The best thing about summer in a small town is the traditional gatherings. Here in Annandale the Fourth of July is celebrated over five days with a carnival, parade and great music. It’s the same in Cook County.
Only in Grand Marais the traditional gathering is the Fisherman’s Picnic. This is also celebrated over several days the first full weekend in August. I am so lucky to have these gatherings to attend each year. It’s as if I have been invited to two great parties without an actual invitation!
When I was a kid, nothing beat the Fisherman’s Picnic. It was an excellent opportunity to see all my school friends. I couldn’t see them for the rest of the summer because we lived 36 miles out of town. (Trust me, that distance killed a lot of classroom romances over the long summer break.)
It was also a chance to spend some of that summer babysitting money on rides, sidewalk sales and of course, food! The Fisherman’s Picnic is famous for its herring fish sandwich. I prefer a slice of Sven and Ole’s pizza when I go with my family.
The best thing about the Fisherman’s Picnic is that all the Cook County High class reunions are scheduled for this weekend. It doesn’t matter what year you graduated; your class reunion will always be the first weekend in August. No excuses, you know when to come, and the paper tells you where to go.
As class vice president, I have planned a few of these gatherings. They are so much fun. The best part is every class makes a float for the parade on Sunday, and there is a competition. Five years ago, our class won when we decorated a boat as our float. Our next reunion will be 2022. Forty years, can you believe it?
I cannot possibly be that old!
I enjoy these two summer gatherings so much. It’s good to keep family traditions that our kids can value as well.
“My goal in life is to have someone quote me.”
~ Bob Guck (Consider it done Bob)
“Something I’ve noticed about Mr. Bean.
He’s actually a genius when he wants to be.”
~ Bob Guck
Taste of Home columnist Sandy (Anderson) Holthaus lives on a farm in South Haven, MN with her husband, Michael, and their children Zoe, Jack and Ben. Her heart remains on the North Shore where she grew up with her parents, Art and LaVonne Anderson of Schroeder. She enjoys writing about her childhood and mixes memories with delicious helpings of home-style recipes. You can email her your thoughts and messages at sandyholthaus1010@gmail.com. She would love to hear from you.
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