Please welcome Ken Hafften as the new volunteer Archivist for the Aquatennial historic collection at the Hennepin History Museum. He has had over 47 years serving the festival, beginning in 1972, bringing his passion for Aquatennial to the public. He has served as: Vice Commodore; Vice Commodore of Skipper Pins; Vice Commodore of Parades; Vice Commodore of the Mississippi Showcase; and General Festival Chairman. For the past seventeen years Pam Albinson (1962 Queen of the Lak

Tickets for all AAO Events during the 2017 Aquatennial festival will be made available for purchase Thursday morning. Secure your tickets with 3 easy steps: Register Now, Add to Cart, and Checkout. Event and ticket information will be made available at www.aquatennialambassadors.com/events by 7:00 a.m. on June 1. Registration for ticketed events is not secured until full payment is received and all ticket sales are non-refundable. Proceeds of AAO Aquatennial Events benefit

Pre-sale, portals, tickets and more! As excitement builds for Aqua Week 2017, here is what you need to know to make the most out of the Best Days of Summer. First off, go to www.aquatennialambassadors.com/events for the complete list of AAO events, and how to register and buy tickets. Proceeds of AAO Aquatennial Events benefit the Aquatennial Ambassador Scholarship Program. For information on other Aquatennial events such as CenterPointe Energy Torchlight Parade or Target F

The AAO launched a new webpage for Aquatennial alumni and AAO members to access special benefits including pre-sale opportunities for AAO events. Alumni and current AAO members who have created an online account are now able to access the new portal at www.aquatennialambassadors.com/portal. The website will provide information on exclusive AAO merchandise, access to AAO event photos, pre-sale opportunities to AAO events, and more. To gain access to the portal, alumni and mem

In just 100 days, Aquatennial Candidates from across Minnesota, International Visiting Dignitaries from throughout North America, and Aquatennial festival fans will converge in Minneapolis along with AAO ambassadors, alumni, members, and volunteers to celebrate the Best Days of Summer! However, you don't need to wait until then to plug into the excitement of #Aqua2017. Here are several ways you can prepare and celebrate now: Candidate Registration Deadline Registration for t

All alumni - regardless of recent involvement - are encouraged to register and submit their current contact information into a new digital database. Registered alumni will benefit from better communications and many new incentives. Over the years, the contact information for our Aquatennial Ambassador Alumni has become outdated and inaccurate while our alumni have experienced difficulties in providing updated information to the AAO. With the enhanced features of the AAO webs

The Minneapolis Aquatennial Ambassador Organization held its inaugural Women's Expo at the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business in Minneapolis on Saturday. Led by Aquatennial Captains, Sarah Schrader and Jim Ganger, the focus of the event was enhancing one's community involvement with tools for professional success. Participants were current and former ambassadors, ages 18 to 24, from communities and festivals across Minnesota. The event was the first in a serie

The AAO announced Sunday of the launch of a Women's Expo to be held Saturday, March 4 at the University of St. Thomas Minneapolis Campus. The Expo will feature professional development seminars supporting young women ages 18-24 with experience serving in their community's ambassador program-as either a candidate or ambassador. The seminars will focus on enhancing one's community involvement with tools for professional success. The Expo will be led by Minneapolis Aquatennial

The AAO Membership voted to reinstate the role of Vice Commodore and the Festival Planning Divisions at the AAO Annual Meeting on Wednesday. First appearing in the 1960s, the Vice Commodores (VCs) acted not only as official representatives of the Aquatennial, but primarily to lead the planning divisions of the festival and execute the programs and events that took place leading up to and during the Aquatennial festival. However, after the Minneapolis Aquatennial Association

As a former Aquatennial Princess (1992), Vice Commodore (1999 Arts & Entertainment Division) and Captain (2009), Natalka's dedication to the Aquatennial and AAO has earned her the nickname of "Capcess." She has also served as President of the Past Princess Association, member of the Visiting Dignitaries committee and plans to increase her involvement in 2017. Which Community/Festival were you from? Northeast Minneapolis How did you benefit from your scholarship? It provided m

A Memorial service for 1941 Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes Eva (Brunson) Steiner took place on Tuesday in Minneapolis. As the first Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes to reign over the festival, she embodied the Aquatennial spirit; being both regal and graceful. A Minneapolis resident, she continued to serve the community over the years as a member and volunteer of several organizations including the Jones-Harrison Residence, the Woman's Club of Minneapolis and Golden Valley Fed

Jeni is a former Aquatennial Princess from 2014. She then went on to be the 2015 Princess Kay of the Milky Way! Jeni has continued to volunteer for the AAO in media relations and each year during the Aquatennial Festival. Which Community/Festival were you from? Waconia How did you benefit from your scholarship? I used my Aquatennial scholarship to help fund my undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities. I am excited to be graduating with minimal debt in

Former Vice Commodore Eileen Hafften first got involved with the Aquatennial in 1980 as a Parade Committee member where she served for 16 years. She also served as an Ambassador Chaperone for 9 years and has served as AAO Board of Directors Secretary since 2015. What is one of your favorite memories of being an Aquatennial Ambassador? The La Crosse Oktoberfest weekends and Aquatennial festival weeks at the hotel. What are your hopes for the Aquatennial and/or the AAO? To see

It's July. It's Minneapolis. It's Aquatennial Time! Deadlines are fast approaching for several of the Minneapolis Aquatennial Ambassador Organization's Aquatennial Events. Here is quick rundown of the 2016 AAO Events. For additional details on all of the events highlighted below, please visit AAO Events> To purchase tickets to AAO Events, please visit the AAO Shop> MASAA Senior Ambassador Coronation July 19, 2016 10:00 a.m. Coronation 1:00 p.m. Ballroom Dance Elks Lodge Say