Frozen T-Shirt Contest & Kids Scavenger Hunt
Beat the heat in the youth and adult frozen t-shirt contests & New Wild Rice Days Event Brings Kids’ Scavenger Hunt right after the Parade
MCGREGOR, Minn.—The frozen t-shirt contests always draw an enthusiastic crowd and are a fun way to cool down on a warm day! Local businesses sponsor t-shirts, which are frozen into blocks of ice. It is the contestants’ job to thaw their shirt and put it on without damaging it.
Details and rules for the contest are posted at the button platform on Maddy Street. You must be 18 years of age to participate in the adult frozen t-shirt contest. Participants should meet by the button wagon immediately following the parade. Space is limited.
In 2013, Al Horton, Coon Rapids, won the $200 grand prize followed by Dave Kearin, Minneapolis, in 2014. The 2015 winner was Troy Templer, Cloquet, while Josh Mills, McGregor, netted the grand prize in record-breaking time in 2016. Joe Salzwedl, Ham Lake, took home the top prize in 2017; Chad Thorson, Cross Lake, won in 2018; Ryan Ward, Cambridge, in 2019; Cody Cohoes, Cottage Grove, in 2021 and Ryan Ward, Cambrdge, in 2022. Deb Buittner, Braham, took home the cash prize in 2023. Ryan Ward took home the prize for his impressive skill in thawing and putting on his frozen t-shirt without any rips, securing his fourth non-consecutive win. He won in 2019, 2022 and 2024.
The youth frozen t-shirt contest (ages six to 14), began in 2023, and is held at noon. Taylor D. won the youth frozen t-shirt contest last year, earning a well-deserved prize with a time of 31:57.
Ryan Ward took home the prize in 2025 for the his impressive skill in thawing and putting on his frozen t-shirt without any rips, securing his fourth non-consecutive win. He won in 2019, 2022 and 2024.
MCGREGOR, Minn.—A new event is being added to McGregor’s Wild Rice Days celebration this year, giving local children an opportunity to explore the community while taking part in a fun scavenger hunt.
The 2026 Kids’ Scavenger Hunt begins at the button booth after the parade and will send participants around McGregor in search of six hidden clue posts. Each clue will reveal a letter, which children will record on their scavenger hunt sheet along with the location where they found it.
After collecting all six letters, participants will unscramble them to discover a secret word. Completed scavenger hunt forms and the final answer must be brought to the Button Booth by 5 p.m. to claim a prize.
The hunt is designed to encourage children and families to get out and explore McGregor while adding a new interactive activity to this year’s Wild Rice Days festivities.
Organizers expressed their appreciation to McGregor Dairy Queen for sponsoring the 2026 Kids’ Scavenger Hunt and helping make the new activity possible.
Children are encouraged to keep their eyes peeled throughout the hunt, as clues will be hidden around town and participants will need to follow each one to find the next location.