NISSWA, Minn. – Ready, set... go? Every summer, Nisswa, Minnesota is off to the races during the town's weekly turtle race competition.
For many vacationers, the Nisswa turtle races are a longstanding tradition, taking off every Wednesday of summer behind the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce at 2 p.m. During the beginning of July, crowds swelled over 500 people for an afternoon race.
"You can't not be happy on Wednesdays because we know people are coming here to do something fun Today we met people from California who brought their parents from Australia," said Shawn Hansen, Nisswa Chamber of Commerce President and CEO.
Hansen said the tradition started 52 years ago when a Main Street retailer brainstormed a way to bring more tourists downtown.
"We are on the third generation of people who have raced turtles, so Grandma is here with their grandchild, so they are just showing traditions that can happen, so I think that's what makes it so successful, is there is a lot of history in the small town and people love to come here," said Hansen.
Over the Fourth of July week, Turtle master Mark Ulm, also the owner of the Zaiser's gift shop downtown, emceed the event, where 20 people compete at a time and advance until a grand champion is named.
"This is small town America at its best, right here. We are here to create memories for your family," Ulm told the crowd.
Jeremy Kelly, 6, who doesn't live far from Nisswa, came to race for the first time.
"I want to pick a fast one," said Kelly. "I think I'll name him George."
Lucas Steffensmeier came with his family from Des Moines, Iowa, and his hopes of fleeting fame were dashed when his turtle stubbornly stopped before the finish line.
"You are in the highs and the lows with these turtles, they are out their
In the end, a young champion did emerge, Caydence
Learn more about the turtle races here. The weekly races run through August 19.