Join Us For The CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade

The CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade will be held Wednesday, July 20 from 8:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. As one of the biggest and brightest parades in the state and a Minneapolis Aquatennial flagship event, this one-of-a-kind display will light up Downtown Minneapolis with a procession of bands and entertainment units marching down Hennepin Avenue.

This year’s parade will feature WCCO-TV’s Mike Augustyniak and Natalie Nyhus as its Grand Marshals, as the parade takes place on Hennepin Avenue from the Basilica of St. Mary to 5^th Street. The CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade will emceed by K102 FM’s Chris Carr & Company morning crew for the second straight year.

“The company couldn’t feel more privileged to sponsor the 77th annual CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade for the 16th consecutive year,” said Brad Tutunjian, division vice president of Gas Operations in Minnesota. “Our generous employees are proud to live, work and volunteer in the communities that the company serves every day. To show our pride and appreciation for our customers and communities we serve, the company would like to invite all to share in the excitement at the CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade with our employees and their families on July 20.”

The Grand Marshal float will once again be well-represented at the CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade. Mike is the weekend morning meteorologist at WCCO-TV. He also created and hosts “Mike’s Mix”, a weekly segment focusing on the art and science behind making the perfect cocktail. He has been recognized with multiple Emmy Awards for Broadcast excellence.

Natalie is the host of WCCO-TV’s Saturday Mornings show and highlights some of the state’s top gems in the “Best of Minnesota” series. She studied broadcast journalism, print journalism and theology at the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minn., and got her start as a sports reporter for Fox Sports North and the Big Ten Network.

The Aquatennial has partnered with the City of Minneapolis to bring Tap Minneapolis water fountains to the CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade. These water stations will be available on Hennepin Avenue at 6^th Street, 9^th Street, 11^th Street and Laurel Avenue. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own water bottles to the event and utilize the many fountains along the parade route for refills. CenterPoint Energy will also be giving away a special surprise at 6^th, 7^th, 8^th and 9^th streets following the parade.

The parade will feature CenterPoint Energy’s Buddy Blue Flame, marching bands, Minneapolis Aqua Jesters and more. Arrive early for the event and secure your spot along Hennepin Avenue as spaces fill up quickly. You can also arrive downtown on Wednesday night with a Free Ride Pass from Metro Transit. Passes are available for download on Aquatennial.com, and when printed out and presented on site they are good for free rides from 6:30 pm to 11:30 pm.

While you’re enjoying Aquatennial on Wednesday, attend Loring Park Pre-Parade Family Fun Night from 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. featuring pony rides, inflatables, canoe rides, a kids’ dance, carnival games, Wilderness Inquiry Voyageur Canoe Rides, Rally the Family tennis lessons and more. Following Loring Park Family Fun Night will be the Twin Cities Orthopedics Torchlight 5K. Watch as thousands of runners take off down Hennepin Avenue beginning at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.Aquatennial.com or follow our @Aquatennial accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #Aquatennial.

Aquatennial Volunteer Program Sponsored by U.S. Bank Continues To Thrive

Each year the Aquatennial continues to thrive thanks to the hundreds of individuals that help out through the Aquatennial Volunteer Program Sponsored by U.S. Bank. Phil Trier, Twin Cities Market President of U.S. Bank, talked about the experience for the company’s employees.

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Why does U.S. Bank enjoy presenting the Aquatennial volunteer program?
We’re the hometown bank! Our roots in Minneapolis date back more than 150 years, our headquarters is here and we employ 11,000 people in the region. The Aquatennial celebrates everything our employees love about living and working in the Twin Cities: the people, the culture and, of course, the waterfronts.

In what ways do volunteers take part throughout Aquatennial?
Volunteers help out with Aquatennial’s flagship events, including the CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade and the Target Fireworks. Some of the responsibilities include helping with the Grand Marshal and hosting bands, interacting with attendees at information booths, passing out water, helping to set-up events, and more.

What feedback do you get from volunteers who take part in Aquatennial, and why do they choose to take part?
Our employees tell us that they enjoy opportunities to get to know co-workers in a more informal setting, especially while giving back to the community. A lot of employees like the Aquatennial in particular because of the atmosphere and experience that goes along with being a part of the official civic celebration of our city.

