Otsego Winter Festival fills Prairie Park

Otsego families are bundling up today for the Winter Festival at Prairie Park, running from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The free event turns the splash pad park into a winter playground with activities for kids and adults alike.citeturn6search0turn2view0turn5search3

Snow, games and a visit from Elsa

The festival lineup leans into classic Minnesota winter fun. Visitors can take wagon rides through the park, try a guided snowshoe adventure on nearby trails, and join a geocaching treasure hunt that uses GPS clues to find hidden caches. Kids can dive into winter themed art projects and explore nature displays that explain how local wildlife survives the cold.citeturn3search0turn3search6turn5search1

A costumed princess from the movie Frozen is scheduled to greet families late in the morning, a detail that has helped push the event onto several regional family calendars. At the campfire, volunteers are serving hot cocoa and s’mores so people can warm up between activities.citeturn3search0turn5search0turn5search1

Cash prizes in the medallion hunt

One of the most talked about pieces of the festival is the medallion hunt. Families can search the park for hidden medallions with cash prizes up to one hundred twenty five dollars, alongside a simpler prize hunt geared toward younger children. Only one prize is allowed per family, which keeps more households in the running.citeturn3search0turn5search0

Fire department build out continues

Beyond today’s festival, the city is still in the middle of a major public safety project: standing up its own fire department. The city has opened applications for a full time fire chief who will lead the new department, with a salary range that tops one hundred sixty thousand dollars and an application deadline of February sixteenth.citeturn3search2

The future department is planned as a combination model that mixes full time staff and part time firefighters drawn from the community. City leaders have framed the move as a way to keep up with growth while maintaining reliable emergency response, and recent council discussions have focused heavily on staffing and long term planning for the new station.citeturn3search2turn0search10turn6search3

February meetings on deck at Prairie Center

Residents who want to track these decisions more closely will get several chances this month. The Economic Development Authority meets Monday, followed by a regular council meeting that evening. A special council meeting on Thursday will continue goal setting and other early year business, with additional sessions later in the month tied to the twenty twenty six street renewal project and other planning work.citeturn3search9turn0search1turn0search9

Sources

• https://northwrightcounty.today/2026/02/otsego-warms-up-with-winter-festival/
• https://www.otsegomn.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/107
• https://www.otsegomn.gov/calendar.aspx
• https://stmamom.com/events/
• https://www.familyfuntwincities.com/things-to-do-this-weekend-in-the-twin-cities-northwest-metro/
• https://www.otsegomn.gov/392/RecruitmentStaffing
• https://thelocallens.org/otsego-city-council-prioritizes-fire-department-staffing-amidst-concerns-and-strategic-development/