Council clears way for community events

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The Alexandria City Council cleared the way for several different events that will be coming up soon – Memorial Day weekend events, the stock car racing season, a triathlon and a passion drama.

Here’s more information about the events:

• Awake the Lakes. The annual festival to kick-off the summer season will take place May 27-30.

The Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce partners with other community groups to put on the celebration. Plans for this year include a rib fest, a car show, entertainment and a beer garden, according to Coni McKay, Chamber director.

Some existing Memorial Day events will be incorporated into the festivities, including a church service at City Park, Breakfast with Big Ole and a Memorial Day parade on Monday.

The council agreed to allow organizers to use the Big Ole Central Park area on 2nd Avenue from Kenwood Street to Broadway.

The street will be closed from Thursday to Monday on Memorial Day weekend to accommodate all the activities.

• Chain of Lakes Triathlon. This test of athletic endurance on Saturday, May 7 includes a 600-yard swim, a 13-mile bike ride and a 2.8-mile run.

The council gave organizers permission to use a portion of Highways 27 and 29 for the event, which also was approved by the city of Nelson.

The biking portion of the triathlon runs from Highway 29 North from McKay Avenue northward to County Road 73 NE and on Highway 27 East from County Road 3 SE westward back to McKay Avenue.

Douglas County Posse members and city police officers will help with traffic control.

The base camp for the event will be Discovery Middle School. The swimming portion will take place in the school’s pool.

Because of the space constraints of the pool, the race is limited to 240 participants, said coordinator Mark Storhaug. He told the council that the event fills up quickly every year and organizers have to turn away competitors.

• Zion Lutheran Church and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Passion Drama. The event will take place on Sunday, April 17 from 2 to 5 p.m. and again on Tuesday, April 19 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

It will feature 20-minute outdoor, guided tours of scenes depicting key moments in the life of Jesus Christ leading up to his crucifixion and resurrection.

The council agreed to shut down three city blocks for the presentation – the 300 block of Lake Street, the 600 block of 4th Avenue East and the 300 block of Maple Street.

• Viking Speedway 2011 season.

The council approved a revised schedule for the Viking Speedway. The season starts with a practice run from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, followed by the first racing event of the season that weekend, April 22-24, a new race called the “Central Minnesota Icebreaker.” (This is one week later than originally scheduled.)

Races continue throughout the summer and wrap up with the Viking Fall Classic on October 6-8. (Rain dates for the fall classic are set for October 9, 13, 14, 15 and 16.)

A new event, said speedway board member Bert Pexsa, is the Minnesota Modified Nationals that are scheduled for July 2-3. (The rain date for the event is Monday, July 4 at 1 p.m.)

Tags: news, council