The Crookston Ox Cart Days festival has hit the halfway point, with a full weekend of fun activities for all ages.
Most of the scheduled events will be held in the Downtown Square, with the Crookston Sports Center serving as the secondary location in the event of rain. The easiest way to get around the festival is with the official Ox Cart Days button, which is available for $5 at the Crookston Hugo’s Family Marketplace, Happy Joe’s Pizza Crookston, True Value Hardware in Crookston, Erickson Embroidery, the Grand Theatre, and Crookston Domino’s. While the button gets you into most events throughout the week, some do have an additional cost. Kids ages five and under will not need a button for any events.
Included below is a full schedule of events from Thursday through early Sunday morning.
THURSDAY
Food Truck Fest will be held in the Downtown Square from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Purchase food from a wide variety of regional food truck vendors, including Ohana Shaved Ice, Little Bangkok, Tacho Man, Barnyard Bites, New Flavors, and Lulu’s Little Bites.
The Grand Theatre on East 2nd Street will be showing a matinee movie from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Admission is $1 per person. Movie options will be advertised on the Grand Theatre Facebook page the day of the event.
Fin and Fit Crookston will have a Party at the Pool from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Crookston Community Swimming Pool, 320 East 4th Street. Free swim will be open to kids of all ages!
Bounce houses will be set up and free to use for kids of all ages in the Downtown Square from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The Beer Gardens will be held at the Downtown Square from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. Beer and other canned alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from the Irishman’s Shanty and Drafts Sports Bar and Grill. All attendees must be 21 years or older to enter the gardens.
The Kids Tractor Pull will be held at the Downtown Square from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Kids of all ages compete in this classic tractor pull for a chance to win one of several awards! Participants will be separated into age divisions at the start of the event. No pre-registration is required.
The Shriners Parade will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The parade will start on Central Avenue and end at the Crookston Sports Center. Join the Kem Shriners for a parade featuring live animals, bikes, novelty vehicles, and more!
The Miss Crookston Scholarship Pageant will be held at Crookston High School from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Contestants compete for the title of Miss Crookston and scholarship opportunities. Tickets for this event are available at the door.
Timebomb Pro Wrestling will be held at the Downtown Square (weather permitting) from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Featured outside for the first time in Ox Cart Days history, Timebomb Pro Wrestling returns to Crookston for an action-packed event. In the event of rain, this event will be at the Crookston Sports Center.
FRIDAY
The Crookston Fire Department, 620 South Main Street, will host a pancake breakfast from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. Enjoy pancakes made and served by the Crookston Fire Department. Free will donations will be accepted.
The Blue Line Golf Scramble will be held at Minakwa Golf Course, 901 Fisher Avenue, at 8:00 a.m. Gather a team of five golfers and hit the course for golf, games, prizes, and fun! Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. The cost is $100 per player or $500 per team of five.
Beat the heat with some lemonade, available at stands throughout Crookston from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If your child is interested in operating a stand, contact Jess Bengtson at jess.bengtson@gmail.com or call/test 701-610-64564 to register.
Food Truck Fest will be held in the Downtown Square from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Purchase food from a wide variety of regional food truck vendors, including Ohana Shaved Ice, Little Bangkok, Tacho Man, Barnyard Bites, New Flavors, and Lulu’s Little Bites.
The Grand Theatre on East 2nd Street will be showing a matinee movie from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Admission is $1 per person. Movie options will be advertised on the Grand Theatre Facebook page the day of the event.
Fred Parnow and Get Kids Outdoors will provide outdoor activities for kids from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Downtown Square. Activities include archery demonstrations, minnow races, and a trout fishing pond!
Bounce houses will be set up and free to use for kids of all ages in the Downtown Square from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Free face painting for kids will take place from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Downtown Square.
The Beer Gardens will be held at the Downtown Square from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Beer and other canned alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from the Irishman’s Shanty and Drafts Sports Bar and Grill. All attendees must be 21 years or older to enter the gardens.
A summer concert featuring Robby V will be held in the Downtown Square on the main stage from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Free horse wagon rides around Central Park will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Community S’mores will take place in the Downtown Square from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Enjoy free s’mores for all ages at the world famous Community S’mores event, as seen in Hershey commercials.
A beer and cider tasting event will be held in the Downtown Square from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sample various beers and ciders provided by Drafts Sports Bar and Grill.
Ribfest will be held in the Downtown Square from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Enjoy ribs from local vendors for just $1 per rib. New this year are additional meat options, including pulled pork and chicken! Attendees will vote for their favorites, and prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
The lip sync contest will be held in the Downtown Square on the main stage from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Participants will dance, entertain, and attempt to “sing” songs for a panel of judges. Pre-signup is required for contestants by emailing crookstonoxcartdays@gmail.com or calling 701-215-1943.
