Sun smiles on Leprechaun Days
Weather didn’t provide too many obstacles during 10-day festival
Rosemount Leprechaun Days mascot Nick Kressman brought his son, Landon, to the parade. More photos are inside this edition and online at SunThisweek.com along with a video from the festival. Photo by Rick Orndorf
Rosemount Leprechaun Days events turned up the heat in the city over its 10-day run, but it was the not-so-sweltering weather on the tail end that pleased crowds.
With temperatures in the high 80s Friday and Saturday, the Grand Parade and Mid-Summer Faire carnival, food, music and fireworks were a much more tolerable experience in comparison to past years.
After the parade, the carnival area attracted lots of people to the rides, which are typically sparsely used in the afternoon heat.
“The weather this past weekend couldn’t have been more perfect,” said Laura Briggs, president of the Rosemount Leprechaun Days Committee.
She said it seemed that the number of people who came out to Central Park on Friday and Saturday night was less than in past years.
She speculated that it may have had something to do with the start of the 2012 Olympics in London, which began July 27, or the fact that people could have visited during the day.
Feedback on events was encouraging.
“I always get positive feedback from the parade goers,” Briggs said. “And of course the fireworks – I think that’s a highlight for everyone.”
The opening weekend’s Bluegrass Americana Festival drew probably its largest crowds ever for the Square Dance on July 20 and the Bluegrass Festival on July 21.
For the latter, the hill in front of the amphitheater was well populated by folks.
“From where I stood, I’m thrilled,” said Craig Evans, a Rosemount resident and lead organizer of the music for the festival. “We’ve experienced the most growth over the past three years. … People now have an understanding of what the event is about. And clearly, they’re not keeping it to themselves, they’re now bringing their friends.”
Briggs said there is both relief that events went well and sadness that the festival is all over.
“It was fun but it seems to all be over in a blink of an eye,” she said. “I’d just like to thank everyone for coming out and enjoying all that Leprechaun Days has to offer.”
Aside from the signature events, people also participated in a range of other activities.
Other events
The 26th annual Run for the Gold on Saturday, July 21, attracted 306 people despite a torrential rainfall.
The top male finisher in the 4-mile run was Shane McCallum, 18, of Rosemount with a time of 20 minutes, 49 seconds. The top female finisher was Kennedy Rude, 16, of Langdon, N.D. with a time of 26:55.
The top male finisher in the 1-mile event was Jason Mansur, 25, of Apple Valley with a time of 5:00. The top female finisher was Alicia Traut, 23, of Apple Valley with a time of 6:01.
Approximately 530 youths ages 12 and under participated in the Blarney Stone Hunt on Tuesday, July 24.
Wet ’n’ Wild Day at Jaycee Park played host to 401 participants for some good, clean fun.
The Youth Fishing Derby had 117 participants ages 13 and under.
Winners were:
Sophie Eriken-Schultz, 6, (6 and under girls) 10-1/4 inches.
Cadyn Shade, 4, (6 and under boys) 10 inches.
Cecelia Tentis, 7, (7-9 girls) 9 inches.
Trevor Ersfeld, 8, (7-9 boys) 8-1/4 inches.
Hailey Wimberly, 11, (10-13 girls) 8 inches.
Luke Lindemann, 13, (10-13 boys) 10 5/8 inches.
In another interesting number, it’s estimated that 6,000 views were made of clues for the Leprechaun’s Lost Medallion Hunt at Sun Thisweek’s website. That doesn’t include the number of folks who went to Sterling State Bank’s front door for the clues to lead them to the bank’s $500 prize, which went to Ty, 7, and Aubrey, 5, Hansen of Rosemount.
Winners in the Rosemount Area Arts Council’s Photo Contest were:
Give Us Your Best Shot – 1st: Serene by Susan Thomas; 2nd: Reflection by Tracy Caffery; 3rd: Swans At Sunrise by Derek Dravis; honorable mentions: Badlands At Dusk by Joe Webber, To A Fallen Brother by Keith Reed, White Door in Kastellet, Copenhagen Denmark by Julie Wilhelmsen
Nature – 1st: Drops of Gold by Janet Wachter; 2nd: Mornings First Light by Todd Swanson; 3rd: Weeping Willow that Weeps No More by Bill Kuhn; and honorable mentions: Wings of Harmony by Amy Burckhard, Honorable Mention: Red-Bellied Woodpecker by Angie Sabo, Winter Frost by Janet Wachter
Lifestyle – 1st: Mama’s Boy by Tracy Caffery; 2nd: Someday by Tiffany Taylor; 3rd: When Irish Eyes are Smiling by Kari Mitchell; and honorable mentions: You Betcha by Richard Dornfeld, Wonderment by Susan Thomas
Youth 17 and Under – 1st: Swing Action by Ashley Swearingen; 2nd: Carpe Diem by Nakita Kirchner; 3rd: Minne-SNOW-ta by Journey Kunesh; and honorable mentions: Backyard Wildlife by Khloe Schmitz, In My Backyard by Khloe Schmitz
Significant Software Modifications – 1st: St Joseph’s Church by Pat Clements; 2nd: Rosemount Train Tracks by Julie Wilhelmsen; 3rd: Red Sky At Night by Tom French and honorable mention: Eli Gives Thanks by Cheri M
