PSA
5 / 18 / 26 A

BLOOD DRIVES:
Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit RedCrossBlood.org to schedule a donation time or to find a drive near you.
Donate BY MAY 17th and you’ll receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card by email from the Red Cross partners at Amazon.

Tues.  5/26         11:00-5:00          Madden’s on Gull Lake in Brainerd
Tues.  5/26         12:00-6:00          American Legion in Milaca
Wed.   5/27         9:00-3:00            Central Lakes College in Brainerd
Fri.     5/29         10:00-4:00          Faith Lutheran Church in Staples
Wed.   6/3           10:00-4:00          St. Joseph’s Church in Crosby
Fri.     6/12         10:00-4:00          Westgate Mall in Baxter
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Good Samaritan Hospice invites you to join them for a special ceremony to honor and remember the special people in our lives who have passed -  by releasing live butterflies during their Hope Takes Flight Butterfly Release Memorial event on Thurs. June 18th.  The DEADLINE to order butterflies for the event is MONDAY, JUNE 1st!  The ceremony will include special music, words of encouragement, readings of names of loved ones who have passed and light refreshments.  The gathering will take place from 5:30-7:00 at Lutheran Church of the Cross on Co. Rd. 13 in Nisswa.  If you have questions or would like to purchase a butterfly for the event, call Good Samaritan Hospice (at 218-963-9452).

5/18 – 5/24
The Pine River Market Square will be open for Farmer’s Market-style shopping starting on Fri. May 22nd (and then every Friday through Sept.) from 1:30-5:30 on Hwy 371 by the Pine River Depot.  The market will feature a variety of vendors with local goods like fresh produce, starter plants, baked goods, eggs, honey, crafts and more. Also on the opening day, the Pine River Garden Club will have their plant sale where the members will offer many perennials grown in their own gardens (well-suited for this area), and music will be provided this day as well.  New Vendors are welcome, too! More can be found at PRMarketSquare.wordpress.com or visiting the event page on Facebook.  SNAP/EBT are accepted.

CLC Performing Arts presents a special Memorial Day weekend presentation by The Fabulous Armadillos, “What’s Going On?  Songs from the Vietnam Era” on Fri. May 22nd at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd.  This special performance will start at 7:00pm and tickets range from $38-$44.  Order them online at CLCPerformingArts.com or by calling 855-8199.

What if ONE STORY could turn into a moment your child never forgets?  On Sat. May 23rd, The Center in Brainerd welcomes local author David Vance Potts who will bring a magical, interactive story experience to life from 11:00-1:00.  For just the $15 purchase of the book “Who Put Butter on a Plate” at the door, your whole family will get into the event and the author will sign your book!  (Learn more about the book at www.Buttersprocket.com).  Your book is your family’s ticket to the experience!  For more information, contact The Center.

The Pequot Lakes American Legion is having a special Memorial Day Weekend Meat Raffle on Sat. May 23rd starting at 5:00.  They will be raffling off $30, $50 and $100 meat packages – and that’s not all!  They will also raffle off HALF a PIG and a QUARTER of a COW!  And tickets are only $1!!!  Yep, ONE BUCK!  While there, enjoy some great food from their menu – at such great prices, you’ll be able to buy more raffle tickets!  All the proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Pequot Lakes Fire District and Veterans.  See you at the Pequot Lakes American Legion on May 23rd starting at 5:00!

SEE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE FOR ALL

MEMORIAL DAY

CELEBRATIONS and OBSERVATIONS

5/25 – 5/31
Honor, Remember, Celebrate during the Memorial Day Picnic hosted by the Brainerd Elks, Legion and VFW on Mon. May 25th.  From 11:00-1:00, all veterans and their families can enjoy a free picnic lunch that will be served at the Brainerd American Legion on Front Street in Brainerd.  A thank you to all who served in honor of our heroes – as we are grateful for our freedoms.  All are welcome.

The Brainerd Lakes Chamber encourages you to attend Business After Hours on Tues. May 26th from 4:30-6:00, this time, at Merrifield’s newest business, Lakes Area R&R.  Grab your putter and head out for some great networking, tasty appetizers, refreshing beverages – and you may even take home a prize!  Register in advance if you plan on attending:  BrainerdLakesChamber.com.

District 5 Commissioner Jamie Lee will host two Town Hall meetings which will feature presentations on budgets and property taxes and offer time for questions and answers.  The Town Hall Meetings will be on Tues. May 26th at 6:30 at Emily City Hall and on Thurs. May 28th at 6:30 in the Forum Room at Crosby-Ironton High School. 