The Grand Theatre will host Comedy Night at the Grand from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. Hosted by Toni Ryan, James Stanley, Bo Brorby, and Jackson Hicks will leave you laughing. Attendees must be at least 18 years of age.
SATURDAY
The Ox Cart Days 5K/Little Tykes Run will be held starting on Ash Street at 8:30 a.m. Kick off the biggest day of the festival with a classic 5K run and a Little Tykes Run for the kids. Pre-signup is required for the 5K by visiting https://www.raceentry.com/races/crookston-ox-cart-days-5k/2026/register. No pre-signup is required for the Little Tykes Run. All participants must stop by the registration table at the start of the event. Regstration begins at 7:30 a.m.
A Veteran’s Recognition Ceremony will be held at the Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 205 South Broadway, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. The Crookston community will be honoring our veterans with a recognition ceremony and presentation of gifts. Honorees include David Morgan, Loren “Punky” Johnson, Winston Johnson, and Gordon Pagnac.
The Crookston Farmers’ Market will be open in the Downtown Square Red Barn from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Purchase fresh produce, home-canned goods, baked goods, fresh flowers, and more!
A vendor show will be held on Ash Street from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Support local vendors by purchasing crafts, baked goods, clothing, and more! This event offers a unique opportunity to find out more about our community.
Bounce houses will be set up and free to use for kids of all ages in the Downtown Square from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
A kiddie parade will be held at the Benedictine Living Community, 516 Walsh Street, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. A heartwarming parade put on for the residents at Benedictine. No sign-up necessary for children to participate.
The Classic Cruisers Car Show will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Central Park. View and learn about unique vintage cars!
The Crookston High School Boy’s and Girl’s Soccer Alumni Games will be held at KROX Stadium on the Crookston High School campus from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Fred Parnow and Get Kids Outdoors will provide outdoor activities for kids from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Downtown Square. Activities include archery demonstrations, minnow races, and a trout fishing pond!
Free horse wagon rides around Central park will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The Beer Gardens will be held at the Downtown Square from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Beer and other canned alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from the Irishman’s Shanty and Drafts Sports Bar and Grill. All attendees must be 21 years or older to enter the gardens.
Food Truck Fest will be held in the Downtown Square from 11:00 a.m. to midnight. Purchase food from a wide variety of regional food truck vendors, including Ohana Shaved Ice, Little Bangkok, Tacho Man, Barnyard Bites, New Flavors, and Lulu’s Little Bites.
The Crookston High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held in the Crookston High School Commons from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. The event will begin with a social time at noon, appetizers at 12:30 p.m., and the induction ceremony at 1 p.m. Tickets to the event will be sold at the door beginning at 12:00 p.m.
Community S’mores will take place in the Downtown Square from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Enjoy free s’mores for all ages at the world famous Community S’mores event, as seen in Hershey commercials.
The Happy Joe’s Pizza Eating Contest will be held in the Downtown Square on the main stage starting at 12:00 p.m. Participants compete to see who can eat a Happy Joe’s large pizza the fastest. Pre-signup is required. Stop by Happy Joe’s to register.
Drafts Sports Bar and Grill, 925 Fisher Avenue, will host a cornhole tournament from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Grab a friend and see if you have what it takes to be the Cornhole Champions! Pre—signup is required by visiting Drafts. All participants must be at least 18 years of age.
Students of the Crookston Championship Tae Kwon Do will demonstrate their skills on the Downtown Square main stage from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m.
Dance students from Just for Kix will be performing on the Downtown Square main stage from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Local group The Tractor Beams will be performing live music in the Downtown Square from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.
A Build-A-Buddy workshop will be held next to the Red Barn behind the main stage from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Make your own stuffed animal for $10 while supplies last.
The Torchlight Parade will be held in downtown Crookston from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Join us for a hallmark event of Ox Cart Days! The parade route goes along North Broadway, West 7th Street, Central Avenue, and Barrette Street. Get your lawn chairs ready and claim your spot along the route. Entrants in the parade must pre-signup by filling out the entry form at www.crookstonoxcartdays.com.
The Beer Gardens will be held at the Downtown Square from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Beer and other canned alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from the Irishman’s Shanty and Drafts Sports Bar and Grill. All attendees must be 21 years or older to enter the gardens.
The Street Dance will be held in the Downtown Square from 9:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Enjoy live music from the 90’s cover band “You Oughta Know” and dance the night away! Free admission with an Ox Cart Days button or $10 without a button.
Fireworks will begin at 10:00 p.m. on the Red Lake Riverbank in downtown Crookston. What better way to end the evening with fireworks? Fireworks will be set off beind the Crookston Public Library. Ideal seating is on the street or by the river.
