Demo derby to kick off busy weekend on Friday

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Everything seems to be a little bit bigger in Ottertail and the annual OtterFest celebration will be no different this weekend. 

OtterFest will officially kick off on Friday night with the annual demo derby. The event will begin at 7 p.m. at the demo derby pit near the water tower in Ottertail. 

The celebration will kick into high gear on Saturday with events from sun up to long after the sun goes down. 

Ottertail Business and Community Association President Ron Grobeck said there will be a number of unique events throughout the weekend with an emphasis being on family fun for all ages. 

“It should be a good and really fun day,” said Grobeck. 

Saturday will begin with the Ottertail Lions pancake breakfast at 8 a.m., before Nick the Strolling Magician starts dazzling the crowds with mind bending tricks from 9:30-11:30 a.m. There will also be a special magic show following the parade from 12-1 p.m. 

The classic car show, which had 53 cars in it last year, will begin at 10 a.m. and will resume following the parade near the Woodshed Bar and Grill.  

The big parade will get underway at 11 a.m. and roll through downtown Ottertail. Family games, which will include backyard games for children and adults alike, will be held at 1 p.m. in the park. The Otterwalk will begin at 3:30 p.m., which is an Ottertail-twist on the conventional cake walk and fireworks will bring the day to a close at dusk. 

The day will also include inflatables, face painting, bingo, chicken poop bingo, pork and corn feed and of course live music by the Red Letter Band from 4-7:30 p.m. 

The Woodshed Bar and Grill will host a street dance featuring the Castaways from 8-11 p.m.