ANNUAL EVENTS
ALL YEAR-ROUND
Owatonna is known for fun events year-round. The Steele County Free Fair is the largest county fair in Minnesota, bringing hundreds of thousands of people to the fairgrounds each August. Smokin’ in Steele BBQ and Blues Festival offers the perfect combination of barbeque tastings and blues music. The Extravaganza at Village of Yesteryear will take you back in time with reenactments and demonstrations. Check out our calendar of events for the most up-to-date information.
TOP ANNUAL EVENTS
Bold & Cold Winter Festival
January 22 – 28, 2024
A week-long winter celebration with events and activities and activities that are designed to highlight the Minnesota psyche of “cold noses and warm heart!”
Facebook: boldandcoldowatonna
North American Farm and Power Show
March 20 – 22, 2025
Held in at the Four Seasons in Owatonna for the past 18 years, this is a great show for farmers and families alike.
Website: www.tradexpos.com
KOWZ & KRUE Home & Recreation Show
March 22 – 24, 2024
Stop by the Four Seasons for all of your home and recreation needs!
Website: www.kowzfm.com
Farmers’ Market in Central Park
Saturdays May – October | 7am-12pm
Stop by Central Park every Saturday during the summer to pick up fresh vegetables, flowers and fun hand-crafted items from more than 80 vendors.
Website: View Facebook
Corky’s Early Bird Softball Tournament
May 2 – 4, 2025
This slow-pitch softball tournament is one of the largest and most competitive men’s softball tournaments in the country. Held at the Steele County Fairgrounds Softball Complex and various fields throughout Owatonna & Faribault.
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Rustic Mama’s Spring Craft Show
May 4, 2024
Colorful and full of life, the Rustic Mama’s spring market at Four Seasons Centre has vendors inside and out; with food, music and more!
Website: View Facebook
Owatonna Motor Company Summer Series- Minnesota Cutting Horse Competitions
May 17-19; June 14-16; July 5-7
Enjoy this modern equestrian competition, where a horse and rider is required to seperate a single cow from a herd of cattle. The cutting horse has its roots in the historic cattle ranching industry, where horses with specialized cattle-handling skills were cruicial for the work of the cowboy.
11@7 Concert Series
Every Thursday evening May 30 – Aug 8th
Enjoy the wide variety of musical groups that perform throughout the summer on Thursdays at 7pm in Central Park.
Website: View Facebook
Downtown Thursdays
June 6th, July 11th, August 1st, September 5th, 2024
The night market is returning to historic Downtown Owatonna with music, food, shopping and art.
Website: www.owatonna.org/downtown-thursdays
Smokin’ in Steele BBQ & Blues Festival
May 31-June 1, 2024
A smokin’ good time! Kansas City Sanctioned BBQ Competition and live blues music at this one-of-a-kind event.
Website: www.smokininsteele.com
Harry Wenger Marching Band Festival
June 15, 2024
This festival showcases competitive high school marching bands and pays homage to the vision and work of the founder of Wenger Co., Harry Wenger.
Website: www.owatonnabandfestival.com
Juneteenth Celebration
June 22, 2024
Celebrate African American history, culture and progress at Alliance for Greater Equity’s Juneteenth Celebration with live music, food and games.
Website: www.allianceforgreaterequity.org
Pride in the Park
July 13, 2024
“Small Town, Big Rainbows” is this year’s theme for Pride in the Park which will feature 5 musical groups and 30 vendors (including 5 food vendors) from our local community and Southern Minnesota. The family-friendly event will also include lots of family friendly activities to include make and take art station, face painting, free books and more!
Chuckwagon Supper & Extravaganza at the Village of Yesteryear
July 13 & 14, 2024
Join us for a Chuck Wagon Supper in the Village of Yesteryear on Saturday, July 13, at 5:00 p.m. Award-winning Nobody BBQ is making pulled-pork sandwiches. The meal also includes potato salad, chips, and water for just $10. All are welcome and reservations are not required! Sit and relax in your lawn chair as you enjoy the meal, while Hans Hohrman plays old-timey music.
Come back on Sunday for an afternoon of family fun. The Extravaganza begins at noon and goes until 4:00 p.m. Come meet the Rendezvousers at their encampment. There will be live music, demonstrations, crafts, tomahawk throwing, and horse-drawn wagon rides. New this year are Stewart Mortenson demonstrating metal engraving and Frank McNulty sharing some of his OTC (Owatonna Tool Company) collection. There will be food, vintage soda, and old-fashioned candy available for purchase.
Website: www.schsmn.org
Owatonna Gem Days
July 18-20, 2024
Owatonna refuses to be defined by just one thing, so we have created GEM DAYS to celebrate all that we are. We celebrate our natural features, our beautiful buildings, our history and our legends. We celebrate our art and music, our food and drink, our attractions and our entertainment.
Website: www.exploreminnesota.com
Steele County Free Fair
August 13 – 18, 2024
Don’t miss Owatonna’s signature event – the largest county fair in the state of Minnesota! The fair offers a wide variety of events and attractions, and admission is free!
Website: www.scff.org
State School Orphanage Museum’s Fall Celebration
September 21, 2024
Honor the legacy of the 10,635 children who called the Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children Home between 1886 and 1945. This annual event lends the opportunity to learn about the history of the school. Explore the Museum, historic Cottage 11, the Children’s Cemetery, and interactive campus to get a glimpse of what life was like for the children who called the orphanage their home.
Website: http://orphanagemuseum.com/
Rustic Mamas’ Market
September 14, 2024
Comfy, cozy, spicy, pretty, yummy….all things fall/winter can be found inside. There will be food trucks and, of course, hand-picked talent from area vendors. Grab that flannel, your crew and come say hey!
Website: facebook.com/therusticmamas
Oktoberfest Festivities
September & October
Celebrate with Mineral Springs Brewery as they kick off the season September 20 & 21 under the big-top tent with games competitions, music and entertainment2, food and specialty brews highlighting the traditions of the German Heritage. Dig out your lederhosen and dirndls, grab your steins and get ready for Oktoberfest! Foremost Brewing Cooperative continues Oktoberfest highlighting specialty brews and music on October 6.
Spooktacular Festivities
October 26, 2024
Owatonna goes big for Halloween with several large events geared towards families this week.
Website: visitowatonna.org
Lighted Holiday Parade
Dec 6, 2024
Bundle up and head to downtown Owatonna for the Lighted Holiday Parade starting at 6pm. Parade vehicles will be decked out in their finest holiday lights. The parade ends with carolers and cider in Central Park.
Website: www.visitowatonna.org
Christmas in the Village
Dec 6-7, 2024
The Steele County Historical Society’s Christmas in the Village is an annual event designed to bring out the child in all of us. Cookie sales, horse-drawn wagon rides, carolers, Christmas music, and of course Santa Claus! This multi-day event occurs in early December and is one of our most beloved annual traditions. Make sure to check in to see what is in store for the year during the fall months, as Christmas in the Village changes every year.
Website: https://www.schsmn.org/annual-events
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