2026 Willmar Fests is taking place June 24-28

This annual festival promotes Willmar Area Attractions, pride in the community and the quality of life through family participation featuring events for citizens of all ages.
The purpose of Willmar Fests is to encourage the imagination, talents, interests and creativity of the residents of the Willmar Area.

Willmar Fests is the combination of four Festivals rolled into one big summer city wide celebration:
– International Fest which honors Willmar’s sister city of Frameries, Belgium
– Aqua Fest featuring water events
– Frameries Fest which is a Fine Arts Celebration
– Kaffee Fests honoring the coffee tradition of our Scandinavian Heritage

2026 Schedule
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
9:00 am – Coffee with the Royalty at the Kandiyohi County Historical Society
Kiwanis Kids Day at Rice Park
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Kids Activities, Inflatables, games, and food while supplies last.
4:00 pm – 5:45 pm – LIVE Music
5:00 pm – Pie & Ice Cream Social at Rice Park
7:00 pm – Prairie Winds Summer Band Concert at Rice Park
– Terry Shaw
– Prairie Winds Summer Band at 7:30 pm

THURSDAY, JUNE 25
10:00 am – Royal story time at Miller Park
Willmar Fests Block Party – Main Stage at 4th & Becker Ave
5:00 pm – Food Trucks, Intuition Brewing Beer Garden, Various Vendors, Kids Activities & more!
– Home Depot Kids Workshop from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
– PWELC Climbing Wall from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
– NinjaAnywhere from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
– Henna, face painting, and caricatures sponsored by Willmar Area Arts Council 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
– Kids Fun Run with Miles 4 Mentors at 5:30 pm
– Kids Pedal Tractor Pull at 6:00 pm at 5th and Becker
– The Unicycling Unicorn at 6:00 pm
– The Brothers Burn Mountain on the Block Party Stage at 6:30 pm

FRIDAY, JUNE 26
7:00 am to 11:00 am Free Coffee Friday with Peace Coffee and the Goodness Coffee Company at 5th street SW and Becker Avenue
7:30 am – Willmar Fests Chamber Connection at Heritage Bank
6:00 pm – Willmar Stingers Fun Night Baker Field at Bill Taunton Stadium

SATURDAY, JUNE 27
7:00 am – 1:00 pm – Willmar Fire Department Pancake Feed-Willmar Fire Station
8:00 am – Foot Lake 4 Walk/Run – On The Run MN
10:30 am – Grande Day Parade – Along 6th Street SW, 5th Street SW, and into Downtown
3:00 pm – Willmar Fests Ambassador Formal Farewell at Willmar Education and Arts Center
Willmar Fests Beach Party at Robbins Island Regional Park
Food Trucks and the Willmar Conference Center/Green Mill Beer Garden
7:00 pm – The Little Crow Ski Show
8:30 pm – Beach Party Concert with Big Machine
10:00 pm – Q102 & Lakeland Media’s “Works Over Water” Fireworks Show
More music after the Fireworks with Big Machine

SUNDAY, JUNE 28
Rain Backup for the Little Crow Ski and Works over Water

Schedule subject to change – check willmarfests.com for the latest

Interested in getting involved in our Willmar Fests celebration?
We are looking for volunteers to help us at the Block Party! A variety of times are available!

❗️This year’s parade route will look a little different due to construction on 4th Street.
➡️The Willmar Fests Grande Day parade will begin at the corner of 6th Street SW and Kandiyohi Avenue SW, head north into downtown Willmar, turn right onto Litchfield Avenue for one block, then turn right again and head south on 5th Street SW, ending at Robbins Avenue SW.

2026 Willmar Fests Grande Day Parade
The Willmar Fests Grande Day Parade is Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 10:30 AM.
Check in and line up begin at 9:00 AM.
*Registration is not complete until entry fee is paid.
Entry Fee: $100 for Business/Political and FREE for NonProfit/NonCommercial

 

This annual festival promotes Willmar Area Attractions, pride in the community and the quality of life through family participation featuring events for citizens of all ages. The purpose of Willmar Fests is to encourage the imagination, talents, interests and creativity of the residents of the Willmar Area. Willmar Fests is the combination of four Festivals rolled into one big summer city wide celebration; International Fest which honors Willmar’s sister city of Frameries, Belgium, Aqua Fest featuring water events, Frameries Fest which is a Fine Arts Celebration and Kaffee Fests honoring the coffee tradition of Willmar’s Scandinavian roots.