Shorter Minneapolis Aquatennial begins with torchlight parade

Log-rolling siblings
Lizzie Hoeschler, 31, and her sister Abby Hoeschler, 27, practice log rolling on Minneapolis' Lake Calhoun in June 2014. The Hoeschler family hosted a log-rolling tournament on Lake Calhoun during the 2014 Aquatennial.
Jeffrey Thompson | MPR News

A shorter than usual Minneapolis Aquatennial starts Wednesday with a torchlight parade on Hennepin Avenue. The festival will close out on Saturday night with fireworks over the Mississippi River.

The Minneapolis Downtown Council, which organizes the festival, decided this year to shorten it from 10 days to four. Organizers also eliminated some traditional events like the Milk Carton Boat Races.

The changes came because the festival competes for people's time against many more summer events. A Minneapolis Downtown Council spokesperson told MPR News when the changes were announced in May that it was no longer realistic to ask families to set aside two weekends for the festival.

The 2015 Minneapolis Aquatennial takes place from July 22-25. The Twin Cities River Rats Ski Show will be held on the Mississippi River Thursday evening. Other planned events include yoga, a fundraising race for the Salvation Army's food and housing programs and a number of neighborhood festivals. The festival's closing fireworks are scheduled for 10 p.m. on Saturday.

This will be the 75th annual Minneapolis Aquatennial. The Minneapolis Downtown Council acquired the festival in 2002 as it was facing budget challenges.

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