Big Events To Anchor A Summer Weekend In Historic Downtown Owatonna

A few years before the world’s best-known Central Park was laid out in New York City, a much smaller version was set aside in the heart of Owatonna. Today, more than 170 years later, the 1.5-acre greenspace remains the focal point of the historic downtown about an hour’s drive south of Minnesota’s Twin Cities and 50 minutes west of Rochester.

Owatonna’s Central Park is where people still gather for idyllic summertime activities including a weekly farmers market that attracts thousands of visitors and a monthly music, food trucks and vendor event featuring two bands each night down Cedar Ave. With a bandstand built as a replica of a 19th-century predecessor and a gorgeous water fountain topped by a cast-iron crane, the park is the perfect place to experience a classic small-town summer weekend. A weekly music series in Central Park rounds out the summer's outdoor music scene.

In fact, the Main Street Downtown Thursdays concerts and the Saturday morning farmers markets are two events that you can build a long summer weekend around in Owatonna. Here’s a closer look at the details and when to plan a visit this summer:

Main Street Downtown Thursdays in Owatonna
On the first Thursday of the month from June through September, downtown Owatonna rocks with bands performing on both the stage in Central Park and on the north end of the 300 block of Cedar Avenue. The live music pairs with food trucks, street vendors and free family activities around the park, which is the geographic and social center of the community. Of course, Owatonna’s shops, restaurants, breweries and bars add to the festive vibe of the event.

Main Street Downtown Thursdays in summer 2026 are scheduled 5:30-9 p.m. June 4, July 2, Aug. 6 and Sept. 3. Parking is available downtown, except for the area around Central Park and north along Cedar Avenue.

Follow Downtown Owatonna for updates on Main Street Downtown Thursdays and other summer events.

Owatonna Farmers Market
From the first Saturday in May through the last Saturday in October, thousands of people visit the Owatonna Farmers Market in Central Park. The area is packed with more than 80 vendors offering a wide variety of homemade, homegrown and handmade items including fresh summer produce and crafts sourced with local materials.
The market runs from 7 a.m. to noon each Saturday and makes a delightful starting point for a day of exploring the charming shops and restaurants of downtown Owatonna. Check out the new Retail Collective, a retail incubator which opened this spring!

This summer, Central Park also will host an Evening Market from 5-8 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month from June through October so you have even more opportunities for a long weekend in downtown Owatonna.

Other Things To Do In Historic Downtown Owatonna
Even on weekends when there’s no Evening Market or Main Street Downtown Thursdays concert scheduled, Owatonna’s lively downtown and classic charm make it a lovely place to spend time this summer.

Many visitors enjoy taking a Historic Walking Tour of the many old and architecturally-significant buildings including homes, schools, churches and other structures from the 19th and early 20th centuries. You can see the Louis Sullivan-designed bank building that’s a world-renowned example of Prairie School architecture, the beautiful, glazed terra-cotta of the 1880 Zamboni Building, the historic West Hills Complex that housed Minnesota’s only state-run orphanage, and many more sites. Both guided and self-guided tours are available.

The Orphanage Museum itself makes for a fascinating self-guided tour. More than 10,000 orphaned, abandoned or abused children lived on the state-run campus between 1886 and 1945. The museum gives visitors a glimpse of what life was like for the kids, for better or worse.

While spending a weekend in downtown Owatonna, you also can join an Owatonna Food Tour, quiet your soul at the Minnesota Sculpture Prayer Garden or enjoy a special event such as the Harry Wenger Marching Band Festival that parades through downtown on Saturday, June 20. There are lots of free things to do in Owatonna, too, like taking a romantic walk across the scenic Morehouse Bridge.

Discover even more things to do in historic Owatonna and book a place to stay for your long weekend. With more than 700 guest rooms, Owatonna offers comfortable accommodations for every type of traveler. You can find hotels and motels from your favorite brands including Hilton, Marriott, Radisson, Wyndham and others plus scenic campgrounds, too.