Northwoods Adventure-Nisswa Turtle Races

The city of Nisswa contains a population of about 2,000 people. On Wednesday afternoons during the summer, about one thousand people can be found within a 50 feet radius; the center of which, is the Nisswa turtle race. Nisswa has held turtle races for 51 years. An average of 500 racers participate every week. Most afternoons, the group contains a third generation racer. Different racers offer different opinions on how to pick a winning turtle. Twenty turtles race in every heat with the winners moving on until one turtle stands above them all. The only rules are stay inside the circle and release the turtle on the starting line. That way, it’s all up to the turtle. Some racers insist that strategic splashing can affect the turtles’ performance. With the right turtle, a person can claim eternal glory.

Contact the Author Shane Lee

slee@lptv.org