The 52nd Van Nationals will be held July 9-13th, 2025 at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds in Albert Lea, MN. Hosted by Twin City Vans with support from Dakota Street Vans, Ivan & Jane's Van Club, and Central Iowa Vanners, the Nats will offer a wide range of activities that will keep you entertained throughout the week. From van shows to live music, games and parties, we will have it all. Our team is planning something for all ages groups of vanners and you will not want to miss this one!!
July 7th-8th will include a pre-party that is hosted by the Dakota Street Vans and will include games, a SPAM cruise, music, and more!!
Schedule of Games and Activities
(some things might change between now and the Nats but this is the what we have going now)
Monday - Pre-party
10:00 am - Gates Open for Early Arrivals
10:00 am - 8:00 pm - Headquarters Open
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Party Games with DSV - Lowlife Country Club Building
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Early Bird Picnic - Lowlife Country Club Building
7:30 pm - Music, Drinking, Games and Fellowship - Lowlife Country Club Building
Tuesday - Pre-Party
8:00 am - 12:00 am - Front Gate Open
8:00 am - 8:00 pm - Headquarters Open
11:00 am - SPAM Museum Tour (10:30 am line-up) - Meet at Main Gate
DSV will take you to Austin, MN where you can tour the one and only SPAM museum and if you choose, can grab some lunch at B&J Bar and Grill next store!
The Museum tour is free!
4:00 pm - Vantasy Golf Cart Decorating and Parade! - Lowlife Country Club Building
7:00 pm - Tiki Party and Luau! - Low Life Country Club Building
Wednesday
8:00 am - 8:00 pm - Headquarters Open
10:00 am - 12:00 am - Front Gate Open
10:00 am - Opening Ceremony - Main Gate
10:00 am - 6:00 pm - Roving Ice Sales - Also can be purchased at Headquarters
11:00 am - Excursion to Surf Ballroom
2:00 pm - Nats Board Meeting - Headquarters
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm - Adult Games with DSV - Lowlife Country Club Building
5:30 pm - Vanners Night In - Building #39 (Headquarters)
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm - In Your Face Rock Night in the Lowlife Country Club Building
Bands - Thought Patrol, Rad Enhancer and The Rumours
7:00 pm - Wine Tasting - Bar Building #16
8:00 pm - 12:00 am - DJ Music/Karaoke and Games - Lumberjack Theme - Bar Building #16
Lumberjack themed games
Hammerschlagen
Adult Jenga
Bags
Thursday
8:00 am - 12:00 am - Front Gate Open
8:00 am - 8:00 pm - Headquarters Open
9:00 am - 11:00 - Show and Shine Classification - Show Field
9:00 am - 11:00 - How to Judge a Van Show - Hosted by National Truck-in Board - Show Field
9:00 am - Cribbage Tourney - Bar Building #16
9:30 am - 12:00 pm - Vanners Swap - Grandstand Building
10:00 am - 6:00 pm - Roving Ice Sales - Also can be purchased at Headquarters
10:00 am - 12:00 pm - Kids Games - “Kids Central” - Building #39 (Headquarters)
11:00 am - 1:00 pm - Vankkhana - Line-up in the Show Field by main gate
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Pub Crawl - Start in Bar Building #16
4:00 pm - Horseshoe Tourney - Bar Building #16
5:00 pm - Meet the Nats Board - Bar Building #16
5:30 pm - Register your RC van for the RC Van Show & Shine - The Low Life Country Club Building
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Heavy Metal Night in the Lowlife Country Club Building
Bands - Beast Eagle, Year of the Cobra and Rifflord
RC Van Show and Shine between sets
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm - Live Music - Main Stage - Building #12
Band - Devon Worley Band
11:00 pm - After Party in the Lounge - DJ Music - Western Theme - Bar Building #16
Adult Games - Bucking Bronco Vibrator Races and Lasso Game (Ring Toss)
Friday
8:00 am - 12:00 am - Front Gate Open
8:00 am - 8:00 pm - Headquarters Open
8:00 am - 9:30 am - Show and Shine Classification - Show Field
9:00 am - Show and Shine Line-up
10:00 am - 3:00 pm - Show and Shine
10:00 am - 6:00 pm - Roving Ice Sales - Also can be purchased at Headquarters
10:00 am - 12:00 pm - Kids Games - “Kids Central” - Building #39 (Headquarters)
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Themed Party in the Bar Building #16
2:00 pm - Bags Tourney - Bar Building #16
3:00 pm - Hot Wheel Races - Bar Building #16
4:00 pm - RC Races - North End of Fairgrounds
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Heavy Music Night in the Lowlife Country Club Building
Bands - Red Desert and Smokey Mirrors
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm - Live Music - Building #12
Band - The Cowardly Lions
9:30 pm - Bright and Shine - Midway Area - Line-up at 9:00 pm
11:00 pm - After Party in the Lounge - DJ Music - Hippie Theme
Saturday
8:00 am - 8:00 pm - Headquarters Open
10:00 am - 6:00 pm - Roving Ice Sales - Also can be purchased at Headquarters
10:00 am - Line-up for Lake Cruise and Downtown Van Show - Main Gate
10:30 am - 2:00 pm - Cruise around the Lake and Van Show Downtown
1:00 pm - Raffle drawings posted in Headquarters
2nd draw - 3:00 pm
3rd draw - 4:00 pm
4th draw if needed will be at awards, so bring your tickets
2:30 - 4:00 pm - Adult Games - The Lowlife Country Club or drinking party in Bar
5:30 pm - Trophy Presentation - Building #12
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm - Live Music (after awards) - Main Stage - Building #12
Band - Uncle Chunk - Rock
11:30 pm - After Party in the Lounge - DJ Music
Sunday
Clean up and head home!
Drive Safe!
Thanks for coming!!!!
We will be adding more information here as it becomes available and also on our webpage www.52ndvannationals.com. Please stay tuned for updates!!
You may also like the following events from Lex Linton:
Also check out other
Entertainment events in Albert Lea,
Music events in Albert Lea,
Parties in Albert Lea.
