Schedule of Events
We're bringing back FUN in '21! There are SO many reasons to visit Crookston Ox Cart Days and we have planned a summer festival like no other. Again, we offer this event at a solid $5 price point for buttons with ages 5 and under FREE because of our amazing sponsors. There is no place like a small town, no place like Minnesota and no place like home here in Crookston. There will be games, parades, fireworks, a car show, pony rides, pageants, tournaments, contests, bouncy houses and entertainment including a street dance, live bands, and so much more! NOTE: OUR BACKUP LOCATION WILL BE THE CROOKSTON SPORTS CENTER IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER.
2021 Ox Cart Days Schedule of Events
Monday, August 16
$ Taste of Crookston sponsored by United Valley Bank @ Crookston Eagles Club - 5:00 -7:00 p.m.- food samples from local restaurants and organizations Taste of Crookston 2021 Form
RECURRING EVENTS
$ Kid's Lemonade Stand Contest sponsored by Alluma begins @ multiple locations around the community (See our Facebook page for the locations)
$ Summer Arts Safari youth theater begins for interested kids in 3rd-9th grade @ Highland Elementary School Auditorium. This year's play is Disney's "Frozen" and performances will be held Friday, August 20 at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, August 21 at 11:00 a.m. Tickets for adults are $5, kids ages 6-12 $3 and kids under 5 free. Contact Fugi Baig at 218-281-1785 for more info.
Shop Local Gift Card Giveaway begins - Shop LOCAL during the day for your chance to win gift cards
Tuesday, August 17
$ Food Truck Pop-Up @ Broadway/2nd St. - Erickson's Smokehouse - 11:00 a.m.
$ Ox Cart Days Cookout @ Crookston Hugo's Family Marketplace - 4:30-6:30 p.m.
$ Little Miss/Junior Miss Crookston Pageant @ Crookston High School - Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
Hugo's Supermarket Sweep Contest @ Crookston Hugo's Family Marketplace - 7:00 p.m.
Mark Anderson Memorial Comedy Open Mic Night @ Crookston Inn - 7:00-10:00 p.m.
RECURRING EVENTS
$ Kid's Lemonade Stand Contest continues @ multiple locations around the community
Shop Local Gift Card Giveaway continues - Shop LOCAL during the day for your chance to win gift cards
Wednesday, August 18
$ Food Truck Pop-Up @ Downtown Square - Joe's Diner - 11:00 a.m.
Crookston Gun Club Open House and Trap Shooting Demo @ Crookston Gun Club - 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Ice Cream Social sponsored by UMN Crookston Campus @ University of Minnesota Crookston UTOC Arena - 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Veteran's Recognition Ceremony by Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Committee @ UMN Crookston UTOC Arena - 3:00 p.m. Veterans who will be honored include Bob Blazek, Paul Henre, Oscar Meyer and Greg Newhouse. The event is also sponsored and supported by American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, UMN Crookston, Ox Cart Days Committee, KROX and Crookston Times.
Dewey Thorbeck FAIA, FAAR Book Signing - UMN Crookston UTOC Arena - 4:00 p.m.
Ox Cart Days Road Rally sponsored by Christian Brothers Ford - pick up form @ UMN Crookston UTOC Arena between 3:00-4:00 p.m. and turn them in at Drafts Sports Bar & Grill by 5:30 p.m.
Medallion Hunt First Clue sponsored by the Crookston Times and UMN Crookston Admissions @ UMN Crookston UTOC Arena - 4:30 p.m.
Youth Dodgeball Tournament sponsored by RiverView Health @ Schuster Park - 5:00 p.m.
Wild Wednesday Trivia sponsored by DeBoer Builders @ Drafts Sports Bar & Grill - 6:30-8:00 p.m.
RECURRING EVENTS
$ Kid's Lemonade Stand Contest continues @ Multiple locations around the community
Shop Local Gift Card Giveaway continues - Shop LOCAL during the day for your chance to win gift cards
Thursday, August 19
$ Food Truck Fest sponsored by Downtown Crookston Development Partnership (DCDP) begins with Draft's Sports Bar & Grill, Little Bangkok, Care & Share Grill-Out, Bucklins Concessions, Ohana Shaved Ice, & Heroes Rise Coffee Company @ Downtown Square - 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
$ $1 Matinee Family Favorite Movie @ Grand Theatre - 1:00 p.m.
