Water Ski Days

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Sports & AdventureLake City
DatesDates TBA · Usually JuneCheck locally before booking
Duration4 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCompetition, enduranceWater Ski Days is built around the town's
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategorySports & AdventureFestival type
The story

Water Ski Days in Lake City

Water Ski Days is Lake City, Minnesota's late-June festival honoring Ralph Samuelson, the local teenager who invented water skiing on Lake Pepin in 1922. Organized by the Lake City Chamber of Commerce, the four-day event mixes water-ski shows and competitions with a grand parade, an arts and crafts fair, lakeside concerts, and a classic car show.

Water Ski Days traces its identity to a single afternoon on Lake Pepin in 1922, when a local teenager named Ralph Samuelson strapped on a homemade pair of skis, took hold of a tow rope behind a boat, and after repeated failed attempts figured out that keeping the ski tips above the water surface let him rise up and glide across it.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Water Ski Days is built around the town's claim to a genuine sports origin story: Ralph Samuelson's first successful runs on a homemade pair of skis behind a boat on Lake Pepin in 1922, credited as the birth of water skiing as a sport

02

The mystery stays covered

The festival keeps that history active, staging water-ski shows and jump competitions on the same lake where Samuelson skied, including a freestyle jump competition named directly for him

03

The city starts moving

Beyond the water, the event runs one of the larger small-town parades in Minnesota, a hundred-plus-vendor arts and crafts fair, lakeside concerts, and a free learn-to-water-ski clinic, giving newcomers a chance to try the sport the town invented

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival's central tradition is honoring Ralph Samuelson's 1922 invention of water skiing on Lake Pepin through live ski shows and a freestyle jump competition named after him

Water and renewal

Living ritual

alongside the annual Grand Parade and the Patton Park Arts and Crafts Fair

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually June

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Casual summer clothing suited to lakeside heat in late June: shorts, t-shirts, and comfortable shoes for walking the parade route and craft fair. Bring a swimsuit and towel if planning to...

Safety

Follow route barriers, respect participant space and prepare for roads or transport to change.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of Lake City you will actually use, or choose a transport base with an easy return after peak hours.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map40.38 N, 111.80 WOpen in Google Maps

Lake City, MN

Nearest airportSLC — Salt Lake City
TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaStay near the part of Lake City you will actually use, or choose a transport base with an easy return after peak hours.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Lake City via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Lake City, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for June.Compare faresFestival gearCasual summer clothing suited to lakeside heat in late June: shorts, t-shirts, and comfortable shoes for walking the parade route and craft fair. Bring a swimsuit and towel if planning to watch the ski shows from the beach or take part in the free ski clinic, plus a light jacket for cooler evenings at the lakeside concerts.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Water Ski Days?

Water Ski Days is listed for Past edition: 25–28 June 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Water Ski Days take place?

The festival is listed in Lake City, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

4 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Lake City, MN

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLlakecitygraphic.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually June
Source statusOfficial source linked
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