The Brainerd Elks Shoot, Sat. May 30th at Don Adamson Field from 9:00-1:00.  Brainerd Elks Lodge 615 will partner with Brainerd Warrior Soccer program to show off the skills of youth soccer from ages 5-15.  The U9 portion of the event will run from 10:00-12:00 and the 10-15 age group will compete from 12:00-2:00.  It’s designed to give youth athletes a fun, positive environment to build confidence, show off their skills and be part of a community event.  To register, visit Facebook and search The Elks Soccer Shoot Brainerd.

Join the Babinski Foundation in Pequot Lakes on Sat. May 30th for their February Community Dog Walk taking place from 9:00-12:30.  This is your chance to spend some quality time, outdoors with a shelter dog.  Get the shelter dogs -and yourself – out for some fresh air and exercise… everyone is welcome.  You don’t need to bring a thing!  Please sign up for a session (always the last Saturday of the month), at EventBrite.com or find the link through the event page on Facebook.

Essentia Health will host a FREE Heart Failure Symposium at the Nisswa Community Center on Sat. May 30th from 10:00-2:00, sponsored by the Heltne Foundation.  It’s estimated that more than 6-million adults in the U.S. are living with heart failure, according to the CDC, and that number is expected to jump to more than 8-million by 2030, therefore Essentia is hosting this symposium for patients with heart failure and their families and friends.  RSVP by calling 828-7580 or online at EssentiaHealth.org and clicking on Events.

The Brainerd Lakes Area Women of Today is teaming up with the St. Mathias Bar & Grill in Fort Ripley for a Raffle Event in support of BPSF.  Stop by the St. Mathias Bar & Grill on Sun. May 31st between 3:00-7:00 for a Meat Raffle, Electronic Races and a Wine/Booze Pull.  The proceeds from the event and raffles will help build a sustainable scholarship through Brainerd Public Schools Foundation, which will benefit students for years to come. More at BrainerdLakesAreaWomenOfToday.com.

6/1 – 6/7
Good Samaritan Hospice invites you to join them for a special ceremony to honor and remember the special people in our lives who have passed -  by releasing live butterflies during their Hope Takes Flight Butterfly Release Memorial event on Thurs. June 18th.  The DEADLINE to order butterflies for the event is MONDAY, JUNE 1st!  The ceremony will include special music, words of encouragement, readings of names of loved ones who have passed and light refreshments.  The gathering will take place from 5:30-7:00 at Lutheran Church of the Cross on Co. Rd. 13 in Nisswa.  If you have questions or would like to purchase a butterfly for the event, call Good Samaritan Hospice (at 218-963-9452).

The Brainerd Lakes Area Women of Today invite you to Cocktails for a Cause on Tues. June 2nd at 5Rocks Distilling Co. in Brainerd from 6:00-8:00pm.  While you are there enjoying music, learning about how to Flock Your Friends this summer, and maybe winning prizes, $5 from each cocktail or mocktail you order will be donated to the Brainerd Lakes Area Women of Today so they can continue their good works for others here in the community!  Book your flocking while you’re there and enjoy music from Ahni Perez Krueger!  They hope you will be there!

Starting Wed. June 3rd, don’t miss Nisswa’s beloved Turtle Races in downtown Nisswa every Wednesday next to the Chamber office starting at 2:00.  Registration will start at 1:00 in the parking lot next to the chamber – the cost to race a turtle is just $5 and includes an official 2026 racing button.  (DO NOT BRING A TURTLE – state regulations say racers must use turtles provided at site).  (through Aug. 12th)  Hope to see you there!  Learn more at Nisswa.com.

Jack Pine Brewery in Baxter will host Pints for Purpose on Wed. June 3rd.  Stop by that evening between 5:00-7:00pm when $1 from each pint sold will be donated to an area non-profit.  On this day, the money raised will be donated to Bridges of Hope.  Rosalini’s Pizza will also be available for purchase with a portion of those sales also going to Bridges.  Hope to see you there!

The Lakes Area United Way reminds you there will be another Mobile Food Pantry at the CLC Brainerd Campus on Thurs. June 4th from 10:00-11:00 or until the food is gone.  The distribution will be in the West Parking Lot and will be provided by Second Harvest Northland.  There is no cost and no proof of income required.

Friends of Gregory Park invite everyone to Concerts in the Park every-other Thursday this summer from 6:00-8:00pm at Gregory Park in Brainerd. The concerts are free to attend and open to the public.  Just bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating! The first concert will be on Thurs. June 4th - enjoy the music of Bruce Archer!  See the full line-up of performers on Concerts in the Park Facebook page.

