Clue:

One score and five years ago, the Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce (OACC) brought forth to this city, a great and new city, an event designed to welcome all citizens, all created equal, to explore our city from north to south and east to west. We are now engaged in a great search, testing our citizens who we believe are so dedicated and can long endure this search to The end. And these same citizens, so committed, so electrified and so passionate for said challenge, can, and must, pursue the mission before them set.

Explanation:

Clue number 1 is as much educational as it is informative about the medallion location. The medallion committee hopes it was easy to recognize much of this verbiage from President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. We hope this will cause families to do additional research on this famous speech and foster discussion on the importance of the verbiage President Lincoln choose when creating this speech. The key word for medallion hunters in this clue is "electrified" as it refers to the heavy presence of overhead electrical wires at the site of the medallion.

Clue:

Three cheers for the OACC, so generous are they

For 25 years, regaled us to research, hunt and play.

And the dough they donate never needs to be baked

Yes, there's water nearby and it isn't a lake.

It's easy to grab, wrapped creatively in foil

Head south of the point that makes water boil

Clue number 2 begins by thanking the OACC for their continued support of the annual medallion hunt and providing the prize money ($500.00) this year. Without their support, this wonderful Summerfest event would have ended long ago. The "water nearby" refers to the small stream of water exiting the storm sewer culvert. The culvert is also protected by a fence to prevent passersby from falling into that water/culvert. Beyond that culvert, the stream empties into a wetland: there is no lake. Next, the traditional bit of Oakdale history baked (pun intended) in the clue. Before the current Washington County Road 14 was so named, some will recall it was Minnesota Highway 5. Now, going back to the 1970's and before Highway 5 had that name, it was originally named Minnesota Highway...... you guessed: 212. Of course, 212 degrees just happens to be the boiling point of water. Searchers who figured this clue out would know the medallion was hidden south of Washington County Road 14.

Explanation:

From where I rest, lush greenery I see

Then off to the east, northeast, the "X's" number three.

This year the park you search will be in vain

More valuable hints, please, this is hard on my brain.

Don't exceed thirty-five, you'll drive by too fast

Auf wiedersehen to the old, it will soon be a thing of the past.

Clue:

Explanation:

Clue number 3 notifies searchers the medallion is hidden in an area with lush greenery. The three "X's" reference an unusual set of metal cross-bracing on two electrical highwire wooden towers. At the medallion location and as the clue notes looking to the east, northeast, you can see those two wooden electrical towers and the cross bracing forming the aforementioned "X's". The verbiage about the search in a park being in vain tells searchers the medallion will not be found, this year, in one of Oakdale's 28 parks. Still, the medallion, per the rules, is hidden on city-owned, public property. Don't exceed thirty-five references the speed limit sign located in eyesight (to the south) of the medallion. Last, auf wiedersehen ("goodbye" in German) to the old and a thing of the past is referring to the Public Works building on Hadley that, later this year will be a thing of the past as the city moves into the brand new Public Works building at Granada Avenue and 32"d Street.

Clue:

4444 miles east of Oakdale, the Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

In the year 1235, it would be the future home for royalty to delight.

Reflecting back, it would be safe to say

The women and men who built the Alhambra had little time to play.

Explanation:

The 4th clue attempts to throw medallion hunters off the trail by using the number 4444. And while the 4,444 miles from Oakdale to the Alhambra may not be exact, it is, in fact (per Google) pretty close. Of course, 4444 is also the street address for the Discovery Center. The key to this clue is really piecing together the fact that the Alhambra is located in Granada, Spain. Granada, of course referring to Granada Avenue here in Oakdale. The next portion of the clue is a huge help with the words "Reflecting" and "safe". The business located in the North Granada Business Park, directly west of the medallion site, is Safe Reflections. As additional family fun and learning, we encourage you to do more research on UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Sites. Perhaps there is a trip to one of them with your family in the future?

Really? Twenty-eight city parks and none of them worthy of the medallion this year?

Oh, so K/A and PW stole the show along with a faded, leaping deer?

At the base of the post and two feet to the east lies a wooden stick.

Don't linger long since the tall grass is favorable to picking up a tick.

You've come this far and likely traversed many parks along the way

Now, celebrate your prowess, your sleuthing and the foil: it's SWAK.

Clue:

Explanation:

The 5"' clue makes it abundantly clear the medallion is not hidden in any city park. K/A and PW are: Kraus/Anderson Construction and Public Works. Kraus-Anderson is building the new Oakdale Public Works building at Granada Avenue and 32nd Street with anticipated completion this fall, 2025. The faded, leaping deer really dials searchers into the weathered, yellow, deer crossing street sign. The exact location of the medallion is near the base of that deer crossing sign and, specifically, two feet to the east of the metal post for that sign. This year, the medallion is hidden in a Ziplock bag attached to a wooden stick. Inside the bag is an aluminum foil wrapping shaped like a Hersey's Kiss complete with a little tassel coming out the top of the "kiss" with the word: "KISSES". Be sure to visit Walton Park both Friday and Saturday and enjoy the activities that culminate with the headliner band, GB Leighton and the popular fireworks show on Saturday evening. Thanks for being part of this year's hunt. Auf wiedersehen for 2025. We hope to see you all again in June 2026

The hunt begins Monday, June 23rd at 8am!

Clues will be published below each day at 8am, until the medallion is found. Once the medallion is found, we will update this page, as well as the Oakdale Summerfest Community Organization and City of Oakdale Facebook pages.

Finder of the medallion claims a $500 prize! The Summerfest Medallion Hunt is proudly sponsored by the Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce (OACC).

Contest Rules:

  1. Medallion is located on public property (but never in Walton Park) and accessible via public property, so no need to go onto private property.

  2. Medallion is located where the finder does not need to swim, dig, or disturb landscaped areas or planters.

  3. The following persons are not eligible to participate in the medallion hunt: members of the Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce (OACC) and their immediate family members, elected officials, employees, and commissioners of the City of Oakdale and their immediate family members.