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Moose Lake Agate Days

There are so many community celebrations that it would be impossible to list all of them. We live in a state where community picnics, fireworks and parades are relatively common. Agate Days in Moose Lake is among my favorites, so I will focus on that one here. However, you should consider this more of a recommendation to find and participate in the small-town events near you.

The community of Moose Lake is built along the shore of Moosehead Lake. The town includes a campground, a picnic area, a swimming beach and a beautiful city park. Agate Days, held annually during the middle of July, is a celebration of those beautiful rocks and the people who collect them.

Live music and great food are always a part of Agate Days. You’ll also find Art in the Park amidst the excitement. Plus, the high school next to the park hosts a two-day gem and mineral show that attracts vendors from all over the country.

Of course, every year, the main event is the agate stampede. Adults line Main Street; for children it’s the parking lot by the library. Two dump trucks take their positions at the end of each area; as participants lean against yellow flags, eagerly awaiting the event’s start. The dump trucks raise their beds, and the fun begins! The trucks move forward, the gates open, and rocks begin to fall—covering the street with three inches of gravel salted with more than 150 pounds of agates and a hundred dollars in quarters. The cannon goes off and the prospectors are underway. This is the ultimate treasure hunt! Most people win, and those who participate with the right mindset always go home happy.

To set the record straight, agates do not originate in Moose Lake. In fact, you would not find them there if not for the large chunk of continental glacier that moved through the area centuries ago. It left a gravel dump of Lake Superior rocks with an extraordinary amount of agates mixed in. But that doesn’t matter to the fine folks of Moose Lake; they just see it as a good excuse to celebrate.

Bonding and bridging:

Most towns that host celebrations such as Agate Days have carried on the tradition for years. It’s an annual reminder of what makes that town special. It’s a chance for people to take pride in where they live.

Use this opportunity to have some fun, but remember to share with your grandchild the history behind the event. Help him to be proud of his community. After all, it’s part of what makes him who he is; it gives him roots. Most importantly, liking the town he comes from is a key aspect to liking himself as he gets older.

A word to the wise:

Moose Lake State Park offers a nice picnic area and swimming beach, but what really makes this place special is the Agate Museum (now part of the park headquarters). Beautifully polished agates, a great timeline of geologic ages and other wonderful geology information will add to your weekend’s experiences.

Age of grandchild: 5 and up

Best season: Summer

Contact: Moose Lake Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 110, Moose Lake, MN 55767 • (218) 485-4145 • mooselakechamber@gmail.com • www.mooselakechamber.com/agate-days-and-art-in-the-park.php

Also check out:

Hill Annex Mine State Park, Bigfork; (218) 247-7215 or (218) 743-3362; scenic.statepark@state.mn.us; www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/hill_annex_mine/index.html

Lilydale Regional Park, St. Paul Parks and Recreation, St. Paul; (651) 632-5111; www.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/lilydale_park.htm

Moose Lake State Park Agate Center, Moose Lake; (218) 460-7001; mooselake.statepark@state.mn.us, www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/moose_lake/index.html

A grandmother is a babysitter who watches the kids instead of the television. UNKNOWN