Aquatennial pin design returns to nautical theme It's back to a boat wheel design for this year' Aquatennial skipper pins, which also feature a tribute to Minneapolis' sesquicentennial (the city was born the same year as the state).
Festival organizers on Wednesday revealed the design for the metal and plastic pins, which have been a staple of the water-themed fest since it began 69 years ago.
They also showed off a modified slogan and logo for the celebration, which officially runs July 18 to 27.
For the past seven years, the pins, which are sold as commemorative keepsakes and to raise money, featured designs highlighting events such as the Target Fireworks and Kemps Milk Carton Boat Races. This year, the pins sport the traditional boat wheel, which had been the primary design for most of the festival's 69 years
"We're excited to bring the traditional boat wheel back as we celebrate the history of the Aquatennial," said Leah Wong, vice president of events and marketing for the Minneapolis Downtown Council, which put on the summer gala. "And we're celebrating the city's 150th birthday."
The red, white and blue pins prominently display the phrase "Celebrating Our City's 150th" and the words "Skipper" and "1940-2008."
Traditional metal and plastic lapel pins with blinking lights retail for $5 each. For years, the Aquatennial has dubbed itself the "10 Best Days of Summer," but this year festival organizers have dropped the "10" from the slogan, and brought back a sunburst to appear with its logo. The sunburst first appeared in 1979.
"The festival never really was 10 days; sometimes it was nine, other times it was 11," Wong said.