What can people do to get involved with the Aquatennial volunteer program?
If you’d like to volunteer at the Aquatennial, simply go to Aquatennial.com/Volunteer and fill out the sign-up form. Someone will follow up with you on lining up specific days and times to participate.

What are you looking forward to most about Aquatennial this year?
Each year the Minneapolis Downtown Council puts on a bigger and better event. This year, I’m looking forward to the new look and feel with all the events located close together downtown. It’ll be convenient for those attending to enjoy a wide variety of activities on any given day.

Aquatennial Blog | Saturday, July 23

Welcome to the final day of the 2016 Aquatennial! This is our Official Civic Celebration, and we’re excited to share it again with you here in Minneapolis for the 77^th year. Join us on this fun four-day adventures that will include a combination of food, fitness and fun ranging from flagship events like the CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade to the Target Fireworks all the way to new events like Mess Hall, AquaJam and the Big Waters Classic: Fulton Downtown Drag Race. There is something for everyone at this event.

In order to fully appreciate all the events that are going on, we’re giving you a daily breakdown of all the things you can see and do at the Aquatennial. Sit back and enjoy this recap as we take a look at some of the highlights from a big week in Downtown Minneapolis.

Saturday is our last day of the year here at Aquatennial, and it’s filled with annual favorites like the Target Fireworks as well as new staples like Mess Hall and AquaJam. You’re able to really enjoy and appreciate the history of our city as these events are lined along the Mississippi Riverfront, making it easy to walk or bike from place to place while getting to enjoy and appreciate one of the oldest and most influential places in our city.

Thanks to everyone who braved the rain during the afternoon and still came out on Saturday evening. It turned out to be a perfect day after the rain cleared, and we had a blast wrapping up the 2016 Aquatennial with you.

Enjoy!

U.S. Bank Stadium Grand Opening Open House Tours

U.S. Bank Stadium is open, folks! The stadium opened its doors on Saturday and Sunday over the weekend for a free preview of what people can enjoy when they come to Vikings games or other events there for decades to come. This state-of-the-art facility is filled with amenities and incredible views of the downtown skyline though its huge glass windows on the west side of the facility. Fans were able to come through the Legacy Gate, view the stadium from the suite level and in the east end zone, walk through the concourse and experience some of the unique nuances that make U.S. Bank Stadium one of the most exciting and must-see destinations in the NFL. We’re excited that the stadium opened during Aquatennial so we could have the chance to celebrate with everyone during this exciting moment in downtown Minneapolis’ history.

Historic Aquatennial Presented By Cambria

Now in its second year in the Aquatennial lineup, the Historic Aquatennial presented by Cambria is a great way to relive some of the past experiences and looks of the Minneapolis Aquatennial. This event, located in the Cambria on 7^th Gallery at 625 2^nd Avenue South, highlights some of the sights and sounds of Aquatennial over the past seven decades. We’ve seen a great response to this event as there are many in the state who enjoy taking a look back at what they experienced at Aquatennial in the past throughout its evolution. There are great photos, videos, apparel and costumes, decorations, poster boards with historical context stories, a full Skipper Pin collection, guides and more. This particular event ran Wednesday through Saturday at Cambria, so it was available each day during Aquatennial to stop by. Plus, the Cambria on 7^th location is a fantastic gathering spot for any business or group looking to do an event.

Twin Cities Carifest

Twin Cities Carifest has been an annual staple of summer in Minneapolis for the past two decades, and it continued this year during Aquatennial on West River Road between the Plymouth and Broadway bridges. This event features Caribbean art, food, crafts, music and a traditional carnival parade with colorful costumes and dance. If you’ve never been before, it has really delicious items to try out. Plus, it is just across the Plymouth Bridge from the Mess Hall and AquaJam and just a mile and a half from the Target Fireworks preferred viewing area.

Mess Hall

Mess Hall is a brand new event that was rolled out in 2016, and it’s got a bright future here in the Minneapolis area. Mess Hall brings out the foodie in you: Located at Boom Island, it turns this massive green space with a beautiful view of the skyline into a food and beverage celebration. There were 12 different food options on hand ranging from burgers and egg rolls all the way to fried chicken, mac & cheese and tacos. Plus, Fulton Beer, FINNEGANS, Lakes & Legends Brewing Co. and Sociable Cider Werks were all on hand providing their signature craft brews. At 3 pm (and a little later due to inclement weather), Alchemy provided an A10 fitness class on the grass. And from 8 pm to 10 pm, there were musical performances by Sam Cassidy and Nooky Jones. It was a great first event that will continue to grow and evolve.

