Lake Fest in Forest Lake kicks off summer events in Washington County

Memorial Day beckons a full menu of festivals and fairs to Washington County, starting with Lake Fest in Forest Lake. The summer of 2016 will be noteworthy for the return of Lumberjack Days, although in name only; the July event won't be the big regional celebration people remember, but rather a continuation of the two-year-old, smaller family festival known as Stillwater Log Jam. Now it will be called Lumberjack Days, a name formerly privately held that now belongs to the city of Stillwater. While Bayport's celebration, Rockin Ribs, won't be held this year, many other familiar festivals return, including the events on the list below.

June 25-26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Town Square Park, S. St. Croix Trail and 34th Street. Artists, repurposed or vintage goods, business expo, food, live music.

Sept. 24-25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Town Square Park. Fine arts, traditional craft fair, small business fair, live folk/jazz music, food; exploreafton.com.

June 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Village Green Park, sponsored by Bayport Community Action League; 651-351-5070.

June 16-21, Kingston Park, Indian Boulevard and 75th Street. Music, hot-air balloon rides, petting farm, strawberry pie-eating contest, kids tractor pull, parade, fireworks; cottagegrovestrawberryfest.com.

June 3-10, Lakeside Park, 95 E. Broadway Av. Fishing tournament, Arts in the Park, wine and beer tasting, movies, mini powwow, talent show, pig roast, running races; fl-lakefest.com.

June 9-12, Hugo Lions Park, 5524 Upper 146th St. N. Petting zoo, carnival rides, breakfast, parade, music, food, fireworks; goodneighbordays.com.

Aug. 11-14, Lions Park, 3525 Laverne Av. N. Softball, volleyball, other family events; lakeelmojaycees.org.

June 18, 5:30 p.m., downtown. Barbeque, street dance, children's activities to fund volunteer fire department.

Sept. 17-18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hwy. 95 and County Road 4. Artists and other vendors; marineonstcroix.org.

Aug. 14, 11 a.m., Pioneer Memorial Park, 2nd Avenue and 6th Street Parade, live music, food, vendors, games, car show; ci.newport.mn.us.

June 23-25, Walton Park, 15th Street and Hadley Avenue. Parade, car show, rides, medallion hunt, fireworks; 651-730-2704 or ci.oakdale.mn.us.

Aug. 19-21, downtown St. Paul Park, parade, flea market, garden tractor pull, carnival, petting zoo, fireworks; stpaulpark.govoffice.com.

June 4-5, Lowell Park, downtown Stillwater, 10 a.m. Billed as the St. Croix Valley's largest art fair. Handcrafted items, art; rivertownartfestival.com.

July 15-17, Historic Courthouse and Pioneer, Teddy Bear and Lowell parks. Medallion hunt, tethered balloon rides, fishing tournament, lumberjack demonstrations, pontoon boat rides, parade; www.lumberjackdays.com.

Aug. 26-28, Ojibway Park, 2695 Ojibway Drive. Carnival, business fair, Taste of Woodbury, custom cars, sand volleyball, children's coin hunt, fireworks and robotics demonstrations; woodburydays.com/Sti.