Youth Treasure Hunt sponsored by the Benedictine Living Community & Auxiliary @ Summit Gazebo - 1:30-2:30 p.m.
$ Ken's Airboat Rides sponsored by Crookston Inn @ Red Lake River in Central Park - 4:00-8:00 p.m.
CIRCUS-themed entertainment including trapeze performances by Twin Cities Trapeze, fire breathers/dancers and stilt walkers by Down to Earth Aerials, balloon artist Jeffrey Salveson and more sponsored by Crookston Eye Clinic @ Downtown Square Ash Street - 5:00-7:00 p.m.
$ Rib Fest sponsored by Crookston Lions Club @ Downtown Square - 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Kid's Tractor Pull sponsored by AgCountry @ Downtown Square Ash Street - 5:00 p.m.
Irish band "Connemara Patch" sponsored by Irishman's Shanty @ Downtown Square stage - 4:00-7:30 p.m.
Photo Booth Selfie Station sponsored by Tri-Valley Head Start, Child and Family Programs @ Downtown Square - 4:00 p.m.
Misting Station sponsored by Adams Heating & Cooling @ Downtown Square Ash Street - 4:00-8:00 p.m.
C-Town Mini Golf sponsored by Crookston Housing & Economic Development Authority @ Downtown Square - 4:00-8:00 p.m. (Featured businesses this year on the course are Total Lawncare, Biermaier Chiropractic, Drafts Sports Bar & Grill, Irishman's Shanty, Gotta Love Kids childcare, Adams Heating & Cooling, Hermreck Construction, Golf Terrace Motel and Thrivent Financial with Garrett Kollin and Aaron Meyer)
Outdoor Kid's Games sponsored by Thrivent Financial with Garret Kollin and Aaron Meyer and Phil Thompson & Associates @ Downtown Square - 4:00-8:00 p.m.
Neighborhood Bible Time and Games with Bible Baptist Church @ Downtown Square north green space - 6:30 p.m.
Lip Sync Contest sponsored by Crookston Times, UMN Crookston Admissions Office, and Taco John's Crookston @ Downtown Square stage - 8:00 p.m. Sign up by emailing crookstonoxcartdays@gmail.com, send us a message on Facebook or call/text 701-610-6454
"Elvis" performance @ Crookston Inn - 8:00 p.m. followed by Karaoke from 9:00 p.m. to Midnight
Irish band "Connemara Patch" performance @ Irishman's Shanty - 8:30 p.m.
RECURRING EVENTS
$ Kid's Lemonade Stand Contest continues @ Multiple locations around the community
Shop Local Gift Card Giveaway continues - Shop LOCAL during the day for your chance to win gift cards
BEER GARDENS PROVIDED BY IRISHMAN'S SHANTY AND DRAFT'S SPORTS BAR & GRILL STARTS AT 4:00 P.M.
Friday, August 20
Pancake Breakfast (freewill offerings accepted) @ Fire Hall South Main Street - 6:00-10:00 a.m.
$ Crookston Blue Line Club Golf Scramble @ Minakwa Golf Course - 8:00 a.m.
Hawaiian-themed Cookie Decorating Contest @ Golden Link Senior Center - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Prairie Skyline Foundation rock painting, bean bag toss, photo booth, and daily 50/50 raffle freewill offering, plus baked goods/water/soda for purchase @ Old Cathedral on Ash Street - 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
$ Food Truck Fest continues @ Downtown Square - 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
$ Hawaiian Meal @ Golden Link Senior Center - 12:00 p.m.
$ Ken's Airboat Rides sponsored by Crookston Inn @ Red Lake River in Central Park - 12:00-6:00 p.m.
$ $1 Matinee Family Favorite Movie @ Grand Theatre - 1:00 p.m.