AquaJam

Right next door to Mess Hall at Boom Island was AquaJam, a legacy Aquatennial event that made its return in a big way this year. AquaJam was popular in the 1980s, and thanks to Fulton Beer and Familia Skateshop it came back with a huge turnout in 2016. The event featured a mini-ramp, a Skate your State ramp, rails, barrel jumps and more. It was packed along the course as people watched talented local skaters, both young and old, try out different tricks. Cash prizes were handed out based on judges’ discretion of how difficult the trick was, and there was even a barrel-jumping competition where multiple people cleared 10 barrels in a jump. It was a captivating experience for everyone involved, and it brought people over from Mess Hall to get in on the action as well. This was a wildly successful return event, and we’re excited to see how it grows in the coming year.

Photo Credit: Sridhar Thayur

Target Fireworks

The grand finale (as always) at Aquatennial is the beloved Target Fireworks, considered one of the top 5 annual displays in the country. The evening always kicks off with the Pre-Fireworks Festivities from 6-10 pm, and this year it included four bands performing consecutively including the Command Steppers, Nicholas David & The Feelin’ Band (a local celebrity from NBC’s The Voice), The WCCO-TV Blues Band and The Grateful RED—an always-popular group of Target employees who play an incredible Big Band set. There were also food trucks and treats on hand, and there was a kids zone with a mini-water slide, a Keys 4/4 Kids ‘Paint a Piano’, a Crayola Experience, face painting/Henna Tattoos and more.

Then, at 10 pm, the Target Fireworks kicked off with perhaps its best version yet. Approximately 150 man hours were logged in designing, choreographing and setting up the show, which lasted 23 minutes and set off approximately 10,000 pounds of explosives. It was intricately set to music, and the ‘pyromusical’ was simulcast on Go 95.3 FM (due to the Twins game going long—it was scheduled to be simulcast on Go 96.3 FM). The display featured odes to Luke Bryan and Metallica performing at U.S. Bank Stadium this summer, and it also had two popular Prince songs in the lineup including Purple Rain midway through and Let’s Go Crazy as the finale. The finale began with a spectacular “waterfall” of fireworks off the 3^rd Avenue Bridge, a new twist that was a surprise to the crowd on hand and had never been done before.

In all, the Target Fireworks typically attract about 250,000 people to the riverfront. The Minneapolis Aquatennial thanks everyone who came out to this year’s events, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2017. Follow Aquatennial.com and our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) for announcements on next year’s dates and new events throughout the year.

Aquatennial Blog | Friday, July 22

Welcome to the 2016 Aquatennial! This is our Official Civic Celebration, and we’re excited to share it again with you here in Minneapolis for the 77^th year. Join us on this fun four-day adventures that will include a combination of food, fitness and fun ranging from flagship events like the CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade to the Target Fireworks all the way to new events like Mess Hall, AquaJam and the Big Waters Classic: Fulton Downtown Drag Race. There is something for everyone at this event.

So in order to fully appreciate all the events that are going on, we’re giving you a daily breakdown of all the things you can see and do at the Aquatennial. Sit back and enjoy this recap as we take a look at some of the highlights from a big week in Downtown Minneapolis.

Historic Aquatennial Presented By Cambria

Now in its second year in the Aquatennial lineup, the Historic Aquatennial presented by Cambria is a great way to relive some of the past experiences and looks of the Minneapolis Aquatennial. This event, located in the Cambria on 7^th Gallery at 625 2^nd Avenue South, highlights some of the sights and sounds of Aquatennial over the past seven decades. We’ve seen a great response to this event as there are many in the state who enjoy taking a look back at what they experienced at Aquatennial in the past throughout its evolution. There are great photos, videos, apparel and costumes, decorations, poster boards with historical context stories, a full Skipper Pin collection, guides and more. This particular event runs through Saturday at Cambria, so come in any day and enjoy.

Aquatennial Blood Drive

The Aquatennial is all about bringing the community together and providing a way to give back to our community. That’s why this year the Aquatennial teamed with the American Red Cross, WCCO-TV, WCCO Radio, BUZ’N 102.9 and 104.1 JACK FM to host the Aquatennial Blood Drive this week. It runs Wednesday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm in the IDS Center Crystal Court.

