Fergus Falls Vendor Fair Returns to Spies Park April 25

For the craft vendors, specialty food makers and local nonprofits who spend every winter preparing for the summer rush, April 25 is the first real test of the season: the 2nd Annual "Spring into Fergus Falls" community fair at Spies Riverfront Park, 121 Union Ave S in Fergus Falls.

Organized by Otter Tail Lakes Country Association, the Saturday fair draws vendors and attendees from Fergus Falls, Perham, Battle Lake and communities throughout Otter Tail County. The format mixes vendor booths, food trucks and outdoor shopping with family-friendly programming at the downtown riverfront pavilion.

For many of the participating artisans and small-business owners, a spring fair like this one provides something the summer markets cannot: an early-season window to build customer relationships and generate revenue before peak tourist crowds arrive in June. Otter Tail Lakes Country's involvement frames the event as part of the broader push to activate downtown Fergus Falls and connect local entrepreneurs with the county's returning seasonal visitors.

Spies Park sits at the center of downtown's Union Avenue commercial corridor and doubles as the year-round home of the Fergus Falls Farmers Market during its June through October season. The proximity to shops and restaurants along Union Avenue makes the fair a natural walk-up destination for anyone already downtown.

Otter Tail Lakes Country Association handles vendor registration and coordinates on-site logistics including tent placement and parking. Event hours and contact information for both vendors and attendees looking to register are listed on the county tourism website at ottertaillakescountry.com.

The fair launched last April at the same Spies Riverfront Pavilion. Its return in 2026 as the second annual edition reflects enough first-year momentum to warrant building it out again, and for local makers, the timing is deliberate: April 25 is when Otter Tail County starts waking up for summer.