The 2026 Ox Cart Days festival has seen tremendous turnout for many events during the week, according to Ox Cart Days Committee Chair James Pogatshnik.
One event that broke records was Monday’s Taste of Crookston, which moved from the Eagles Club to the Crookston Inn this year. Pogatshnik initially had concerns that switching to a new venue would confuse people and create a lower turnout. Those concerns shifted quickly on Monday when he saw the crowd file into the Crookston Inn’s meeting room. “I was so excited to have it in the new venue with parking and kind of easier load in, and there are a number of reasons why it could be successful, but it’s the first year at the new location so you worry if people are going to notice, if they’re going to go to the old spot and everything, and I have to tell you, it’s not that,” said Pogatshnik. “(Monday) night broke records. It shattered the record we had for the most money raised at Taste of Crookston. I had to count it twice to verify. It was so great to see so many people out there. We had to set up more tables either two or three times. That’s the best problem you could have.”
Another event that saw a great turnout was the Wednesday events at the University of Minnesota-Crookston, including the United Way of Crookston’s Golf Ball Drop fundraiser. Executive Director Libby Boucher reported that around 350 tickets were sold for this year’s drop, which saw another first for Ox Cart Days. Desirae Osowski won second and third place with consecutive numbered golf balls closest to the target. Boucher could not recall another time when that situation has happened but was appreciative of the support from the community, as the United Way’s fundraising season for 2027 is winding down.
Pogatshnik noted that multiple vendors needed refills on Ox Cart Days buttons, which shows that attendance at this year’s events has been fantastic so far, but reminded anyone who hasn’t bought a button yet that they can only purchase them at select events throughout the weekend. “We try to have something for everybody,” said Pogatshnik. “And the work of the committee, the work of the sponsors, and everybody, we try our best to make it that. This is your festival for the city of Crookston, something you can be proud of, something you can see posted online or on the billboard, and go, yep, all right. I need to get my make sure I’ve got my button ready. I’ve had such a great time last year. We have to go back again.”