Central Lakes College Performing Arts Center presents Brainerd Meets Broadway, a fundraiser for CLC Performing Arts, on Thurs. June 4th at 7:00 in the Chalberg Theater.  Come enjoy some of Broadway’s biggest hits, performed by Brainerd’s finest local talent.  Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online at CLCPerformingArts.com or by calling the box office at 218-855-8199.

Brainerd Public Schools ECFE PTO will host a 2-Day Garage Sale on Fri. & Sat. June 5 & 6 at the Warrior Early Learning Center on Fairview Road in Baxter.  The Sale will be held on Friday from 3:00-7:00 with a $2 admission fee and on Saturday from 8:00-12:00 with NO admission fee.  Guests will find kids toys, books, kids clothing, maternity clothing and more!  All proceeds will go to support Brainerd Early Childhood Programming.
 

The Crosslake Area Garden Club will hold its Annual Plant Sale on Sat. June 6th at the Crosslake Corp of Engineers Picnic Shelter (next to the dam) from 8:30-11:00am.  All plants are locally grown and dug from the club members’ gardens, which provide easy transition to your garden since they are already acclimated to our area.  They’ll have perennials, annuals, vegetables and flowers.  They’ll also have a “Market” that will have fun garden “accents” and yard art for gardens.  Dollars raised from the sale will be used to fund monthly educational presentations as well as for donations to horticulture-related non-profit organizations within a 40-mile radius of Crosslake.

The Community Effect encourages you to Take A Kid Fishing on Sat. June 6th in Crosby.  Join Boat Captain Nick Perpich at Crosby Park for the Take-a-Kid-Fishing & Summer Kick-off Party…bait and meals provided.  Learn more on Facebook.

The 3rd Annual Brainerd Everything Outdoor Youth Expo will be held on Sat. June 6th from 11:00-3:30 at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds in Brainerd.  BrainerdYouthExpo.com (more to come).

6/8 – 6/14
Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union in Brainerd will host a Tech Recycling Event with Fraud Fighters on Tues. June 9th from 8:00-11:00 in their parking lot on S. 6th Street.  Guests can safely recycle tech-related items that could have their personal information, like phones, computers, tablest and other personal devices.  The items collected will be donated to PCs for People for recycling.  (Items NOT accepted include TVs, monitors over 32”, smart boards, large printers or copiers).  The event is free and will be held rain or shine.

Brainerd Lakes Chamber invites you to attend Business After Hours on Tues. June 9th at Jim’s Electric in Baxter from 4:30-6:00.  As always, this event will provide guests with a great networking opportunity, along with great eats (this time, catered by Chef Mike), refreshing beverages (from Jack Pine Brewery), and prizes, too!  RSVP if you plan on attending so they can plan accordingly, too!  Visit BrainerdLakesChamber.com.

Join Lakes Area Justice Table and Brainerd Public Schools this summer for a 3-session journey inspired by the To Be Free book.  Sessions begin with a free meal at 5:00pm with lessons and activities from 5:30-7:00pm on Wed. June 10th, June 17th and June 24th.  To Be Free is co-authored and designed by Minnesota authors that explores identity, belonging, liberation, and the courage it takes to imagine a harmonious future.   It is designed for upper elementary to high school students – and beyond – who want a space to space to think deeply, speak honestly and build community with others. Instructor is Govinda Budrow.  Meals and books are free and the sessions will be held at Brainerd High School in the cafeteria.  Register by calling Community Ed at 218-454-6924 or online at CE.ISD181.org/home.

The 3rd Annual Clays for Camp (Camp Confidence) will be held Thurs. June 11th…..(more details to come)

The 53rd Annual Golf Classic (for Camp Confidence/Learning Ctr) June 12th ….. (Mariucci Fest)  (more details to come)

The Buckman Area Lions invite you to their Family Fun Day in the Park on Fri. June 12th from 5:00-8:00pm.  The fun will also include music by Levi Pelzer from 5:00-7:00.  This will be taking place at Family Memorial Park in Buckman.

The 25th Annual RMH (Ronald McDonald House) Ride will be held on Sat. June 13th in New York Mills.  All motorcycles are welcome.  Registration will be from 9:00-11:00 at the VFW on Hwy 10 in New York Mills and the ride leaves at 12:00 noon sharp, and returns to the VFW.  The event also includes food, raffles, live outdoor bands and 70 acres of camping.  The bands include The Hype on Fri. June 12 ($10) and Johnny Holm Band ($10) on Sat. June 13th.  Learn more and download your fun run passport online at RMDRide.com. (bring your pop tabs to donate, too!)

The Center in Brainerd invites the public to Quilt Bingo & Meat Raffle on Sat. June 14th starting at 1:00!  The cost is $12 per card for 16 games and each game will be played for the prize of a quilt.  Two coverall games will be played for PREMIUM quilts and a Meat Raffle will be held between games!  A light meal will also be served after bingo ends.  All are welcome – 803 Kingwood St.  – See you there!

