Cooking on Kampeska brings bands, contests and rides to Watertown starting Thursday

Starting Thursday evening, the west side of Watertown along Lake Kampeska is the place to be for "Cooking on Kampeska."

With sunshine and very pleasant summer temperatures expected, Stokes-Thomas Lake City Park hosts the 12th edition of the popular annual event that offers rides, music, food trucks, family-friendly activities and of course, a serious cooking competition. Daily admission is $10, with a weekend pass, Thursday-Saturday, available for $15.

Saturday, in particular, offers a full day’s slate of activities from 7 a.m. until after sunset. These include the half marathon or 5k around the lake on Saturday morning.

New this year is the Kampala Olympics, a minute-to-win-it style competition to see which team will take the bracket.

Other games will include:

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• Moving water from a tub to a pitcher with a frisbee.

• Pulling a wagon full of derby skates through a course.

• Running with a tray full of solo cups filled with water.

• Golfing with a broom.

• Retrieving items from a sand-filled kiddie pool.

Attendees can also register their 3 to 8 year old to participate in the light-hearted traditional Little Miss & Mister Kampeska Pageant.

Finally, South Dakota Aerial & Arts, an aerial art troupe based in Sioux Falls, is making their first trip to Watertown. The group will bring aerialists with added fire entertainment to their Saturday afternoon showcases.

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History of Watertown trivia

Cooking on Kampeska is a project of the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce. Ashley Johnson, the director of community engagement for the Chamber, says the overall goal of this annual gathering is to create a “signature summer event” for Watertown.

This can include putting an emphasis on Lake Kampeska and providing family-friendly activities that, according to her, elevate the quality-of-life experience across the community and help support the Chamber drive non-dues revenue that allow the organization to continue working hard for the community.

“The vibe of the event depends on the time of day and what you want to experience, but overall, it’s a fun lake or camping weekend for all ages,” Johnson said. “This event is a great representation of Watertown. Our community pulls together to help this event be a success each year. We have sponsors from a variety of business types; our local service organizations help us by volunteering; and our city departments help us have a safe and fun experience. It represents how our community becomes a web of communication, cooperation, and most of all, fun.”