Remembering What You Might Have Lost At Lakes Jam

Somewhere between the concerts, campground fun, late-night laughs, making new friends, and trying to remember where you parked, things have a funny way of disappearing.

Every famous Lakes Jam weekend ends the same way. Someone gets home and says, "Has anyone seen my...?"

THE FAMOUS LAKES JAM 'LOST AND FOUND' LIST

Every year when Lakes Jam wraps up, I can't wait to see two things. First, all the amazing photos and videos from the weekend. And second...the Lost and Found list.

I know. It's probably not the first thing most people think about after one of Minnesota's biggest country music festivals, but I can't help myself.

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WHERE IS IT?

Every year I scroll through the list and laugh, not at anybody in particular, but because we've all been there. You get home, unpack the camper, throw a load of laundry in the washer, and suddenly realize...wait a minute. Where's my favorite sweatshirt? Didn't I have sunglasses when I left? Has anyone seen my keys?

STORIES IN MY HEAD

The Lost and Found list is always entertaining because it makes your imagination run wild. I start making up stories in my head. Did someone set their hat down while dancing to their favorite song and never find it again?

Did a pair of boots decide they'd had enough walking through the campground and call it quits? Who was the poor soul that got all the way home before realizing their wallet wasn't in their back pocket anymore?

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HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

And then there are the people who insist they packed everything.

"I know I put it in the truck."

"It has to be here somewhere."

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

The truth is, after a weekend like Lakes Jam, it's easy to leave something behind. You're packing up tents, folding chairs, loading coolers, finding your friends, saying your goodbyes, and trying to beat traffic. By the time you finally pull into your driveway, you're probably already thinking about a hot shower and your own bed.

That's when the search begins.

You empty every bag. You look under the seats. You retrace your steps in your mind. You even check places where you know it couldn't possibly be...just in case.

Then someone says the magic words.

"Maybe it's in the Lost and Found."

This year's list has plenty of items waiting to be reunited with their owners, and I have a feeling there are more than a few people who are going to look at it and say, "Well...there it is!"

BEFORE YOU REPLACE THOSE LOST ITEMS...TAKE A LOOK

So before you replace those sunglasses, order another hoodie, or assume your favorite hat has disappeared forever, take a few minutes to check the list. You never know what might be waiting for you.

And if you do find your missing item, consider yourself one of the lucky ones.

If you don't...well...look on the bright side. At least you came home with some incredible memories, a phone full of concert pictures, and hopefully a few stories that are just funny enough to tell.

TAKE ONE LAST WALK AROUND BEFORE YOU LEAVE NEXT YEAR

Here's hoping everyone had an amazing time at Lakes Jam. And next year, maybe do yourself a favor before you leave the campground. Just take one last walk around the campsite. It might save you from becoming part of next year's Lost and Found list.