Stillwater shifting summer gears after 4th of July and Lumberjack Days cancellations

Stillwater, like many other small Minnesota cities and towns, is planning smaller events more often, to help keep tourism dollars flowing after COVID-19 forces cancellations of major festivals and concerts.

Fourth of July events and Lumberjack Days attract, respectively, about 30,000-40,000 visitors every year, and they are huge moneymakers for Stillwater businesses and government.

Stillwater Mayor Ted Kozlowski told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the city is "discussing right now" different ideas and ways to hold smaller events, more often, to soften the blow of losing the 4th of July and Lumberjack Days later that months.

"The city, the Stillwater Area Chamber of Commerce and Discover Stillwater are all working on what's next," Kozlowski said. "We hope to bring things to downtown that will still attract people who love coming here, but just on a different scale."

Kozlowski said having smaller events and still respecting COVID-19 restrictions is possible, and it will provide an avenue for people to still get out and connect and help the local businesses that are trying their best to navigate the current restrictions.

"We might even consider lifting the ban on open bottles of beer and wine," Kozlowski said. "If you want to buy food from a restaurant, or bar, and have a bottle of wine, or some beer, down along the riverfront park and open spaces, that could be very manageable."

Kozlowski said these ideas are all just in their early planning phases and that decisions on what these events will look like and when they would be held should be coming together in the next few weeks.