Owatonna
Around Owatonna
Photo: Cardiff1921 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Minnesota · 37k people
Owatonna
Locals say Owatonna area · “City of Architecture”
Where the prairie meets the river.
Vikings PurpleFarmland GreenHarvest Gold
Welcome to the Owatonna area! Whether you're here for the county fair, a day on Clear Lake, or just passing through, you'll find friendly folks and a slower pace. Grab a hotdish, find a fishing spot, and enjoy the small-town charm.
Clubs for Owatonna
No clubs for Owatonna yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Owatonna. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Owatonna. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Owatonna State Bank Louis Sullivan-designed bank, a national historic landmark
- Kaplan's Woods Park Large community park with trails, playgrounds, and river access
- Straight River Scenic river running through town, popular for fishing and kayaking
- Steele County Fairgrounds Home to the Steele County Free Fair each summer
- Waseca County Fairgrounds Hosts the Waseca County Fair
- Clear Lake Popular lake near Waseca for swimming, fishing, and boating
- Outdoors Fishing on Clear Lake
- Outdoors Hiking at Kaplan's Woods Park
- With kids Visit the orphanage museum
- With kids Go to the county fair
- Evenings Catch a show at the State Theatre
- Evenings Enjoy live music at a downtown bar
- Locals love Small-town cafes and diners
- Locals love County fairgrounds
Through the year
- Steele County Free Fair August The area's biggest summer event with rides, livestock, and food
- Waseca County Fair July Traditional county fair with 4-H exhibits and grandstand shows
- Owatonna Music in the Park Summer Weekly summer concerts at a local park
- Owatonna Independence Day Celebration July Fireworks and community festivities on the 4th of July
- Waseca Clear Lake Fishing Derby Winter Winter ice fishing contest on Clear Lake
Owatonna has a continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. The best time to be out is late spring through early fall. Best: Late spring through early fall
Getaways
- Faribault Historic downtown and river trails
- Albert Lea Lakes and the Big Island Rendezvous
- Austin SPAM Museum and the Hormel Historic Home
- Rochester Mayo Clinic, shops, and the Douglas State Trail
Local flavour
Rooting for Minnesota Vikings (NFL), Minnesota Twins (MLB), Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA), Minnesota Wild (NHL), Minnesota Lynx (WNBA), Minnesota United FC (MLS)
Eat and drink
- Tater tot hotdish A Minnesota staple, especially in rural areas.
- Walleye The state fish, often served fried or grilled.
- Cheese curds Popular at fairs and bars across the state.
- Sweet corn A summer tradition, often bought from roadside stands.
- Wild rice soup A regional comfort food, though more common in northern Minnesota.
Where people go
- Historic small-town main streets Owatonna, Waseca, and Medford have classic brick storefronts and a slower pace.
- Grain elevators Dominant features of the skyline in every small town.
- Rolling farmland Endless fields of corn and soybeans, dotted with farmsteads.
- Owatonna State Bank A National Historic Landmark designed by Louis Sullivan, a masterpiece of architecture.
- County fairgrounds The Steele County Fairgrounds host 4-H shows, demolition derbies, and carnival rides.
- Rivers and lakes for fishing The Straight and Cannon Rivers, plus nearby lakes, are popular for walleye and bass.
Heritage and traditions
This region is proud of its small-town warmth, agricultural heritage, and historic landmarks like the Owatonna State Bank, along with a strong sense of community that shows up at county fairs and local festivals.
This time of year in Owatonna
- Football season Fall High school games draw big crowds.
Say it like a local: “Uff da” — Uff da
Festivals
- Steele County Free Fair August One of Minnesota's largest free fairs, with livestock and carnival.
- Waseca County Fair July Family-friendly fair with 4-H shows and grandstand events.
- Owatonna Music in the Park Summer Summer concert series in Central Park.
- Blooming Prairie Heritage Days Summer Small-town celebration with parade and games.
- Medford's Kolacky Days Summer Celebrating Czech pastries with a festival.
Landmarks with a story
- Owatonna State Bank Louis Sullivan masterpiece, now a bank and museum.
- Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum Preserving the history of the former orphanage.
- Owatonna Public Library Carnegie library with classic architecture.
- Waseca County Historical Society Local history museum and archives.
- Blooming Prairie Depot Restored railroad depot from the early 1900s.
- Medford's Old Mill Historic mill along the Straight River.
Food traditions
- Tater tot hotdish A comforting casserole of ground beef, veggies, and tater tots.
- Walleye dinners Fresh fish from Minnesota lakes, often fried.
- Cheese curds Squeaky fresh curds, a Midwestern favorite.
- Sweet corn Summer staple from local farms, boiled or grilled.
- Wild rice soup Creamy soup with Minnesota's native grain.
Music and arts
- Community band concerts Summer concerts in the park.
- Czech folk music Polka and accordion traditions in Medford.
A little history
- 1855 Founded as a railroad town
- 1908 Owatonna State Bank built by Louis Sullivan
- 1886 Minnesota State Public School for Orphans opened
- 1857 Waseca County established
- 1889 Blooming Prairie incorporated as a village
Rivalries
- Owatonna vs. Waseca high school football Annual gridiron matchup that splits the county
- Owatonna vs. Faribault in sports Cross-county competition in basketball and hockey
- Game day Owatonna Huskies football
- Game day Waseca Bluejays basketball
- Outdoors Fishing on Clear Lake
- Outdoors Hiking at Kaplan's Woods Park
- With kids County fair rides and 4-H exhibits
- With kids Fishing off the dock at Clear Lake
A blend of Upper Midwestern accent with Scandinavian and German influences; common phrases include 'you betcha' and 'uff da'.
Only here
- The Owatonna State Bank is a National Historic Landmark.
- The Steele County Free Fair is one of the largest free fairs in the state.
- Medford is known as the 'Kolacky Capital' of Minnesota.
- The Straight River offers some of the best canoeing in the area.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the winters: invest in a good coat and try ice fishing.
- Say 'hot dish' instead of 'casserole' to sound local.
- Visit the Steele County Free Fair in August for a true taste of community.
- Learn to love the lakes: fishing is a way of life here.
- Drive carefully on rural roads, especially during harvest season.
Make this page better
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Part of Twin Cities
Nearby
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Owatonna, MN. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.