Erickson set to participate in Minneapolis Auatennial Queen of Lakes program
On Tuesday morning, Emily Ericksen will follow in the footsteps of many past Miss Sleepy Eye queens before her by participating in the Minneapolis Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes program. Over the years, Sleepy Eye has been represented well at the Minneapolis Aquatennial, including six women being crowned as Aquatennial Princesses and one as Queen of the Lakes. For Emily, this weeklong flurry of activity will be the culmination of her reign as Miss Sleepy Eye 2024, ending with the Queen of the Lakes Coronation on Saturday.
Before Coronation takes place, Emily will represent our community during events such as the Community Brunch, Meet the Candidates, Commodore’s Dinner, the Minnetonka Power Boat Squadron, and the Sunshine Soiree Dance, to name a few. In between the events, she will make new friends, attend seminars, create a fundraising basket, participate in unique opportunities, and will have multiple interviews with the judges.
As Emily packs her bags this weekend and gets ready for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that she will share with 43 young women from around Minnesota, she can’t help but be excited for Tuesday’s Alumni Boat Cruise, where she will spend a few hours with past Aquatennial ambassadors. In her words, Emily feels “it will be fun to hear from past Aquatennial ambassadors and hear their stories. I also think it will be an empowering event, hearing how Aquatennial has affected these women’s lives and how they have grown from their experiences. Knowing how much I grew through the Miss Sleepy Eye organization, I can only imagine how Aquatennial has helped these women grow.”
On Wednesday, Emily will represent Sleepy Eye at the Meet the Candidates event, where the candidates showcase their communities. While she’s keeping her lips sealed about her costume, it will represent Summerfest and all the fun we have together as a community, capping it off with the Grand Parade. And speaking of parades, Emily is also very excited for Wednesday night’s Minneapolis Aquatennial Torchlight Parade. “I think it will be so cool to be in such a big parade, in a big city representing Sleepy Eye. I can’t wait to show off our little town with a big personality! I am so honored to represent us in this and hopefully see some people I know!”
As much fun and excitement the Minneapolis Aquatennial experience will be for Emily, one other aspect she is looking forward to is giving back to those less fortunate. “I am also excited for the many volunteer activities we will be doing as a candidate group. I love to give my time to others and I think doing this with other girls is going to be a blast!”
This year’s Minneapolis Aquatennial candidate experience will be Tuesday, July 22 – Saturday, July 26, 2025. It is going to be fast-paced for five straight days, so if you would like to send Emily some encouragement or wish her good luck, please send cards to: Hilton Garden Inn Minneapolis University Area, Attn: AAO Candidate Emily Ericksen (Sleepy Eye Ambassador), 511 SE Huron Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55414.
