The cardboard and duct tape boats were built to row across the pool in an annual contest judging speed, design and dramatic sinking. As contestants lined up however, thunder and lightning rumbled throughout the park and the event was canceled for safety reasons.

Juan Vadell, outdoor recreation specialist/event coordinator for the Minot Park District, said the popular summer event may possibly be rescheduled for later this month or postponed until next year.

In the meantime, Minot’s parks and recreation activities will continue full steam ahead for the rest of the month.

“July is National Parks and Recreation Month, so we really try to keep July loaded with as many things to do as possible,” Vadell said.

From left, brothers Hudson, Asher, Everett and Owen Skjervem stand next to their cardboard canoe creations at Roosevelt Park Pool for the Cardboard Canoe Race as a severe thunderstorm rolls in from behind Friday evening.

Build-A-Bubble is scheduled for Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. in Oak Park.

“We’re going to have really big bubbles and really big wands and we’re going to fill the park up with bubbles at the Oak Park Amphitheater,” Vadell said. Complimentary bubbles will be handed out to all attending children while supplies last.

The movie “Wonka” will be showing in Oak Park Friday, starting after sunset at around 9:30 p.m. Attending children and families will have the opportunity to make and eat their own smores, free of cost. Children will be able to take turns to safely roast their marshmallows on skewers over a controlled fire.

The Minot Parks Department will be hosting its last Nature Walk of the year on Tuesday, July 23, from 6-7 p.m. at the Outdoor Family Recreation Area, 4720 10th Ave. NW.

“It’ll be really fun, it’s really beautiful out there. All the flowers are in bloom. I’ll be your guide and I’m really up on a lot of the prairie flowers and wildlife,” Vadell said about the guided nature walk.

Friday evening at Roosevelt Park Pool for the Cardboard Canoe Race, from left, brothers Elias and Micah Allanes stand next to the “SS Blub Blub,” a modest craft asking folks to not judge a book by its cover nor a cardboard vessel by its size.

Chalk the Walk will be closing out July’s Parks and Recreation Month on Sunday, July 28, from 2-4 p.m. in Oak Park and will be led by award-winning chalk artist Dawn Dewitt, who will be helping participants decorate the sidewalks with as much chalk art as possible.