New Hope’s Duk Duk Daze to Get New Name, Become One-Day Festival

Big changes are on the way for New Hope’s annual Duk Duk Daze Festival.

When the event happens next summer, it will have a new location, a new name and festival organizers will shorten it to a single day.

“It was a 50-year tradition here in New Hope, but at 50 years, it also may be a good time for us to change the event and refresh it a little bit,” said Keith Beise, New Hope’s communications coordinator.

The city and the New Hope Lions Club made the announcement this week. It’s a direct response to safety concerns that arose after several fights broke out during this year’s Duk Duk Daze Festival. The New Hope Lions Club will still continue to spearhead the festival.

Next year’s one-day festival will take place on Sat., July 11 near New Hope City Hall.

It will feature many of the same elements residents have enjoyed in the past, but there won’t be a carnival or fireworks display.

Organizers are also asking people to come up with a new name for the festival.

“We’ve received a number of good ones so far, but we really want to see people get creative and let us know, what do you think represents New Hope and would be a fun name for the event moving forward?” Beise said.

Anyone with a good name suggestion can submit their ideas at www.newhopemn.gov/festival.

New Hope