Photo · Thu, Oct 15This week
Detroit Lakes, this one's ours.
Our new water tower is in Tnemec's 2026 Tank of the Year competition. What is your “we're home” landmark?
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Detroit Lakes, this one's ours. 🌅
A sunset, a sailboat and trees. A little lake country in the skyline.
Our new water tower is in Tnemec's 2026 Tank of the Year competition. Public voting chooses the People's Choice winner, and voting closes tomorrow, Friday, October 16.
One vote per email address. Cast yours here:
tnemec.com/tank-of-the-year-2026/detroit…
What's your “we're home” landmark around Detroit Lakes?
People's Choice voting closes October 16, 2026; the exact closing hour was not verified.
Reel · Sat, Oct 10
Remember this place?
Built in 1915, the Pavilion held dances, weddings and concerts for generations. What memory would you pass on?
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A dance, a wedding, a concert: what brings the old Detroit Lakes Pavilion back for you?
Built in 1915, it became a gathering place for generations. The city’s August 26, 2026 project update outlines the next chapter, with a proposed June 2028 opening to events. Dates remain subject to change.
What’s one Pavilion memory you’d want the next generation to know? Tell us what happened and about what year in the comments.
Project information: cityofdetroitlakes.com/pavilion
Historic postcard (1917): LakesnWoods.com Postcard and Postcard Image Collection, lakesnwoods.com/DetroitLakesGallery.htm
Entrance photograph: Detroit Lakes Tribune file photo.
The Reel uses a Detroit Lakes Tribune file photo and a 1917 postcard, which stay on Facebook. The drawing here shows the entrance as it stood.
Reel · Sat, Sep 26
The legend gets a party.
Somewhere around Vergas there is supposedly a Hairyman, and once a year the whole town throws him a party.
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Somewhere in the woods around Vergas, there's supposedly a Hairyman. Today, the whole town throws him a party.
Hairyman Festival, Saturday, September 26:
9 AM: Free Hairyman yoga at the baseball field
Noon to 5 PM: Market, vendors and food trucks
1 to 5 PM: The Cropdusters, free live music
2:30 PM: Kids costume show
4:30 PM: Hairiest Person, Best Mullet and Mating Call contests
Plus a side-by-side trail ride, bean bag tournament, ninja obstacle course and more. Full program and updates: vergascommunityclub.com/2026-hairyman-fe…
Got a good Hairyman call? Drop it in the comments.
A dated festival plan for September 26, 2026.
Reel · Wed, Aug 19
City Beach stayed open during the West Lake Drive work
A dated access note: how to reach City Beach while part of West Lake Drive was closed, as shared August 19, 2026.
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Quick beach-day correction: Detroit Lakes City Beach remains open while part of West Lake Drive is under construction. Current City of Detroit Lakes and Becker County project guidance shows the Legion Road to Rossman Avenue stretch closed through late August. Project dates are tentative and can move with weather and construction. Beach access: use West Lake Drive from Rossman Avenue or Washington Avenue, or enter from Legion Road. The entire sand beach is open; some turf and work areas remain fenced. Parking: West Lake Drive from Rossman to Washington, nearby side streets, the Fairgrounds, Peoples Park, City Park, or the American Legion. One important closure: the Rossman boat access and launch is closed and fenced. Walking and biking remain available on the new multi-use trail and beach walk. Please stay outside fenced work areas. Check the live Closures and Access map before leaving: storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/17307f0… Source checked August 17, 2026: City of Detroit Lakes and Becker County West Lake Drive Phase 3 and City Beach Improvements project hub. #DetroitLakes #LakesCountry #CityBeach #LakesAreaConnect
The image here is an illustration made for this archive. The original Reel and its credited media are on Facebook. Details were current when this was shared on 2026-08-19.
Reel · Fri, Aug 14
Seven studios. One road trip.
The free Lakes Art Tour through Ottertail, Richville and Clitherall, with more than 20 artists.
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Seven studios. More than 20 artists. One free road trip. The Lakes Art Tour runs Friday and Saturday, August 14-15, from 10 AM to 5 PM across Ottertail, Richville, and Clitherall. Follow the blue signs between seven studio locations and meet local and regional artists working in pottery, painting, handmade paper, woodwork, jewelry, metal arts, and more. A portion of tour sales supports the Women's Domestic Violence Shelter of Otter Tail County. Save the route, pick two or three stops, and leave a little room in the car. Details can change. Recheck the official listings before you drive. Sources: Lake Region Arts Council Arts Calendar and Otter Tail Lakes Country Association.
This image is a still from the published Reel. The Reel's narration and music stay on Facebook. A dated plan for August 14 and 15, 2026; details were current when it was shared.
