About Us
Scholarship
Each year, the Queen of the Lakes and two Aquatennial Princesses are chosen to represent the festival and city of Minneapolis all over the state, nation and world. Fifty young women representing communities throughout the state of Minnesota participate in this once-in-a-lifetime program.Alumni
The Aquatennial have a rich history of Ambassadors who have represented the festival. From Minnesota’s top business leaders, media stars and people who have a great passion for the Aquatennial, these are the people who have made the festival what it is today.| Aqua Trivia |
Aquatennial History and TriviaThe Third Week of July: The Aquatennial is always held the third full week of July. The festival's founding fathers consulted weather forecasters who said that was traditionally the driest, warmest week of the year. First Aquatennial, 1940: The entire Minneapolis Police Department worked twelve hours each day of the new festival. Ninety-two year-old Chief One Bull, last of the great Sioux warriors and famous for his defeat of General Custer, attended Aquatennial festivities. Celebrity Gene Autry was also an Aquatennial guest, broadcasting his "Melody Ranch" programs from WCCO Radio. In 1941: The Aquatennial was proclaimed the "Northwest's greatest summer festival" and one that should not be missed. Bridal store owner Dan Cupid lamented that business was abnormally slow during Aquatennial week, with hardly any weddings scheduled. However, there were a tremendous number of weddings scheduled for the week immediately following the Aquatennial. Famous Aquatennial Guests: * Vice President Richard Nixon served as the Aquatennial's Grand Marshal in 1958. * The Lone Ranger attended Children's Day events at the new Parade Stadium in 1951, at the height of his career. * Bob Barker hosted the TV game show "Truth or Consequences" with a live broadcast from Edina, Minnesota - at the Southdale Shopping Mall in 1957. * The Aquatennial had its own Woodstock in 1967 with "Happening '67," a three-day psychedelic band concert featuring rock stars like Jefferson Airplane and Buffalo Springfield. * Millionaire and philanthropist, Percy Ross, rode in the 1978 Torchlight Parade and threw $16,500 worth of silver dollars into the crowd (by the way, throwing things from a float is now illegal in Minneapolis). * Phyllis George, the former sportscaster, morning television show anchor, and Miss America was Torchlight Parade Grand Marshal in 1989. Tons O'People: The Aquatennial is attended by nearly 800,000 people over the 10 days of the festival. Tons O'Events: Back when the Aquatennial began, there were nearly 200 events. Today festival organizers have scaled that number back to about 30 events. The goal is to make each event absolutely spectacular. First Milk Carton Boat Race: It all started in 1971 with a local advertising agency trying to increase sales for its client, a milk distributor. Ad executives tried to think up the most outrageous idea and came up with milk carton boat races. The Aquatennial, a festival with a nautical theme, was the logical venue for the race. * Largest Milk Carton Boat: In 1993, Tetra Pak, a Minneapolis packager, used 25,000 milk cartons to make a one-hundred foot boat in the shape of an aircraft carrier. This was to honor those who had served in Operation Desert Storm. Nearly 150 people rode on the boat. First Torchlight Parade: The first Torchlight Parade was held during the very first Aquatennial in 1940, but back then, it was called the "Illuminated Evening Parade." * Strangest Float: A Minuteman ICBM was scheduled to appear in the 1965 parade, but the missile equipment was sent to Vietnam instead. * That's One "HOT" float: In 1953, the Queen of the Lakes' float caught fire in the staging area. After quick repairs, it still participated in the parade. Last Aqua Follies: One of the Aquatennial's most popular events, the Aqua Follies, ended in 1964. This event began in 1940 at Cedar Lake and eventually moved to Theodore Wirth Lake Park. The main attractions of the follies were the "Aqua Darlings," a variety group, and the "Aqua Dears," a team of 25 synchronized swimmers. Also featured at the Aqua Follies were Olympic divers, comedians, acrobats, singers, dancers and a sound and light show unrivaled in its time. Aquatennial officials ended the Follies because the cost to replace the deteriorating staging area, bleachers and diving area would have been astronomical. Raising Money for the Ill: Polio concerned the public in 1953 and milkmen sold Aquatennial Skipper Pins to raise money for iron lungs used by polio victims. Ambassador Trivia: * 1949 Queen of the Lakes Jean Johnson was sponsored by Dayton's Department Store. Queen Jean was featured in a Sunday Tribune article called "Paper Doll." It described how to dress like a queen for $134.25. Jean was pictured as a paper doll, complete with cut-out clothes to dress her. * 1974 Queen of the Lakes Barbara Peterson became a favorite beyond the Aquatennial and was crowned Miss USA. Today there are an average of 47 Queen of the Lakes candidates from across the State of Minnesota. The candidates are judged based on their poise, personality and communication skills. * 2007 Queen of the Lakes Jessica Gaulke became the first Queen of the Lakes to be called to military duty, and it occurred during her reign. A member of the Minnesota Army National Guard since 2002, Jessica served six months of her year before resigning her title effective January 3, 2007 to leave for training and then deployment to serve in the Iraq war as a diesel generator mechanic. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak attended AAO's annual meeting on November 16, 2006, declared January 3, 2007 as "Jessica Gaulke Day in Minneapolis," and named Jessica a Special Ambassador to the City upon her return from Iraq. Jessica and her family were also invited to serve as Grand Marshals of the first Holidazzle parade of 2006. Jessica's announcement generated media publicity locally and nationally. ABC News with Charles Gibson named her their "Person of the Week" and produced a video report on their national news which was broadcast on November 17, 2006. Hennepin History Museum: Since 2001, the Hennepin History Museum is the proud repository for the Historic Aquatennial Collection, supervised by the Past Queens Association. Materials from 1943 are available for research purposes and can be loaned out for festival and other Aquatennial related events. Each summer during Aquatennial, Jack Kabrud, Curator and Managing Director, creates a historic exhibit, such as a tribute to Past Queens, Aqua Follies, parades, and Aqua Pictorials! The Hennepin History Museum is located at 2303 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis. 612-870-1329 www.hhmuseum.org Aquatennial Ambassador Organization: In late 2001, the Minneapolis Aquatennial Association was divided into two entities. The Aquatennial Ambassador Organization (AAO) was newly formed as a nonprofit organization to continue the tradition of ambassador outreach as representatives of the Aquatennial in Minneapolis, as well as other communities. The Minneapolis Downtown Council purchased the rights to the Aquatennial name and ownership of all major events associated with the festival (excluding the Queen of the Lakes program and coronation). The AAO and the Downtown Council work hand-in-hand to continue to produce one of the most premier festivals in the nation and to carry-on the tradition of goodwill ambassadors traveling to communities throughout Minnesota, across the country, as well as to Osaka, Japan. Updated: 11/17/06 |