Lakes Area MEMORIAL DAY Observances 2026
(as of 5/22/26
SUNDAY 5/24
Crosslake Lutheran Church will host a Community Observance of Memorial Day on Sun. May 24th.  A traditional Service will be held in the sanctuary at Crosslake Lutheran Church across from the Campground at 8:30am.  Then at 10:00, the “community-wide” Memorial Weekend Outdoor Observance will take place.  The celebration will be held on Daggett Pine Road, across from the Crosslake Community Center baseball field.  The outdoor celebration will include recognition of all veteran and military personnel in attendance, special music and guest speaker, Chaplain Major (RET) Eusebia D. Rios.  All are invited to be there to honor our troops, veterans and country.

A Memorial Day Service will be held in Longville at the Longville Fire Hall on Sun. May 24th at 9:30am.  The event is open to the public, presented by the Sherman A. Yocchum VFW Post 772.  They will have a keynote speaker and music by the Longville Community Choir.

The annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Camp Ripley in Little Falls will be held on Sun. May 24th.  Live music will start at 1:30 with the formal program and wreath-laying starting at 2:00.  The event will also include a rifle salute by the Memorial Rifle Squad.  Carpooling is encouraged.  Bring lawn chairs for seating.

Memorial Day, MONDAY 5/25
** The community is encouraged to attend the Memorial Day Ceremonies that will be taking place in Brainerd on Mon. May 25th.
9:00  A wreath will be thrown into the Mississippi River at the Laurel St. Bridge to honor those service members who were lost at sea.
9:30  A short ceremony will be held at the All-Veterans Memorial at 4th & Laurel St.
10:00 A parade will begin on 3rd Ave NE and head to Evergreen Cemetery at 1105 3rd Ave. NE
10:30 The Main Memorial Day Ceremony will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd featuring speakers, music and more.  (In case of rain, parade will be cancelled and the ceremony will be held at the Brainerd Armory on Wright St.)
More info can be found on Facebook or online at BrainerdVFW.org.
11:00 Free Lunch at the Brainerd American Legion for veterans and their families.  Donations accepted.  Others can purchase lunch.
3:00  TAPS Across America at the All Veterans Memorial, 4th & Laurel
 

The Lakers Lions Club invites the public to a Memorial Day Service that will be held on Mon. May 25th at the Pine Ridge Cemetery in Emily.  The service will start at 9:00.  All present and past members of the military and National Guard are encouraged to attend and wear their uniform – or any part of it – if possible.  Please bring your own chair for seating (if weather is bad, it will be inside Emily City Hall).

** The Pine River American Legion will host Memorial Day Services on Mon. May 25th at 9:30 at the Pine River Dam with Guest Speaker Alicia Hoefs.  Then at 10:15, they will host a traditional Rifle Salute at the Pine Ridge Cemetery.  There will also be an observance at 11:00 at Swanburg Cemetery.  All are welcome.

** The Pequot Lakes American Legion will host a Memorial Day ceremony on Mon. May 25th at the Pequot Lakes High School auditorium, and the public is invited.  The ceremony will start at 10:00, and will move to the Pequot Lakes Cemetery for Honors at 10:45.  Then, at 11:15, it will move to the All Veterans Memorial at Trailside Park in Pequot Lakes for Honors, and at 11:30, Quilts of Honor ceremony will take place at the Legion, followed by lunch at 12:00.

** The Backus American Legion’s Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at 10:00 on Mon. May 25th at the Evergreen Cemetery in Backus, with guest speaker Pastor Blair Ecker.  The program will then move to Ponto Lake Cemetery at 11:00 and finishes off with a 1:00 luncheon at the Backus American Legion Hall.

** A Memorial Day service will be held in Hackensack on Mon. May 25th a.  At 10:00, the Hackensack American Legion Family will march to the Cass County Killed In Action Memorial in City Park across from the post office, then proceed to the Boy River where a wreath will be placed in honor of Navy and Coast Guard veterans.  At 10:30, formal services will begin at Hillcrest Cemetery and include a roll call of deceased veterans from all conflicts.  Flags will be placed and names will be read. All are welcome.

The Nisswa American Legion will host its annual Memorial Day remembrance ceremony on Mon. May 25th starting at 12:00.  The public is invited to attend the ceremony which will include speeches, military tributes and a community sloppy joe & chip lunch.

The town of Remer will hold a Memorial Day Program at 2:00 on Mon. May 25th.  It will be held at the Fairview Cemetery and the VFW Post 772 will provide the military honors and honor guard.  All are welcome.