Reel · Sat, Aug 1
Market morning in Audubon.
The Audubon Hometown Market at Al's Bar & Grill, 10 AM to 2 PM.
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Audubon has a good little Saturday stop today. The Audubon Hometown Market is at Al's Bar & Grill today, Saturday, August 1, from 10 AM to 2 PM. Stop in, wander the local vendors and makers, and see what catches your eye. The market scenes are from a previous Hometown Market and were shared by the organizer for this advertising post. Audubon town views by Royalbroil via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Town photos cropped, color-corrected, and animated by Lakes Area Connect. License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 #AudubonMN #ShopLocal #LakesCountry #LakesAreaConnect
This image is a still from the published Reel. The Reel's narration and music stay on Facebook. A dated plan for Saturday, August 1, 2026; details were current when it was shared. The Reel's market photos were shared by the organizer for that post and stay on Facebook. This adapted still is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Watch on Facebook ↗Photo: Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped with added text Reel · Wed, Jul 29
Can the kids be there by ten?
Perham's International Turtle Races: registration at 10, racing at 10:30, rain or shine.
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A small-town Wednesday plan in Perham. The International Turtle Races are Wednesday, July 29 at Turtle Race Park, right beside the Chamber and City offices. - Registration starts at 10 AM. - Racing begins at 10:30 AM. - The organizer lists the event as rain or shine. The easy move is to arrive for registration, keep the morning light, and decide where lunch goes after the races. Check the official Perham Area Chamber listing before leaving for any last-minute updates. Source: Perham Area Chamber of Commerce official event listing. #PerhamMN #TurtleRaces #LakesCountry #LakesAreaConnect
This image is a still from the published Reel. The Reel's narration and music stay on Facebook. A dated plan for Wednesday, July 29, 2026; details were current when it was shared.
Watch on Facebook ↗Photo: Lakes Area Connect Reel · Mon, Jul 20
The Monday-after reset.
Save the Water Carnival photos, dry the gear, return the borrowed chairs and turn the calendar forward.
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Happy Monday, Lakes Area. The Monday-after reset: - Save the good Water Carnival photos in one album. - Dry the lake gear and return the borrowed chairs. - Write down the one moment you want to remember next year. - Turn the calendar forward to Art in the Park: Sunday, July 26, 9 AM-3 PM in City Park. Admission is free. Comment with the Water Carnival moment we should remember next year, and hit like if these little local resets help. Source: Visit Detroit Lakes official event pages. Recheck the official listing before heading out.
This image is a still from the published Reel. The Reel's narration and music stay on Facebook.
Watch on Facebook ↗Photo: Lakes Area Connect 
Reel · Mon, Jul 20
The parade came to town
A look back at the 90th Parade of the Northwest, from the first folding chairs to the volunteers behind it.
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Some parade stories start with a marching band. This one starts with an empty street. A few folding chairs appeared along the Detroit Lakes lakefront. Then tents. Then families finding their places. By one o'clock, the route was ready. And then the flags came around the corner. The 90th Parade of the Northwest brought color guards, fire crews, marching music, youth groups, local businesses, and plenty of water along the route on Sunday. The parade closed the 2026 Northwest Water Carnival, an all-volunteer tradition organized by the Detroit Lakes Jaycees. This longer Lakes Area Connect look back follows the route from the first chairs to the Jaycees at the end of the line. If you were there, what moment made the day for you? #DetroitLakes #WaterCarnival #ParadeOfTheNorthwest #LakesCountry #LakesAreaConnect
The image here is an illustration made for this archive. The original Reel and its credited media are on Facebook. Details were current when this was shared on 2026-07-20.
Reel · Tue, Jul 7
Checking in, Lakes Area.
The morning after the July 6 storm, a simple place for neighbors to say they were okay.
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Lakes Area, checking in this morning. If you are safe after last night's storm, leave a quick "we're okay" with your general area so neighbors know who has been heard from. No pressure to share damage photos. Please do not drive into affected areas to look around. Local reports say the Floyd Lake area north of Detroit Lakes saw serious damage, with crews still assessing homes, trees, power lines, and roads. The National Weather Service survey has not been completed yet, so we're keeping the wording to suspected or possible tornado for now. Stay clear of downed lines and damaged areas. If you need immediate help, call 911. If you were displaced or need shelter, local reports say M State in Detroit Lakes is being used as a shelter and response site. For updates, follow Becker County, local utilities, and NWS Grand Forks. How is everybody doing this morning?
This image is a still from the published Reel. The Reel's narration and music stay on Facebook. A dated check-in from July 7, 2026.
Watch on Facebook ↗Photo: Lakes Area Connect 
