Demo derby to kick off festivities on Friday night

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The land of otters will be abuzz this weekend for the annual OtterFest celebration.

The celebration in the heart of Ottertail will kick off on Friday night with the demo derby beginning at 7 p.m. before the festivities get into high gear on Saturday morning.

Ottertail Mayor Ron Grobeck said this year’s festivities will feature several new events, like a K-9 demonstration where those in attendance will get to see a trained K-9 dog in action, as well as a large bean bag tournament that will be put on by the ottertail Fire Department. Registration for the bean bag tournament will get underway at 6 p.m. 

“It’s just a fun day in the park,” said Grobeck of the festivities.

Saturday will include a pancake breakfast and vendor fair beginning at 8 a.m., while Nick the Strolling Magician will be wandering the streets beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the classic car show will kick off at 10 a.m. Also on Saturday will be the inflatable rides and snake experience, all-before the big parade rolls through the streets of Ottertail beginning at 11 a.m.  

Grobeck said the Shriners organization will be a part of the parade, just like they were last fall when a special parade was held in Ottertail as part of a regional Shriners convention that was held at Thumper Pond.

Following the parade there will be a magic show, family games, bingo and pork/corn feed.

Kevin Klimek and the Sideliners will take the stage from 3:30-6:30 p.m., before the bean bag tournament gets underway later in the evening. Local residents can enjoy fire pits and s’mores beginning at 7 p.m. and a fireworks display will get underway at dusk.