Event to feature arts, food, outdoor activities

The Phelps Mill County Park will host the 38th annual Phelps Mill Festival on Saturday and Sunday in rural Underwood. 

The 38th annual Phelps Mill Festival will be held this year July 9-10.

The festival will consist of two full days of art, food entertainment and kids’ activities plus craft wine and beer tasting at Phelps Mill County Park just north of Underwood.

The Phelps Mill Festival features fine artists and crafters from around the United States. Each exhibitor is hand-picked by a panel of jurors to ensure quality and originality for the show. From paintings and prints to jewelry and apparel, to furniture and pottery, everyone will find something special to take home with them. For those that are not as interested in shopping, there’s still a lot going on.     

Kids’ art activities will be provided by Fergus Falls Bethlehem Lutheran Church and for the whole family, find a place in the shade at the main stage and enjoy the entertainment, perfect for all ages.  

Come paint with ArtBar 39 – all experience levels welcome. Bring home your own one of a kind painting that you created.

Saturday, aerialist Laura Ernst will perform stunts and acrobatics. She will be appearing on the main stage at 12:30 and 2:45 p.m. Also appearing on the main stage on Saturday, at both 1:15 and 4 p.m., Will be local entertainers, the Passion Band. They have many years of experience playing across the U.S. and upper Midwest and perform across multiple genres of music.

The craft beer and wine vendor tasting event will run from 2-6 p.m., on Saturday. Come sample some of the finest made beer and wine in the area. Each guest will receive a commemorative glass for the tasting event.

Sunday’s Community Service and music will be at 11 a.m. and provided by Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Fergus Falls. Performing at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday will be local favorite Connie Lee Stich – she may have grown up near the tiny town of Urbank and her stature may be on the small side but there is nothing small about Connie Lee Stitch. When she steps her country-kicking cowboy boots on stage, the sound that resonates from within her five-foot, one-inch frame lets the audience know where her passion lies.

Phelps Mill Festival has several food vendors serving pancakes, brats, burgers, popcorn, pork chops, baked potatoes, and root beer floats, just to name a few. Food vendors are all local non-profit groups working towards fundraising and making some delicious eats for everyone to enjoy.

For more information about the Phelps Mill Festival, and updates on the entertainment schedule, visit www.phelpsmillfestival.com. 

This activity is funded in part by a grant from the Lake Region Arts Council through a Minnesota State Legislative appropriation.