from the publishers

Summer in Minnesota, From drive-in restaurants to small-town festivals;

Our cover story about small-town drive-ins conjures up all kinds of images of summers past.
Think one slice of Americana, one slice American Graffiti with pickles, ketchup and mustard and a side order of fries.

What summer weekend night would be complete without cruising up and down main street and stopping for a burger and a malt? Or do you prefer a shake? If you can’t make up your mind, there’s always that all-American favorite, Coca-Cola (or Pepsi, depending on your vendor).

Who wouldn’t enjoy ordering to a waitress on roller skates as “ I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill” wafted from the speakers and into the star-filled darkness? Chuck Berry, Elvis, the Beach Boys, Do-Wop and Wolfman Jack all have their place in the music culture surrounding drive-in restaurants.

And if you’re not driving a Corvette or Mustang, your family sedan feels like a sports car nonetheless. Summer in Minnesota offers the perfect opportunity to hop in your vehicle and explore this wonderful playground of ours, especially if you plan on attending one of the hundreds of small-town festivals. Read about those inside this issue as well as many other stories, including the first of four installments looking at some interesting facts about Minnesota’s counties.

We hope you enjoy the summer as well as this issue of Minnesota Moments.