National Park Service Events

Summer Bike Tour Along the Mississippi River: Harriet Island Park, 200 Dr. Justus Ohage Blvd., St. Paul, MN. July 14, 17*, 18*, 21, 22*, 23*, various times. See parkconnection.org/events for details. $10, $8 for Mississippi Park Connection members. Explore the history, geology, watersheds, and parks that connect us to the Mississippi River. Learn about the city that sprung up in the middle of wildlife, history, and culture. Travel through floodplain forests and visit culturally significant sites like Harriet Island, Lilydale Regional Park, Sibley Historic Site, and Bdote with a National Park Service ranger as your guide. On select dates* they will be joined by a Historical Site Educator from the Dakota County Historical Society at the Sibley House Historic Site. Learn about four of Minnesota’s oldest buildings as well as the landscape and culture of Mendota/Bdote during the time of Henry Sibley, Minnesota’s controversial first governor. The full loop is about 10 miles and takes about two hours.

Paddle With A Ranger: Saint Paul: Pickerel Lake at Lilydale Regional Park, 550 Lilydale Rd., St. Paul, MN, 55118. July 14, 21, 29, various times, see parkconnection.org/events for details. $25, $20 for Mississippi Park Connection members. Pickerel Lake is a wonderful location to be introduced to the world of paddling. Experts from the National Park Service will provide instruction and equipment for an adventure on the water for a wide variety of experience and ability levels. Adaptive paddling equipment is available, including hand adaptions for people who can grip a kayak paddle but need added support, or specialized outriggers attached to boats for balance assistance. If you would benefit from the use of adaptive equipment, please contact Ranger Kyle when you purchase your ticket at: kyle_just@nps.gov.

Paddle With A Ranger: Vermillion River Bottoms: Vermillion River Bottoms: 17210-17456 Ravenna Trail, Hastings, MN, 55033. July 11, 17, 18, 26; Aug 1. Various times, see parkconnection.org/events for details. $35, $30 for Mississippi Park Connection members. This guided paddle on the Vermillion River will take you through a unique portion of this national park in Minnesota that’s reminiscent of a Louisiana bayou. This area is great for wildlife observation, come see bald eagles, great blue herons, you might even be able to sneak up on a muskrat. Canoes, kayaks, paddles and life-jackets will be provided by the National Park Service and Mississippi River Paddle Share.

Mystery on the Mississippi: A Virtual Interactive Performance: Hosted on zoom, July 17, 7-9 pm. Get tickets at eventbrite.com. This online whodunit lets audience members interact with the characters and help solve a mystery using Zoom. Plot: Claire and Theodore love the Mississippi River and plan to marry on the Padelford Riverboat. Unfortunately, there’s someone nobody wants at the ceremony. Will one of the wedding guests go too far to keep them from attending? Join them on Zoom for a virtual live performance where you can follow along, interact with the cast, and help solve a mystery on the Mississippi River. The performance features a live ASL interpreter. Presented by Fearless Comedy, Mississippi Park Connection, and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. Download the Zoom app to your wireless enabled device prior to the show. You do not need a Zoom account to access the show. Zoom is free to use.