Otter Fest is ‘Otter-the-Ordinary Family Fun’

The city of Ottertail’s big summer festival will take place this Friday and Saturday, Aug. 9 and 10.

Events will kick off Friday night at 7 p.m. with a demolition derby at the track in downtown Ottertail, followed by live music by the band Confusion at the Hoot ‘N Holler.

Things will continue on Saturday with a car show, parade, family games and much more throughout the day.

Events will get started at 7:30 a.m. with a pancake and sausage breakfast by the Ottertail Lions Club, served at the Ottertail Community Center until 11 a.m.

A parade full of floats, farm equipment, trucks and lots of candy for the kids will start immediately after breakfast, at 11 a.m., running down Main Street.

As soon as the parade is over, carnival games will be set up and minnow races will get started. Inflatables will be set up in the park across from the community center, and glitter tattoos, face painting, horse rides and balloon creations will all be available for the kids.

Dane the Magician will be performing throughout the day, and the Runestone Rockettes will perform at 3 p.m. outside of the community center. The Runestone Rockettes is a dance group made up of energetic, young-at-heart dancers who are 60 years and older. They perform throughout central Minnesota at fairs, conventions, community events and celebrations.

Bingo will begin at 1 p.m. at the community center, with family games starting at the park shortly after that, at 1:30 p.m. Horse and buggy rides will also begin at 1:30 p.m.

Vendors will be in town all day to display and sell their wares at the popular craft fair. As in years past, a hog roast and corn feed will take place at 5 p.m. and last until the food is gone.

The fourth annual Otter Idol talent competition will be ongoing throughout the day, with the first round starting at 3:30 p.m. at the community center and the finals getting underway at 6 p.m.

Registration for the competition is open to anyone age 12 and up, and will start at 11:30 a.m. Cash prizes of $250, $100 and $50 will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners.

For more information, check out the website, www.visitottertail.com .

1/2: Family games are a favorite activity at Otter Fest. File photo

2/2: The Runestone Rockettes will perform on Saturday at 3 p.m. outside of the community center. File photo