Donating Blood is important in helping those in need, as the Red Cross—which supplies blood to 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country—needs 14,000 blood donations each day to keep pace. Right now, there is a major shortage of blood as donations are being used as quickly as they come in. Vacations and summer plans often play a role in keeping people from donating, so any help you can provide is much appreciated.

The Aquatennial Blood Drive continued on Friday, with WCCO-TV’s Ali Lucia stopping in during the morning. It wrapped up at 3 pm on Friday, and overall there was a great turnout of people in the community showing up to save a life and helping out our community. Thanks to all who donated their time toward this great cause.

Photo Credit: Kurt Moses Photography

Aquatennial Tennis Classic

The Aquatennial Tennis Classic is an annual gathering of some of the top talent in the area vying for $6,500 in prize money. Supported by USTA Northern, they host men’s and women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles each year. The event is incredibly popular in the summer. Located at Canadian Pacific Plaza, a court is placed outdoors underneath the surrounding skyscrapers and provides a great place to watch tennis while eating your lunch. Food trucks line the nearby street, and a natural tiered gallery area makes for stadium seating while you take your lunch break.

The tournament began July 11 and ran through Friday. On the first official day of Aquatennial, the tournament was wrapping up its matchups. Results from the day are listed below.

Finals Results

Women’s Singles Championship: Maja Vujic def. Caitlyn Merzbacher 7-5, 5-7, 1-0 (6)

Men’s Singles Championship: Tony Larson def. Tim Larson 6-3, 6-0

Mixed Doubles Championship: Nicole Copeland/Kevin Whipple def. Tooli Wilkins/Nazhone Wilkins 2-6, 7-6 (6), 1-0 (6)

Women’s Doubles Championship: Tooli Wilkins/Kelsey Frechette def. Diana Bukajeva/Brenna Kelly 7-5, 7-6(2)

Men’s Doubles Championship: Julian Dehn/Tobias Wernet def. Andres Osorio/Sion Wilkins 6-1, 6-3

Aquatennial Zumba presented by Zumba

The Minneapolis Aquatennial has a goal of providing food, fitness and fun to all who stop down to enjoy our 30 events over these four days in July, and on Friday one of these fitness events included Aquatennial Zumba presented by YWCA of Minneapolis at Peavey Plaza. Friday was an incredibly hot afternoon—as it was all week—but people in our downtown community still came together and participated in the Zumba class despite the heat. Zumba is a workout that features dance routines that focuses on upping your fitness through fast and slow rhythms, energizing Latin and World music beats and all the latest choreography. It offers a chance to tone and sculpt your body in a party atmosphere. Thanks to all who came out to participate in Zumba during Aquatennial, and thanks to the YWCA for providing an opportunity to try out a free Zumba class at Peavey Plaza.

Twin Cities River Rats

The Twin Cities River Rats returned for two more shows on Friday and delivered another pair of memorable and entertaining displays on the Mississippi River. The River Rats are an annual Aquatennial staple, and they delivered four shows in two days culminating with Friday’s 6 pm and 8 pm performances on West River Road between the Plymouth and Broadway bridges. This year’s theme was Despicable Ski, the River Rats’ version of Despicable Me, and they showcased a sensational performance on the water as Gru and the Minion battled Vector for super villain supremacy. It was filled with laughs—as usual—and a fun and family-friendly storyline, but it also was jam packed with difficult tricks on the water. This group wins national waterskiing awards because they are so good at performing high-flying stunts, including multi-level human pyramids, fast-paced barefooting, graceful swivel skiing and more. The crowds flocked to West River Road for both performances, and this year along with a concession stand they also had Fulton Beer on hand with a designated beer garden. It’s always a great event for the whole family, and this year’s crew did a sensational job. Thanks to the Twin Cities River Rats for another well-done performance.

Big Waters Classic: Fulton Downtown Drag Race

One of the new events at Aquatennial this year is the Big Waters Classic: Fulton Downtown Drag Race. I featured a 350-meter drag race through the North Loop up 4^th Street. The race itself included an incline up to the finish line and several groups including a junior class, Nice Rides, Fixed Bikes and Open races. Heats began around 7 pm and continued at a fast pace through the 9 pm hour. A great crowd gathered along 4^th Street to watch the action, which featured a collection of close races that were near-photo finishes. Plus, there were fun bike “tractor pull” events throughout the night where people could showcase how far they could pull weighted trailers behind them. Then, following the race, you could head around the corner to Fulton Beer’s tap house to continue the party. Thanks to all who participated in the Fulton Downtown Drag Race and to Fulton Beer for helping put on this great new biking event at Aquatennial.

