LAKE MINNETONKA
LAKE MINNETONKA
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2025
Chamber supports South Lake area businesses
The Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce is the hard-working nonprofit responsible for many of the annual South Lake Minnetonka events across the community.
The chamber is an organization made up of local business members who serve as supporters for each other and organize yearly celebrations and events to bring residents together. Some of the events have been going on for decades in the lake area while others have continued to grow each and every year, spreading the message of the organization’ s outreach and influence.
The first event to properly kick-off spring is the Black Gown Gala, a spring event toting Lake Minnetonka fashion. The event brings together community members and business owners to share in some of the year’ s hottest lakeside fashion during the spring and summer months.
Consistently stationed at Camp Fire Minnesota, local celebrities walk the runway and keep the buzz of the local business industry going.
The Lake Minnetonka Fourth of July celebration is one of the crowning events of the chamber. The daylong expanse of activities bring together the community in a fabulous display of patriotism often culminated by the only public fireworks event on Lake Minnetonka. During the day, residents and visitors can begin by participating in an early morning Firecracker Race and can later join the stream of children and families walking down Water Street in a parade that leads to more activities in the Commons Park.
There is plenty to do in the South Lake area during the summer. Art on the Lake is one weekend event that continues to grow, serving as a spot for talented Minnesotan artists to sell their goods. On June 14 and 15, the 45th annual Art on the Lake will feature more than 120 artists. But art is not the only thing on display: live musicians, a public safety present and fair foods round out the experience. The day before, the fourth annual Paint the Port invites brings in artistic hands to cover Water Street in colorful chalk squares. One of the summer-long events is the Concerts in the Commons series, hosted by the Excelsior Morning Rotary. The series takes place on two Wednesdays each month from May through August in Excelsior’ s largest park. Popular cover bands and musicians from all walks of music keep the series going.
In the fall, Excelsior Apple Days will return Sept. 19-21 for another three days full of events. The fruit-themed event brings in a selection of artsy booths, several apple pie eating contests for all ages, live entertainment throughout the days, Kids Corner activities for children, and a popular beer and wine garden in the center of it all on Water Street.
The chamber is also responsible for the Bridgewater Bank Luck o’ the Lake in March, the South Lake Minnetonka community garage sales in May, Excelsior Crazy Days in July, Halloween in Excelsior in October and Christmas in Excelsior on Saturdays in December.
The chamber boasts more than 200 members in several cities and is always looking for new members.
For more information, visit excelsior-lakeminnetonkachamber. com.
Tiffany King Executive Director Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce
LAKE MINNETONKA | COMMUNITY GUIDE | 2025 | 7