Horse Drawn Carriage Rides sponsored by Crookston Dairy Queen @ Downtown Square/Central Park - 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Bouncy House Bonanza sponsored by McDonald's Crookston @ Downtown Square - 4:00 p.m.
Misting Station sponsored by Adams Heating & Cooling @ Downtown Square Ash Street - 4:00-8:00 p.m.
C-Town Mini Golf sponsored by CHEDA @ Downtown Square - 4:00-9:00 p.m.
Outdoor Kid's Games sponsored by Phil Thompson & Associates and Thrivent Financial with Garret Kollin and Aaron Meyer @ Downtown Square - 4:00-9:00 p.m.
Beach Bash with "Island Time" steel drum band sponsored by United Way of Crookston and Outdoor Solutions @ Downtown Square - 5:00-8:00 p.m.
United Way of Crookston Lemonade Stand and Kids Activities @ Downtown Square - 5:00 p.m.
Beer Tasting with guest breweries brought to you by Drafts Sports Bar & Grill @ Downtown Square - 5:00 p.m.
Wine It Up Tasting Event brought to you by Scobey's Pub & Grub and Johnson Brothers @ Downtown Square - 5:00 p.m.
Community S'mores sponsored by CHEDA plus CHS Industrial Technology students and Travis Oliver @ Downtown Square/Ash Street - 5:00 p.m.
UMN Crookston Golden Ticket Giveaway at the Community S'mores event @ Downtown Square - 5:00 p.m.
Photo Booth Selfie Station sponsored by Tri-Valley Head Start, Child and Family Programs @ Downtown Square - 5:00 p.m.
Minneschlagen Schlagfest @ Downtown Square - 5:00 p.m.
Hawaiian Shirt Contest sponsored by Taco John's Crookston @ Downtown Square - 6:00 p.m.
Hawaiian Leis and Potato Oles giveaway by Taco John's Crookston @ Downtown Square - 6:00 p.m.
VIP Lounge sponsored by Outdoor Solutions @ Downtown Square - 6:00 p.m.
$ "Loon" Movie Premiere - Film by Crookston native Charles Eickhof and Kale Eickhof with Q&A following @ Grand Theatre - 7:00 p.m.
$ Miss Crookston Scholarship Pageant @ Crookston High School - 7:00 p.m.
$ Miss Tootsie Pageant @ Crookston Eagles Club - 9:00 p.m. - Tickets ($20) go on sale Monday, August 16 at 5 p.m. at the Eagles Club ONLY until sold out
RECURRING EVENTS
$ Kid's Lemonade Stand Contest finale @ Multiple locations around the community
Shop Local Gift Card Giveaway continues - Shop LOCAL during the day for your chance to win gift cards
BEER GARDENS PROVIDED BY IRISHMAN'S SHANTY AND DRAFT'S SPORTS BAR & GRILL STARTS AT 4:00 P.M.
Saturday, August 21
Goat Yoga with Syncopal Acres and Joy Hillukka sponsored by Erin LaPlante State Farm, Mimosas by Drafts Sports Bar & Grill @ Downtown Square - 7:00-10:00 a.m.
$ Ox Cart 5K and Little Tykes Run sponsored by Altru Health System and Biermaier Chiropractic @ Downtown Crookston - 7:30-8:30 a.m. Registration, 8:30 a.m. Little Tykes Run, 9:00 a.m. 5K Run - Register Here Race Route
Art, Craft & Vendor Show sponsored by First Community Credit Union @ Downtown Square Ash Street /2nd St. - 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - Vendor Show Form
Crookston Classic Cruisers Car Show @ Crookston Inn & Cobblestone Hotel- 9:00 a.m.
Crookston Farmers Market @ Downtown Square red barn - 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Kid's Parade sponsored by Wish Upon A Star @ Benedictine Living Community (Villa St. Vincent) outdoors - 10:00 a.m.
