10 Ways to Make Friends in Otter Tail Lakes Country
Did you know a group of otters is called a romp? Part of finding your inner otter when you live, work, or play in Otter Tail County, MN is finding a romp of other otters that you want to swim with. We have plenty of friendly faces up in these parts, so here’s 10 ways to make friends and get connected in our welcoming communities.
Outdoorsy Otters
1. Join the Kayak and Canoe Club
Otter Tail County is full of lake and river aficionados. The Otter Tail River Kayak and Canoe Club is a super friendly bunch of folks who love to get out on the river during the warmer months. The group coordinates paddles on their Facebook group page about twice a month. It’s BYOK (bring your own kayak), but they’re super helpful to navigate routes along the river.
2. Find someone with a fishing boat
Around here it’s not hard to find someone with a fishing boat. If you mention you’d like to get out on the lake one night, there’s a pretty good chance they’ll offer to take you out because they’re fishing every night anyway. If you want to learn from a professional, we’ve got those too. Check out our fishing guides page for a list of experts.
Eclectic Otter
3. Sign up for art classes
Kids and adults of all ages can find ways to create in our small towns. Learn the pottery wheel at Creation Shop, stained glass fusing at Stained, beading and ballet at New York Mills Cultural Center, wood carving and ceramics at Henning Landmark Center – should we keep going? Long story short, you can find a class or a workshop for any art passion you have.
Otter with an Appetite
4. Go to a farmer’s market
Unique and fresh produce and foods are a staple at many local farmer’s markets throughout our communities. Most markets are seasonal, going from late spring to fall. The markets are a great place to get to know your neighbors and small-town entrepreneurs selling products they’re passionate about. It’s easy to strike up a conversation and make friends over juicy strawberries and fresh honey. A quick internet or social media search will give you the time and location information for the Fergus Falls, Pelican Rapids, Perham, and Battle Lake farmer’s markets.
5. Try a local brew at our small-town breweries
Not only do we have some fantastic brews throughout Otter Tail County, but our small-town breweries also know how to throw a party. Live music, food trucks, bouncy houses, board games, bean bags, classic car nights, karaoke, and trivia are all weekly occurrences. Even if you’re not into craft brews our friends at Fergus Brewing, Union Pizza & Brewing, ABC Brewing, 1910 Sip House, Disgruntled Brewing, and Thousand Lakes Brewing Co. keep everyone up to speed on the fun times via their social media pages.
Otter About Town
6. