Vannin’ in the USA: Recap of the 52nd Van Nationals in Albert Lea, MN

This July, Twin City Vans had the honor of co-hosting the 52nd Annual Van Nationals alongside our friends at Dakota Street Vans, CIV, and Ivan & Jane’s V.C. The event rolled into the Freeborn County Fairgrounds in Albert Lea, Minnesota — and for five days straight, the grounds rumbled with the sound of engines, laughter, and live music as hundreds of custom vans and thousands of vanners came together to celebrate the lifestyle we love.

Vanning Comes Home to Minnesota

Van Nationals returned to Albert Lea for the first time since 2020, and the town welcomed us like family. The mayor himself stopped by, we did a full cruise around Fountain Lake, and downtown Albert Lea filled up with candy-colored steel, muraled masterpieces, and the unmistakable rumble of V8s. Locals lined the streets to snap photos, swap stories, and see why vanners have been keeping this tradition alive since the 1970s.

Our co-chair, Cheryl Murphy-Long, said it best in the Albert Lea Tribune:

“Van Nationals is a large group — 1,500 to 2,000 or more — of people who get together, camp, have bands, games, awards ceremonies, and just have a great time with our vanning family.”

That family vibe is what makes this event so special. As one of our fellow organizers, Greg Cooper, told ABC 6 News, “We see our friends from around the country once a year — it’s kind of like a family reunion type deal.”

And that’s exactly how it felt.

The Week That Had It All

The schedule was packed tighter than shag-carpet.

We kicked things off with the early bird party, where Dakota Street Vans hosted games like “Rub It Out” and the classic Creeper Races in the Lowlife Country Club building. Tuesday took things off-site with a trip to the SPAM Museum (because what’s more Minnesotan than that?), plus a Tiki Party, Hula Contest, and the always-creative Vantasy Golf Cart Parade.

By mid-week, the fairgrounds were a sea of color and chrome. The opening ceremony and aerial photo captured the massive turnout — close to 500 vans from across the U.S. (and beyond) according to ABC 6 News. That night’s Vanners Night In brought everyone together for music, games, and a few “spirited” contests like Hammerschlagen and the infamous Armpit Fart Contest (because why not?).

Thursday was pure vanner chaos in the best way:

• Vankhana took over the afternoon with broom ball, slow drags, and backwards slalom runs.

• RC Races had both kids and adults cheering like mad as tiny vans tore through the dirt.

• The Pub Crawl.

• And the live music lineup kept the night rocking long after sunset.

Friday rolled in with more Show & Shine judging, the Bags Tournament, and the Bright & Shine — one of the most talked-about events of the week. As one attendee put it on Facebook, “The Bright and Shine was the highlight of our week.”

Saturday wrapped things up with the Lake Cruise and Downtown Van Show, giving the public another chance to see our rides up close before we closed the week out with live music from Uncle Chunk and a USA-themed after-party.

Bands and Beer

This year’s music lineup was stacked: Red Desert, Smokey Mirror, The Cowardly Lions, and Uncle Chunk all lit up the Lowlife Country Club stage. Whether you were headbanging to riffs, dancing barefoot in the grass, or just swapping stories with old friends, the energy never dipped once.

As Cheryl Murphy-Long told reporters,

“The best part of vanning is you get to come here, do what you want, and be who you want.”

And that really sums it up. Van Nationals isn’t about trophies or titles — it’s about freedom, friendship, and the open road.

A Huge Thank-You

None of this would have been possible without the combined efforts of Twin City Vans, Dakota Street Vans, CIV, Ivan & Jane’s Van Club, and the countless independents who put in the work to make this event smooth, safe, and unforgettable. Big thanks to the City of Albert Lea for the warm welcome, to all the bands and sponsors, and of course to every single vanner who made the trip.

As the last engines fired up and the fairgrounds started to empty, it hit us: this wasn’t just a weekend of vans — it was a celebration of everything that makes the vanning world what it is.

The laughter, the paint jobs, the late-night bonfires, the shared stories — that’s what keeps this community alive.

We’re already counting down the days until we all roll together again.

See You Down the Road

From all of us at Twin City Vans, thank you for making Van Nationals #52 one for the books. Keep an eye out for updates on our upcoming holiday event, and we’ll see you next summer — engines rumbling, beers in hand, and hearts full.

– Twin City Vans

More photos and coverage found on www.gophersandcheese.com