Aquatennial Movie Night: Rocky

The evening capped off with another Aquatennial movie featuring Rocky. There was a great crowd on hand for this one, which began at 9 pm, as people came to Target Field Station, found their seat on the grass and watch Rocky Balboa shock the world by going the distance with Apollo Creed. This movie was part of the Go Outside with Hennepin County series, and it once again brought people together for a unique movie experience watching on the big screen outdoors right next to Target Field.

Aquatennial Blog | Thursday, July 20

Welcome to the 2016 Aquatennial! This is our Official Civic Celebration, and we’re excited to share it again with you here in Minneapolis for the 77^th year. Join us on this fun four-day adventures that will include a combination of food, fitness and fun ranging from flagship events like the CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade to the Target Fireworks all the way to new events like Mess Hall, AquaJam and the Big Waters Classic: Fulton Downtown Drag Race. There is something for everyone at this event.

So in order to fully appreciate all the events that are going on, we’re giving you a daily breakdown of all the things you can see and do at the Aquatennial. Sit back and enjoy this recap as we take a look at some of the highlights from a big week in Downtown Minneapolis.

Historic Aquatennial Presented By Cambria

Now in its second year in the Aquatennial lineup, the Historic Aquatennial presented by Cambria is a great way to relive some of the past experiences and looks of the Minneapolis Aquatennial. This event, located in the Cambria on 7^th Gallery at 625 2^nd Avenue South, highlights some of the sights and sounds of Aquatennial over the past seven decades. We’ve seen a great response to this event as there are many in the state who enjoy taking a look back at what they experienced at Aquatennial in the past throughout its evolution. There are great photos, videos, apparel and costumes, decorations, poster boards with historical context stories, a full Skipper Pin collection, guides and more. This particular event runs Wednesday through Saturday at Cambria, so come in any day and enjoy.

Aquatennial Blood Drive

The Aquatennial is all about bringing the community together and providing a way to give back to our community. That’s why this year the Aquatennial teamed with the American Red Cross, WCCO-TV, WCCO Radio, BUZ’N 102.9 and 104.1 JACK FM to host the Aquatennial Blood Drive this week. It runs Wednesday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm in the IDS Center Crystal Court.

Donating Blood is important in helping those in need, as the Red Cross—which supplies blood to 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country—needs 14,000 blood donations each day to keep pace. Right now, there is a major shortage of blood as donations are being used as quickly as they come in. Vacations and summer plans often play a role in keeping people from donating, so any help you can provide is much appreciated.

The Aquatennial Blood Drive continued on Thursday and included a stop by WCCO-TV’s Kim Johnson, who graciously gave blood during the morning in between her newscasts and the morning after participating in the Twin Cities Orthopedics Torchlight 5K. Thank you to all who gave blood, as it truly does make a difference.

Aquatennial Tennis Classic

The Aquatennial Tennis Classic is an annual gathering of some of the top talent in the area vying for $6,500 in prize money. Supported by USTA Northern, they host men’s and women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles each year. The event is incredibly popular in the summer. Located at Canadian Pacific Plaza, a court is placed outdoors underneath the surrounding skyscrapers and provides a great place to watch tennis while eating your lunch. Food trucks line the nearby street, and a natural tiered gallery area makes for stadium seating while you take your lunch break.

The tournament began July 11 and runs through Friday, July 22. On the second day of Aquatennial, the tournament was working through some of its finals matchups. Results from the day are listed below.

Thursday’s Results

Nicole Copeland/Kevin Whipple def. Helen Klass-Warch/Maalik Konop-DeFrietas 6-2, 6-4

Women’s Singles Championship: Maja Vujic def. Caitlyn Merzbacher 7-5, 5-7, 1-0 (6)

Men’s Singles Championship: Tony Larson def. Tim Larson 6-3, 6-0

Julian Dehn/Tobias Wernet def. Harsh Mankad/Wyatt McCoy 7-6 (4), 6-1

Andres Osorio/Sion Wilkins def. Kevin Whipple/Nick Crossley 6-3, 7-6 (3)

