Summer is the perfect time to experience a plethora of events and festivals in the Willmar Lakes Area. There’s something for every age with a Kid’s Night during the Spicer 4th of July Celebration to a Melvin’s Throwback event complete with the party band Boogie Wonderland. We also have a motorcycle & car show, a fishing tournament, a horse show, a quilt auction, a variety of live music and theatre productions, and much more! Below we’ve highlighted some of the larger events this month. You can always check our Events Calendar to see the full schedule as we will continue to add events throughout the month.

July 4-7 – Spicer’s 4th of July Celebration
Spicer’s fourth of July celebration is “One of the Best in the Area.” There are activities for all ages, for multiple days. Besides an arts and crafts fair with an amusing flea market, everyone will be enjoying a basketball tournament, kiddie parade, kids pedal pull, a competitive 12-mile running race and, of course, all the water fun you could ask for! The street dance near Pirrotta Park features Mason Dixon Line and is family friendly. On the fourth, the Grand Day parade, including over 100 participants with lots of entertainment and candy starts at 10am! And don’t miss the amazing fireworks display that lights up the sky over Spicer.

July 13 – Rusty Eyeball Car & Motorcycle Show
Come to the 17th Annual Rusty Eyeball Motorcycle and Car Show! For the first time Rusty Eyeball will now have award classes for both Rusty and Shiny vehicles with one-of-a-kind trophies! A fun event for the whole family with rockin’ music, a swap meet, and vendors!

July 14 – West Central Bassmasters Green Lake Summer Classic Bass Tournament
The Annual Green Lake Summer Classic will be held at Zorbaz on Green Lake. This year’s Green Lake Summer Classic promises to be even bigger and better! They have some awesome sponsors and some big things in store! Come on out for some great food, beer, fishing and competition! Entry forms are rolling in quickly already. Don’t miss out, send your entry form in today!

July 14, 21, 28 – Spicer’s Music in the Park
Bring your chair, blanket, family & friends and enjoy two hours of outdoor music entertainment at Spicer’s beautiful Pirrotta Park located on the shores of Green Lake. Food is available for purchase during events. A great way to spend a Sunday!

July 16-20 – New London Water Days
Join the family fun during the New London Water Days! Events include a medallion hunt, tennis tournament, hog roast, grand day parade, street dance, BINGO, kid’s fishing tournament, bean bag tournament, fire works and much more!

July 16, 23 & 30 – Rockin’ Robbins
Rockin’ Robbins is a free outdoor concert series presented by the Willmar Rotary Club. It takes place Tuesday evenings at Robbins Island Regional Park starting July 16th, 2024 and running through August 6th. The event includes free kids activities, food trucks and vendors, a beer and wine tent, local craft market, and a free shuttle from four convenient park and ride locations. Pack a lawn chair and join us for the opening act at 5pm out at Robbins Island in Willmar!

July 17 – The Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra Presents Stage & Screen
The Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra will present Stage and Screen, under the direction of Paula Ulicsni Halvorson, at the Willmar Education and Arts Center. This family pops concert will feature music from movies and musicals including Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars, Frozen, Encanto and more. Kids are encouraged to dress as their favorite movie/stage character, walk the stage, and enter to win a movie clap board and candy. So bring the whole family to this entertaining night of music!

July 17-19, 21-26 – NL-S Performing Arts Center Presents Dracula
The comedy thriller “Dracula” directed by Tom Orth is one of the most exciting and entertaining rollercoaster rides ever written. And it is all possible because of the invention of the airplane, which allowed Count Dracula to carry enough dirt from his birth place in Transylvania to sleep in during the day. The comic aspects of Dracula’s arrival in England where he lives near an asylum for lunatics will be richly painted as his wild, fun-loving sidekick Renfield pretends to be one of the inmates. Don’t miss this hilarious production! Get your tickets today!

July 20 – Glacial Ridge Appaloosa Club Open Horse Show & Clinic
Come and check out the amazing talent we have in our area at the Glacial Ridge Appaloosa Club Open Horse Show and Horsemanship Clinic. The event will take place at the large outdoor arena at the Kandiyohi County Fairgrounds. Fun for everyone!

July 25-27 – Clown Bar: Episode 2
Little Theatre Auditorium is thrilled to bring you CLOWN BAR 2 written by Adam Szymkowics, directed by Matt Hegdahl and music direction by Andrea Limoges. Don’t miss a very special appearance by the playwright himself all the way from NYC, Adam Szymkowicz!! In this follow up to Szymkowicz’s long-running comedy hit, the clowns return to the scene of the crime. A year has gone by since the events of Clown Bar, and Happy, the new clown crime boss, is missing. Foul play is suspected, so two cops from the “beige life” are enlisted to go deep undercover and solve the mystery. Enjoy special Clown Bar cocktail/mocktails and ridiculous preshow performances by the Clown Bar Band!

July 26-27 – 40th Annual Green Lake Lutheran Ministries Quilt Auction
Each year, hundreds of folks make the trip to Spicer to attend the Green Lake Lutheran Ministries Quilt Auction. Under a tent by Green Lake, bidders try to win one of the beautiful handmade quilts of all colors, stitchings, and sizes, donated from all over the world. A crowd of camp counselors show off the quilts, jumping up and down and singing joyfully. The air is filled with the scent of fresh doughnuts and pulled pork lunch. Tens of thousands of dollars are raised in an afternoon, supporting the ministry of GLLM. This event has created memories for so many staff alumni, camper families, neighbors, and donors over the years. Come and join the fun!

July 27 – Melvin’s Throwback
Join us for this fun concert on the beach featuring live music from Boogie Wonderland! Get your tickets now – this event is sure to sell out and seating will be limited!

And continuing throughout the month of July (and most of the summer) is Willmar Stingers Home Games, Little Show on the Crow, KRA Speedway Racing Nights, The Land Summer Music Series, Little Crow Ski Show and public cruises on Green Lake Cruises!

For the most udpated listing of events, please see our Events Calendar.

Plan a summer getaway to the Willmar Lakes Area around one of these events and festivals this month. Pack your bag and get ready for a weekend of fun!