Fergus Falls restaurants raise over $6,100 for Chris Tungseth run

Four familiar Fergus Falls restaurants turned Chris Tungseth’s American Idol run into a townwide show of support Thursday, and the one-day push brought in $6,122.75 for the Fergus Falls native.

Dairyland, The Viking Café, Don Pablo’s Mexican Restaurant and Uncle Eddie’s Ice Cream Parlor each donated 10% of their revenue for the day to help Tungseth, a Hillcrest alumnus now competing as one of American Idol’s Top 9 contestants. Former Dairyland owner Pat Connolly helped organize the effort, which also drew extra donations on top of the restaurant sales.

The turnout gave the fundraiser a reach that went well beyond a standard benefit meal. Dairyland and Uncle Eddie’s reported one of their busiest days ever. The Viking said it saw its busiest Thursday ever. Don Pablo’s said the crowds looked like its grand opening 22 years ago. Together, those reactions pointed to a strong response from residents who used their lunch and dinner dollars to back one of their own.

The effort landed at a moment when Tungseth’s national exposure was still building. American Idol airs live Mondays at 8/7c, and ABC’s voting page says viewers can vote for current season finalists only when the show is live. That makes each week in the competition a narrow window for hometown momentum, especially for a contestant whose local roots have already become part of the story.

Tungseth first drew attention earlier this season when he earned a Golden Ticket after auditioning with an original song, “Lonely Road,” written in honor of his late father, Mark Tungseth. That background gave the Fergus Falls response added weight, turning the restaurant fundraiser into more than a publicity push. It became a direct hometown answer to a national stage.

ABC’s current American Idol lineup includes judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, with Ryan Seacrest hosting. For Fergus Falls, though, the main headline was local: four Main Street restaurants, one singer from town and a total that cleared $6,100 in a single day.