Tooli Wilkins/Nazhone Wilkins def. Jeff Adolf/Kelsey Frechette 6-2, 6-4

Tooli Wilkins/Kelsey Frechette def. Maja Vujic/Aria Lambert 6-4, 6-2

Friday’s Order of Play

9:00 a.m. – Mixed Doubles Final: Tooli Wilkins/Nazhone Wilkins vs. Nicole Copeland/Kevin Whipple

10:30 a.m. – Women’s Doubles Final: Tooli Wilkins/Kelsey Frechette vs. Diana Bukajeva/Brenna Kelly

12:00 p.m. – Men’s Doubles Final: Andres Osorio/Sion Wilkins vs. Julian Dehn/Tobias Wernet

Photo Credit: Kurt Moses Photography

The Commons Grand Opening

The official opening of The Commons in Downtown Minneapolis took place on Thursday from 11:30 am to 1 pm. The Commons is a 4.2-acre green space that adds a whole new dimension of community gathering in the East Town area. The long-awaited opening on Thursday included a huge crowd of spectators that gathered to hear from Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges, Minneapolis City Council Member Jacob Frey, Ryan Companies’ Pat Ryan and Hargreaves Associates’ Mary Margaret Jones. The event included food trucks, a free CorePower Yoga class, free play activities, an Asian Dance Team performance and a commemorative Frisbee toss. The Commons is open to the public and is a great new addition to downtown. Stop by and see it the next time you are in the downtown area.

Photo credit: Kurt Moses Photography

Aquatennial Yoga presented by CorePower Yoga

For the second straight year, CorePower Yoga has teamed with Aquatennial to lead an Aquatennial yoga class at Target Field Station. It’s been a big success each year, and despite the warm temperatures there was another big crowd on hand for this year’s event. Registration began at 4:30 pm, with the fitness class kicking off at 5:30 pm. Participants are encouraged to find a place on the green space at Target Field Station and enjoy a unique opportunity to practice yoga outdoors in the heart of the summer right next to a big league ballpark. Thanks to CorePower Yoga for putting on another incredible event that our Aquatennial goers could enjoy.

Twin Cities River Rats

As always, the Twin Cities River Rats delivered a memorable and entertaining show on the Mississippi River. The River Rats are an annual Aquatennial staple, and they delivered four shows in two days beginning with Thursday’s 6 pm and 8 pm performances on West River Road between the Plymouth and Broadway bridges. This year’s theme was Despicable Ski, the River Rats’ version of Despicable Me, and they showcased a sensational performance on the water as Gru and the Minion battled Vector for super villain supremacy. It was filled with laughs—as usual—and a fun and family-friendly storyline, but it also was jam packed with difficult tricks on the water. This group wins national water skiing awards because they are so good at performing high-flying stunts, including multi-level human pyramids, fast-paced bare footing, graceful swivel skiing and more. The crowds flocked to West River Road for both performances, and this year along with a concession stand they also had Fulton Beer on hand with a designated beer garden. It’s always a great event for the whole family, and this year’s crew did a sensational job. Thanks to the Twin Cities River Rats for another well-done performance.

Photo Credit: Kurt Moses Photography

Aquatennial Movie Night: Overboard

Thursday at Aquatennial wrapped up with the showing of “Overboard”, a family-friendly movie at Target Field Station. People who took part in Aquatennial Yoga presented by CorePower Yoga were encouraged to bring chairs or blankets and stay afterwards for a fun show, and others who weren’t at yoga came and enjoyed the evening as well. The Aquatennial Movie Night was part of the Go Outside with Hennepin County lineup, a collection of dates throughout the summer that encourage friends and family to come out and enjoy an evening of free activities and programming in the heart of downtown.

Nostalgia, Intricate Detail & Surprise Part Of Aquatennial Target Fireworks

The top 5 annual display took 140 Man Hours To Design & Choreograph

Zach Taminosian has been around fireworks all his life—from his days growing up in Fort Myers, Fla., setting them off in the back yard to his profession as one of Zambelli Fireworks’ show designers. But for all the thousands of hours he’s been around them in his life, he can pinpoint the moment he fell in love with fireworks and knew it was what he wanted to do for a career.

It was in Fort Myers, at the Minnesota Twins’ brand new spring training facility in 1991. The display put on to help christen the new facility left an imprint on him as a child, and it never went away.

“The fireworks that went along with the celebration really sparked my first interest in professional fireworks displays,” he said. “I loved fireworks growing up, but that was the first time I was intrigued with a choreographed show to music. And it ultimately led me back to Minnesota.”

