Living and Loving Local: Why Summer is the Heartbeat of Community

🏡 What Does It Mean to Live and Love Local?

Summer in Minnesota brings with it a sense of celebration. Just about every town hosts its own festival—complete with parades, food trucks, vendor shows, live music, and the kind of small-town fun that leaves a lasting impression.

These events are more than entertainment. They’re where local businesses, entrepreneurs, and volunteers come together to build something special—and where the community comes to celebrate it.

🌽 Supporting Small Businesses at Their Roots

When you stroll through a vendor fair or a craft booth, you're seeing grassroots entrepreneurship in action. Whether it's a cottage baker, jewelry maker, or local artisan, these small business owners are living their dream—and helping our communities thrive.

Supporting them means supporting families, independence, and the very fabric of local commerce. They are the creators, bookkeepers, marketers, and dreamers—often all rolled into one.

🦆 A Duck, a Festival, and a Whole Lot of Community

Recently, I visited Princeton for their Rum River Festival—yes, the one with the world’s largest duck. I don’t live in Princeton, but I went to support my friend Kim Young, their incredible chamber director, and to enjoy the kind of playful fun (Duck-Duck-Grey-Duck, anyone?) that summer is all about.

What struck me most wasn’t the duck—it was the volunteers. The energy, the passion, the behind-the-scenes magic they bring to life. These events don’t happen without them—and the ones who return year after year are the quiet heroes behind our most cherished memories.

🎡 Community Events = Community Milestones

Think of these summer festivals like birthdays and family reunions—not for one person, but for an entire town. They create shared stories and foster connection. They offer joy, tradition, and a place to belong.

So don’t underestimate that ride on the scrambler or that corn dog eaten under the fireworks. These are the moments that stay with us.

☕ Why Third Places Matter

These gatherings are part of a bigger idea: the importance of third places. A term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, third places are where we go when we’re not at home (first place) or work (second place). Think coffee shops, parks, and yes—community festivals.

“Third places…are locations where we exchange ideas, have a good time, and build relationships… They are the ‘living room’ of society.”
— Brookings Institution

They’re where community is built, conversations flow, and social classes level out. They are the glue between people and place.

☀️ A Summer Worth Showing Up For

Summer offers us a break from routine. With longer days and lighter schedules, it’s a perfect season to say yes—to new experiences, to community gatherings, and to the kind of everyday joy that doesn’t require a weeklong vacation.

I’ve always said: I want to live a life I don’t need an escape from. Embracing local events and third places helps me live that life. Volunteering helps too.

So this summer, show up. Dance in the street. Cheer at the parade. Support the vendors. Thank the volunteers. Make the memory.

Because when we live and love local, we don’t just enjoy summer—we strengthen our community.