Things to Do in Anoka

When struck with a cheese craving, Whitney McChane used to turn her sights toward Wisconsin. It wasn’t until the budding cheese connoisseur began to explore co-ops and cheese shops across Minnesota that she came to appreciate the skill and diversity of cheese artisans in her own backyard. In Faribault, she sampled cheeses aged in sandstone caves and in Mankato, she shook hands with the Alemar Cheese Company’s organic, creamy camembert. “People love artisan cheeses but are shocked to learn we have a cheese-making community here producing world-class cheeses,” she says.

Now, Ms. McChane unites those artisanal cheese aficionados—makers and mongers alike—for one day of gustatory exploration. In addition to sampling a clattering of cheeses, visitors can glean inspiration from recipe demos, cheese-pairing workshops, and roundtable discussions with cartoon mice. Additionally, local food trucks will dole out cheese-inspired dishes. The festival even includes a cheese-wrapping competition, wherein competitors skillfully enfold morsels with flavor-preserving Formaticum cheese paper. Ultimately, Ms. McChane hopes the festival will raise awareness of local cheese culture. “We have so many thriving dairy farms here,” says Ms. McChane. "And where there’s great milk, there’s great cheese."

Metro Gun Club’s team refines the skills of sportsmen of all levels by overseeing a collection of indoor and outdoor ranges. Its facilities include 14 trap fields, each equipped with Pat-Trap throwers and four outfitted with a wobble option that can oscillate targets both vertically and horizontally. Beyond the trap fields, the outdoor ranges span six skeet fields, four five-stand sporting-clay fields, and a 75-foot duck tower offering five shooting blinds. Range masters also oversee a 14-lane, 50-foot indoor pistol gallery, as well as an archery range run by retired merry men.

To encourage responsible firearms operation, Metro’s weapon experts lead training courses, such as the Permit to Carry classes, and organize league shooting.

The Urban Assault Ride challenges cyclists to speed from obstacle course to obstacle course across their city during eco-friendly scavenger hunts that benefit local charities. Teams draft a road map to try to thwart the competition and be the first to complete the race, pausing at a series of checkpoints, where they must surmount such active roadblocks as slip 'n' slides, bike jousting, and reciting the Iliad in Pig Latin. The first team to conquer each challenge and cross the finish line is declared the victor, but all participants celebrate their efforts at a lively after-party stocked with snacks, beer, nonalcoholic drinks, and prizes.

Owner and stained-glass enthusiast Judy assembles custom pieces for cabinets, doors, and windows, as well as hanging decorations including address signs, reproductions of drawings, and flower mosaics. In her introductory classes, students create easy-to-follow designs, such as a three-dimensional Moravian star. Judy teaches pupils the basics, from cutting and soldering glass to comforting elderly glass with stories of a promised afterlife as beach sand.

Helmed by founder Lawrence Yatch—a retired Navy SEAL who once led his platoon in securing one of the world's largest oil platforms—the instructors of Sealed Mindset Firearms Studio oversee a facility where every room upholds a training philosophy emphasizing knowledge, practice, and experience. The shooting range, for example, trains marksmen by simulating the conditions in which a defensive encounter is most likely to occur. Depending on shooters' ability levels, the range offers scenarios from simulated night to defending against multiple targets in up to a 270-degree shooting view. Other training rooms include a live-simulation room that re-creates encounters such as carjackings, a self-defense and fitness room, and a laser and dry-fire room.

Instructors use these training rooms to lead classes that range from firearms and fitness training for everyday citizens to specialized training for law enforcement and the military. Additionally, they also organize recreational immersion experiences such as Operation Geronimo, a simulated Navy SEAL mission complete with real combat gear, simulated fire, live role players, and a celebratory steak dinner with the president. Sealed Mindset also houses a children's playroom and a members' lounge.

An acronym for "Ridiculously Awesome Visual Expedition," Run to Rave combines the healthiness of a 5K with the party energy of a rave. DJs blasting electronic music energize the event, inspiring participants to power through 3.1 miles of light shows while donning complimentary glow kits. Across the finish line, electronic dance music thrums even louder in Glow Village, where runners become serious dancers. Proceeds from the event benefit Run It Forward, which helps endurance athletes raise money for inner-city children.