Preview: Pan-O-Prog 2012 Heats Up Lakeville

The temperature in Lakeville is about to go even higher this week as a litany of Pan-O-Prog events will attract thousands of outsiders to town and provide some hot summertime fun for local residents.

The 46th annual installment of Lakeville’s ‘Panorama of Progress’ will feature all of the past favorite events that have helped make the festival a highly-regarded regional favorite. And true to form, it will also mix in some new events to help add to the variety that Pan-O-Prog is known for.

“We try to keep adding a variety of events,” said 2012 Pan-O-Prog President Sheri Stolp. Stolp is in her first year acting as president of the popular festival, but has been actively involved since 2006. “We like to try out new things each year and while still bringing back the popular events.”

New this year is additional outdoor music performances, a Minnesota Sports Zone featuring interactive exhibits and some of the state’s professional sports teams, and a special home-grown artistic tribute to our nation’s armed forces.

Stolp says the Car Cruise and Grand Parade remain a big staple. Those events alone are expected to draw more than 25,000 people each.

“I’m actually a big fan of the Car Cruise,” she said. “It’s kind of the heart of the festival. Whenever you go somewhere else and mention Pan-O-Prog, that’s the first thing people think of. It allows people to be a part of the tradition with Lakeville.”

She also pointed out the “Eyes of Freedom” exhibit that will be displayed in the former downtown Ace Hardware store as a highlight of this year’s festival. The traveling exhibit displays the sacrifices men and women are willing to make for their country.

“It’s a touching display and a woman from Lakeville created all of the portraits.,” said Stolp about the exhibit. “It’s a moving, emotional experience that’s a little bit different than our other events.”

The popular medallion hunt is also back, as is Lakeville’s de facto annual reunion event, ‘Beer, Brats and Bingo’, a fundraiser for the Lakeville Lions Club where everyone is welcome to reconnect with past and present residents over a cold brew and some good food.

Stolp says some exotic animals have also been added to the downtown petting zoo, including kangaroos and lemurs. “That will be really interesting,” she said. As will the return of “The Hippo”, the world’s largest inflatable water slide during the three-day downtown Fun Fair.

More than 80,000 people are expected to attend the 2012 Pan-O-Prog events. will have .

Just a few of the highlights from this year’s Pan-O-Prog events include:

Tuesday, July 3:

Baby Crawl - Lakeville Senior Center - 10:00 a.m.: Ready, set, crawl. Baby participants will take to the floor in a race to see who’s the fastest Lakeville-ite on all fours.

Orchestra in the Park - Antlers Park - 7:00 p.m.: The Dakota Valley Symphony Summer Pops 75-piece orchestra will perform an free outdoor, lakeside concert.

Wednesday, July 4:

Eyes of Freedom - Traveling life-size exhibit that tells the story of the great price men and women are willing to pay for their country in pictorial portraits. Exhibit hours:  Wednesday - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; Thursday and Friday - Noon to 10:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 am - 9:00 pm in the former Ace Hardware building downtown.

Boat Parade - Lake Marion - 7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Watch from Antlers Park or anywhere along the lakeshore as decorated boats display their pride.

Fourth of July Fireworks - Lakeville North High School - The aerial extravaganza explodes at dusk, but the fun starts earlier. The Castaways will be performing live beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, July 5:

Pet Show and K-9 Demonstration: Antlers Park - Show off your pet for fun and prizes beginning at 9:00 a.m. and take in a police K-9 demonstration beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Pedal Tractor Pull - Southfork Shopping Center - 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Put your pedal-power to the test in this fun annual event. An Ice Cream Social will also take place on site beginning at 5:30.

Fun Fair - It’s back and bigger than before with three days of fun downtown activities. The Fun Fair kicks off Thursday from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Lakeville Arts Center parking lot. The event includes:  Hippo Water Slide, Rock Climbing Wall,  Mechanical Surf Board, Water Wars, Eurobungy Trampoline, Battle of the Bands, Spinning Berry, Carnival Games, Face Painting, Arts & Crafts and much much more!

Beer, Brats & Bingo - 5:30 - 11:30 p.m. in the V.F.W parking lot: If you know someone from Lakeville, past or present, this is the place to find them. The popular fundraiser for the Lakeville Lions Club serves as the unofficial Lakeville annual reunion.

Battle of the Bands/Movie Under the Stars - Hear young area musicians display their talents from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the Lakeville Arts Center parking lot. An outdoor movie in the park (E.T.) will follow.

Beach Bash - Antlers Park - 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Area teens hit the beach with DJ music, games and contests.

Friday, July 6:

Cruise Night - 6:30 p.m. - Holyoke Ave.: One of Pan-o-Prog’s crown jewels shines when more than 500 unique and classic cars parade through Lakeville’s streets. 

Babe’s Cruise Night Dance - Minnesota’s own G.B. Leighton will perform his infectious blend of party music under the big tent after the cruise.

Saturday, July 7: 

Car Show: Main Street - Holyoke Ave. - Noon - 3:00 p.m. - If you didn’t get enough during the cruise, many of the Car Cruise favorites will be on display in downtown Lakeville for an up close look.

Grand Parade: 5:30 p.m.: Another mega-attraction is the famous Pan-O-Prog Grand Parade. Claim your spot early and enjoy the myriad of units.

Gear Daddies - Babe’s Sport’s Bar Big Tent - 8:00 p.m.: Martin Zellar and the original Gear Daddies perform their rootsy Americana-blend of sing-along favorites. 

Tuesday, July 10

Miss Lakeville Scholarship Pageant - Lakeville South High School - 6:00 p.m.: Who will wear Miss Lakeville’s crown for 2012? Find out during this always entertaining event.

For a complete list of events, times, and locations visit the official Pan-O-Prog website here. And keep abreast of all the fun activities and events with .