There was no organized parade for the second year, but Crosslake still celebrated St. Patrick's Day on Friday and Saturday, March 12-13, when the chamber hosted Crosslake St. Patrick's Day Shenanigans.
Events included the Yardi Pardi business and residential decorating contest and the Lucky Leprechaun Amazing Race.
More than a dozen businesses decorated their buildings' exteriors, with Lake Country Crafts & Cones winning the most enthusiastic award. Three residences signed up for the contest, with Les and Kat Mahowald's home taking top honors.
Hundreds of people participated in the Lucky Leprechaun Amazing Race, which was created to give businesses an economic boost. Participants downloaded an app and traveled around the Crosslake area to locate businesses and landmarks, complete missions and earn points.
1/9: Les and Kat Mahowald's home won the most enthusiastic award in the residential division of Crosslake's Yardi Pardi on Friday, March 12, 2021, to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal
2/9: A group of people playing the Lucky Leprechaun Amazing Race take photos in front of Frandsen Bank & Trust in Crosslake, which was decorated for the Yardi Pardi contest Friday, March 12, 2021. Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal
3/9: A parade float announcing the March 19, 2022, date for the Crosslake St. Patrick's Day Parade is parked outside the Crosslake Chamber of Commerce as part of the Crosslake St. Patrick's Day Shenanigans events taking place in 2021. Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal
4/9: The entrance to Maucieri's Italian Bistro in Crosslake boasted a St. Patrick's Day themed entry Friday, March 12, 2021, for the St. Patrick's Day Yardi Pardi decorating contest. Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal
5/9: Crosslake Community School, shown here Friday, March 12, 2021, was decorated on all sides of the building for the Yardi Pardi decorating contest that was part of the Crosslake St. Patrick's Day Shenanigans this year. Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal
6/9: Curious Belongings on County State Aid Highway 66 in Crosslake, shown here Friday, March 12, 2021, featured Yardi Pardi decorations. Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal
7/9: This festively decorated wagon is at the end of Sean and Hannah Bengtson's driveway as part of Crosslake's Yardi Pardi featuring St. Patrick's Day decorations. This photo was taken Friday, March 12, 2021. Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal
8/9: The decorations at Crosslake's Common Goods store, shown here Friday, March 12, 2021, shimmered in the sunlight. Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal
9/9: Andy's Bar & Grill in Crosslake was decorated Friday, March 12, 2021, for the Yardi Pardi decorating contest that was part of Crosslake St. Patrick's Day Shenanigans this year. Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal
Nancy Vogt is editor of the Pineandlakes Echo Journal, a weekly newspaper that covers eight communities in the Pequot Lakes-Pine River areas - from Nisswa to Hackensack and Pequot Lakes to Crosslake.
She started as editor of the Lake Country Echo in July 2006, and continued in that role when the Lake Country Echo and the Pine River Journal combined in September 2013 to become the Pineandlakes Echo Journal. She worked for the Brainerd Dispatch from 1992-2006 in various roles.
She covers Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Lake Shore and Crosslake city councils, as well as writes feature stories, news stories and personal columns (Vogt's Notes). She also takes photos at community events.
Contact her at nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com or 218-855-5877 with story ideas or questions. Be sure to leave a voicemail message!
