April 24 | 11:30AM-1:00PM

Faith Lutheran Church

800 Waconia Pkwy N

Guest speaker: Jon Schmidt

Join us for an insightful luncheon on mastering the art of storytelling in social media! Learn how to create compelling content, connect with your audience, and elevate your brand’s online presence. Perfect for business owners, marketers, and entrepreneurs looking to stand out in the digital world.

Deadline to register: Monday, April 21

Know of a business leader that could benefit from this luncheon? Invite them to lunch with you. They're lunch is complimentary and your next luncheon will be free! Email to ckoubsky@destinationwaconia.org to register.

Chamber Calendar - April 2024

APRIL 8 Tourism Committee Meeting w/UofM Extension Speaker, 9-10:00AM @J.Carver Distillery

APRIL 10 Retail Meeting w/speaker Deborah Everson, 8:30-10AM @Chamber Office

APRIL 15 Business After Hours, 4-6:00PM @Laketown Electric Corp

APRIL 17 Ambassadors, 8:45AM @Chamber Office

APRIL 19 Shop Hop, 9AM-4PM, @All over Waconia

APRIL 24 Chamber Luncheon, 11:30AM-1:00PM @Faith Lutheran

STAY CONNECTED

@DestinationWaconia