Taminosian is annually the designer for the Minneapolis Aquatennial’s Target Fireworks, which take place tonight at 10 pm along the Mississippi River. The event is considered one of the top five annual fireworks displays in the country, and rightfully so. It attracts approximately 250,000 people to the Mississippi Riverfront near the Stone Arch Bridge, and the picturesque view of the Minneapolis skyline is the perfect backdrop for a nationally renowned show.

Each year, he said he directly works on more than 30 fireworks displays nationally and approximately another 200 shows indirectly through logistics, design and product ordering. But the Target Fireworks at Aquatennial always stand out.

It’s a pyromusical, if you will. The fireworks, which typically last 20-25 minutes, are a spectacle on their own. But they’re intricately choreographed to music, each blast matching with a note or a beat within the song playing. It takes Zambelli 2-4 hours of design time per minute of show duration to carefully match up the blasts with the beat, and that’s what makes this show extra special. This year’s music is 1980s themed as Aquatennial celebrates its 80th anniversary.

You can hear the music on-site as you’re watching, but if you are within view of the fireworks from another location you can listen to the simulcast on KOOL 108 FM.

The time and effort put into making this fireworks show special is personal for Taminosian, who thinks back to that display in Fort Myers 25 years ago when he arrives in town. This is a nostalgic display for him personally, but he also understands the importance the Target Fireworks play for Minneapolis and Aquatennial goers.

“This is one of my favorite shows,” Taminosian said. “I love Minneapolis. I love coming here every year. Just the backdrop, the downtown Minneapolis cityscape, and the bridge architecture is just an amazing canvas for me to paint.”

It’s always recommended that people come early and enjoy the festivities while saving a spot along West River Parkway. Viewing areas fill up fast. While you’re waiting, enjoy pre-fireworks festivities from 6-10 pm including live music, food trucks, and the Family Fun Zone presented by Tom’s of Maine.

And of course, there is a major fireworks display that’s worth the wait.

“This show is designed with the audience in mind,” Taminosian said.

Target Fireworks Fast Facts

• Typically uses more than 10,000 pounds of explosives
• The Choreography process for the Target Fireworks takes anywhere from 2 to 4 hours of design time per minute of total show duration
• This year’s Target Fireworks took 140 man hours of design, choreography and set-up to perform.
• One of the top five largest fireworks show in the country
• Draws around 250,000 spectators to Downtown Minneapolis
• Come early to find a spot along the river—bring sunscreen for the afternoon and bug spray for the evening. It’s worth it to see a fantastic show!
• One of the best vantage points to take in the show is on the west side of the Mississippi River, along West River Parkway near Portland Avenue.
• Zambelli Fireworks is a full service fireworks display and pyrotechnics company.
• Since 1893 Zambelli Fireworks has been shooting over 2,300 displays annually

Tap water stations at tonight’s CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade will help spectators stay hydrated

Tonight’s Aquatennial’s CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade along Hennepin Avenue is taking place during one of the hottest days of the summer. To help everyone beat the heat, the City of Minneapolis will have drinking water stations along the parade route. Visitors are strongly advised to bring re-fillable water bottles so they can stay hydrated.

The CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade runs 8:30-10:30 p.m. on Hennepin Avenue from the Basilica of St. Mary to Fifth Street. Prior to the parade, the Twin Cities Orthopedics Torchlight 5K will take place on Hennepin Avenue, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Four water stations will be in place along the Hennepin Avenue parade route:

• The west side at Sixth Street.

• The east side at Ninth Street.

• The west side at 11^th

• The west side at Laurel Avenue.

ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS TAP WATER

Minneapolis is the state’s largest producer of drinking water. We make around 55 million gallons of clean tap water every day that meets or surpasses federal and state guidelines for water safety. Unlike bottled water, which often costs more than gasoline, Minneapolis tap is a bargain at less than a penny a gallon. Plus, drinking Minneapolis tap water is a better choice for the environment because it creates less waste: no shipping or single-use plastic bottles are needed for folks to enjoy it.

Minneapolis tap water goes to thousands of homes and businesses throughout Minneapolis, Bloomington, Columbia Heights, Golden Valley, Crystal, New Hope, Hilltop and the Morningside neighborhood of Edina. The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport also gets Minneapolis tap water.