Minneapolis, MN The Minneapolis Aquatennial Ambassador Organization (AAO) revealed the 2018 Minneapolis Aquatennial Commodore and Captains at the Commodore's Dinner Thursday night. The 2018 Commodore is Bill McReavy - President of Washburn-McReavy Funeral & Cremation Services. The Captains are Kenny Devine - Assistant Account Executive at Padilla, and Quentin Moore - Director of Annual Giving at the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities. Aquatennial Commodore Bill McReavy McReavy

The Minneapolis Aquatennial Ambassador Organization kicked off its Ambassador Candidate Program on Tuesday with the Candidate Community Luncheon where two of its annual awards were presented to outstanding community volunteers. This year's recipient of the Minnesota Community Award was the community of Cokato! The award is presented to an ambassador program that has participated in the Aquatennial Ambassador Candidate Program and has developed an outstanding ambassador progr

Longtime sponsor and supporter of both the Minneapolis Aquatennial and Aquatennial Ambassador Organization, Donato's Floral of Maple Grove continues this year as AAO's Official Florist. Owners Maria Donato and Anna Donato-Ghani are extending a special offer in honor of the shop's Founder, Victor Donato, who passed away in 2014. Show your support of your community's Aquatennial Ambassador Candidate by purchasing a floral arrangement that will be delivered to her during Aquate

The AAO is proud to introduce the 53 ambassador candidates for the 2018 Aquatennial Ambassador Crew. View candidates > Photos of the 53 candidates were captured by the Andrew Sonnek of AFSonnek Photography, Partner and Official Photographer of the AAO. Sonnek lives in Minneapolis and started as a landscape and cityscape photographer, "showing off every day places’ understated beauty," states Andrew on his website. Also capturing our Ambassador Crew's official photos, Andrew

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 announced the public events it will host during the 2017 Aquatennial festival via a video posted to its social media outlets on Tuesday. A total of seven events will be offered in July. A notable change this year is the Alumni Boat Cruise sponsored by Paradise Charter Cruises and the Mississippi Queen has moved to Monday to act as a social kick-off for AAO Alumni and will feature a special recognition for Alumni celebrating a milestone anniversary. Another big change

The AAO is pleased to announce the Minnesota communities participating in the 2017 Aquatennial Ambassador Candidate Program! View communities > This July, 54 candidates will be representing their communities during the Minneapolis Aquatennial festival. They will participate in a candidate program designed to provide personal and professional development opportunities, as well as many once-in-a-lifetime Aquatennial experiences. Just before the Target Fireworks on Saturday, Ju

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

The registration deadline for the 2017 Candidate Program is Saturday, April 15. The program provides several personal and professional development opportunities and other exclusive VIP experiences. A complete registration application form must be submitted by April 15, however full payment is not due until Candidate Orientation in May. Register Now > Did you know: Any Minnesota community is welcome to send a past ambassador as a candidate Each of the current Aquatennial Prin

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

Commodore Dan Stoltz and SPIRE Credit Union recognized AAO volunteers and Timberwolves leadership for their contributions to the Twin Cities at Target Center on Saturday. A reception sponsored by SPIRE took place at the new Mayo Clinic Square Experience Center prior to the Timberwolves game versus the Utah Jazz. During a brief program, Stoltz (CEO of SPIRE Credit Union) gave his Commodore Medal to good friend Chris Wright, President of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Ethan C

The AAO announced candidate registration for the 2018 Aquatennial Ambassador Crew will open February 15, 2017 via a video posted to its Vimeo channel and Facebook page on Monday. The video features photos of past candidates participating in the Aquatennial Ambassador Candidate Program and of the 2017 Aquatennial Ambassador Crew set to the song "Do or Die" by Afrojack and Thirty Seconds to Mars. The theme of the video emphasizes how "the story goes on" with memories that you'