Spirit Lake to honor military

SPIRIT LAKE – An “Armed Forces Day Celebration” is set for 12:30 to 5 p.m. May 15 at Spirit Lake City Park.

It will include a Color Guard, music, a beer garden, food vendors, corn hole tournament, dancing, auctions, veteran booths and a 2.2-mile “Buddy Watch Walk.”

Proceeds will go toward sending care packages to active military and supporting veterans.

Registration is under way for the inaugural Spirit Lake Cardboard Boat Regatta, a kayak bass fishing tournament, a chili contest, craft fair and other events set for May 20-23.

Entrants in the May 22 cardboard boat regatta will compete for bragging rights and trophy plaques in several categories including the Torpedo Award for fastest cardboard boat on the course, Spirit Award, the “Friggin’ Awesome Award” for best design and the Titanic Award for the most spectacular sinking.

“All you need is a captain, crew and a hand-built cardboard boat,” said Marc Kroetch, owner of Fresh Air E Bikes and an event sponsor.

Entrants will attempt to complete a course set up on Spirit Lake’s Mill Pond and cross the finish line without first sinking.

The event offers two classes – Limited and Unlimited – and three categories including Corporate business sponsored teams, Youth and Adult (ages 16 and up).

Proceeds from the event, sponsored by the Spirit Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and area businesses, will benefit The Empire Trails and Spirit Lake Parks and Recreation.

Contestants must check in with their cardboard creations at 9 a.m. May 22 at Fireside Park. The boats will be displayed and spectators will have a chance to vote for their favorite boat up until racing begins at noon.

Yak-Bassin Pacific Northwest’s Spirit of America Tournament runs from May 20-23. Anglers will fish for bass from kayaks for the chance of winning a $5,000 first-place payout and smaller daily prizes. The event begins with a captain’s meeting on May 20, elimination rounds on Lake Pend Oreille and Lake Coeur d’Alene on May 21-22 and the final competition on Spirit Lake on May 23.

Preregistration is required for both events.

Info: www.spiritlakechamber.com/events.html.

The Spirit Event Committee is sponsoring a chili contest at 11 a.m. on May 22 and a craft fair at the town’s Little Park on Maine Street that same day.

To sign up for the chili contest or to register as a vendor at the craft fair email spiriteventcommittee@outlook.com.