BRAINERD — Concertgoers were gearing up for Lakes Jam at Brainerd International Raceway Wednesday, June 26, as the festival opened its doors for campers. The Lakes Jam music event festival hosts a variety of musicians and activities over four days, opening its doors Wednesday morning and beginning its first musical act at 7 p.m.
that night. Across 11 campgrounds, attendees set up trailers, tents, tarps and decorations and settled in for the event. Kevin Lange, general manager of Howie’s Corner Bar in St.
Stephen, brought part of the business with him, along with a notable portion of its customers. “The best part about Lakes Jam is, you got everybody likes different situations,” Lange said. “You like the music, you like the drifting, you like whatever.
” ADVERTISEMENT Lakes Jam hosts a variety of festivities including mud trucks, poker, and road course drifting in cars. Howie’s Corner Bar has been a partner with Lakes Jam for three years. Another group of Lakes Jam veterans, Roger and Tina Pawlu, have been attending the festival since its beginning 13 years ago.
Although they live near enough to the raceway to drive in for the events and music, the Pawlus prefer to stake out a spot with their camper, canopies, fire pit, kiddie pool and all-terrain vehicle. Unfortunately, part of their preparations ended in inflatable tragedy. “It was looking good til I hit the bridge,” Roger Pawlu said, referring to the larger of the couple’s two unicorn pool floats.
Althoug.
