Most Ox Cart Days events this year broke attendance records for the festival, including all of Thursday's events and the teen dance on Friday. Saturday's adult dance at Central Park, however, had a fairly low turnout, as did Sunday afternoon at the park, although the lip sync contest and Deal or No Deal Sunday night managed to draw a good crowd, like they always do.
“Overall, it was very successful,” Lori Wagner, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, said this morning. “We've been throwing around ideas for next year, and one is to shorten the festival a day and just have it Thursday through Saturday. Five days gets to be a long time for people. So we talked about spreading the Sunday events onto the other days, maybe eliminating some things and making the Saturday dance at the park for all ages like it was before.”
The only problem with this that organizers see now is figuring out when to have the fireworks show. But, Wagner added, these are very preliminary ideas and they welcome more from people in the community. Those with really good ideas, she said, are encouraged to become part of the planning committee to help make them a reality.
“It was fun to see all the energy and excitement in this town,” she said. “What's really great is that people from outside the city, both vendors and performers, have commented on how close-knit we are here, and how impressed they are with the spirit of Crookston, and the politeness of people here.”
Wagner said many people are to thank for all the work they've done to make the festival a success. Juanita Lopez is the Ox Cart Days coordinator and spent many, many hours putting it together, she said.
“We're lucky to have such a great team working on this,” said Wagner.
Torchlight Parade winners
Best Description of Theme - Villa St. Vincent
Best Lighted Float - Boy Scouts
Best Commercial Entry - Crookston United Insurance
Most Creative and Original Entry - RiverView Health
Best Visiting Entry - Little Miss and Junior Miss Summerfest Pageant Queens
Best Musical Entry - Crookston High School Marching Band
Judges' Choice - Bremer Bank
Cruisers
The Crookston Classic Cruisers this year were a main sponsor of a new Friday evening event, the Cruisers Rib Fest at the American Legion, which wrapped up with a performance by the Fertile band Four Wheel Drive. The fest was such a success that all of the rib vendors serving, Ness Cafe, Mike Pufall, B&E Meats, RBJ's Restaurant, Irishman's Shanty and the Northland Inn, ran out of ribs in an hour, which was an hour before serving was to end. If the event returns next year, it's certain that more meat will be on hand. Crookston Pirate girls' hockey also served up a baked potato bar.
The Cruisers also welcomed around 250 classic cars and hot rods to their annual Run to the Park, and then led off the Torchlight Parade
Other events
The Ox Cart Day Children's Parade drew numerous kids Saturday morning to the Villa St. Vincent, with superheroes and princesses the prevailing theme.
The fireworks finale, put on by Tony Ramberg and Premiere Pyrotechnics and sponsored by Hugo's, brought this year’s Ox Cart Days to a close.