Bouncy House Bonanza sponsored by McDonald's Crookston @ Downtown Square - 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Bubble Station sponsored by Tri-Valley Head Start, Child and Family Programs @ Downtown Square - 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Misting Station sponsored by Adams Heating & Cooling @ Downtown Square Ash Street - 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
C-Town Mini Golf sponsored by CHEDA @ Downtown Square - 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Outdoor Kid's Games sponsored by Thrivent Financial with Garret Kollin and Aaron Meyer and Phil Thompson & Associates @ Downtown Square - 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
$ Ken's Airboat Rides sponsored by Crookston Inn @ Red Lake River in Central Park - 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Prairie Skyline Foundation rock painting, bean bag toss, photo booth, and daily 50/50 raffle freewill offering, plus baked goods/water/soda for purchase @ Old Cathedral on Ash Street - 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Horse Drawn Carriage Rides sponsored by Crookston Dairy Queen @ Downtown Square/Central Park - 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Rock Climbing Wall plus Black Ops Obstacle Course brought to you by the Minnesota National Guard @ Downtown Square - 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
$ Food Truck Fest continues @ Downtown Square - 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Happy Joe's Pizza Eating Contest @ Downtown Square stage - 12:00 p.m.
Blue Line Club Drop and Shoot Fun Booth @ Downtown Square - 12:00-3:00 p.m.
Drafts Cornhole Tournament @ Drafts Sports Bar & Grill - 12:00 p.m.
$ Build a Buddy Workshop sponsored by Longtin Agency @ Downtown Square - 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Kid's Beanbag Contest sponsored by Altru Crookston @ Downtown Square - 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Just For Kix Dance Performances @ Downtown Square stage - 1:00 p.m.
Crookston High School Hall of Fame @ Crookston High School - 1:00 p.m. Social, 2:00 p.m. Ceremony
Crookston Talent Contest sponsored by Phil Thompson & Associates and Thrivent Financial with Garret Kollin and Aaron Meyer @ Downtown Square stage - 2:00 p.m. Talent Show Form
Torchlight Parade sponsored by the Crookston Lions Club @ Parade Route on West 7th Street, Central Avenue, Barrette Street - starts at 7:00 p.m. Parade 2021 Form
Street Dance with rock tribute band "Snake Oil" sponsored by Adams Heating and Cooling @ Downtown Square stage - 9:00 p.m.
80s Costume Contest @ Downtown Square - Starts at 9:00 p.m. - Tap in to your Totally 80s self and win cash prizes!
Photo Booth Selfie Station sponsored by Tri-Valley Head Start, Child and Family Programs @ Downtown Square - 9:00 p.m.
Glow Party sponsored by Brost Chevrolet @ Downtown Square - Starts at 9:00 p.m.
Fireworks sponsored by City of Crookston - viewable downtown - 10:00 p.m.
BEER GARDENS PROVIDED BY IRISHMAN'S SHANTY AND DRAFT'S SPORTS BAR & GRILL STARTS AT 11:00 A.M.
Sunday, August 22
Prairie Skyline Foundation rock painting, bean bag toss, photo booth, and daily 50/50 raffle freewill offering, plus baked goods/water/soda for purchase @ Old Cathedral on Ash Street - 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Video Games on the Big Screen @ Grand Theatre - 12:00-3:00 p.m.
Duck Drop sponsored by Crookston Rotary Club @ Downtown Square - 1:00 p.m.
Bikes, Trikes and Scooters Open Ride for Kids 10 and under @ Downtown Square Ash Street - 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Bounce Houses sponsored by McDonald's Crookston @ Downtown Square - 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Grocery Bingo sponsored by Crookston Hugo's Family Marketplace @ Downtown Square - 3:30 p.m.
$ Wood-Fired Pizza and Concert @ Wesley United Methodist Church - 5:00-7:00 p.m.
C-Town Mini Golf sponsored by CHEDA @ Downtown Square - 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Outdoor Kid's Games sponsored by Thrivent Financial with Garret Kollin and Aaron Meyer and Phil Thompson & Associates @ Downtown Square - 3:30-5:00 p.m.
ATV/UTV Mud Run sponsored by Bremer Bank - POSTPONED TO 2022 DUE TO CITY WATER RESTRICTIONS
Water Wars hosted by the Crookston Fire Department/Association - POSTPONED TO 2022 DUE TO CITY WATER RESTRICTIONS
$ denotes an extra charge to purchase or participate
