The tradition continues: McGregor Fall Art Festival is Oct. 11 and 12
Enjoy a variety of arts and crafts, live music, food and drinks and family-friendly activities at the annual McGregor Fall Arts and Crafts Festival. The event returns to Turner Park, on the west edge of McGregor, on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 and 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. (File photo)
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
Enjoy a variety of arts and crafts, live music, food and drinks and family-friendly activities at the annual McGregor Fall Arts and Crafts Festival. The event returns to Turner Park, on the west edge of McGregor, on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 and 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
2025 marks the 51st year of the festival and fourth sponsored by the McGregor-Marquette Center for the Arts. It’s one weekend this year in an effort to offer more for attendees, said festival coordinator Ashley Barnes.
“We’re taking our resources and putting them into one weekend just to make it a weekend full of activity,” Barnes explained.
The festival will have nearly 50 vendors from around the region, who will be set up in booths outside as well as inside a large tent. Offerings will range from woodworking, cutlery and jewelry to candles, soaps and textiles.
Festival-goers will enjoy food from the traditional McGregor American Legion brat truck, as well as smash burgers, hibachi, coffee and specialty drinks, wine tasting, baked goods and kettle corn.
Live music is planned throughout the weekend.
“We’ll have live music all day instead of just for a couple hours,” Barnes said.
Beau Timmerman will kick it off from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, then father-daughter duo LaBarge will play from 2 to 5 p.m. Star Power Dance Team will perform between the sets, at 1 p.m.
On Sunday, listen to Ann Christoffer from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Tim Bohnenkamp from 2 to 5 p.m.
Other highlights include free face painting from noon to 3 p.m. each day, carriage rides, caricatures, a bounce house sponsored by Anne Kruse and games like tic tac toe, giant Jenga and Connect Four. The McGregor Achievement Club is sponsoring pumpkin painting, and Peoples State Bank is also supporting kids activities.
From noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, visit Archie the mini Scottish Highlander, who’s coming to the event courtesy of Wagner Cattle Company.
“He’s eight months old and super cute and fuzzy,” said Barnes. “We always have a really great photo shoot area. Dawn Sharp sets that up for us, and we’re going to incorporate Archie into that. If people want to come, they can do pictures and pet him.”
Barnes is excited for another fun event—and to continue the fall arts and crafts festival tradition.
“Come to the festival—it’s 51 years going strong. Enjoy the vendors who are coming to showcase what they do,” she said. “And just come to McGregor. Enjoy the fall and enjoy the scenery. We’ve got the parks, we’ve got the downtown businesses, we’ve got the restaurants.”
Follow the “McGregor Fall Art Festival” Facebook page to learn more.
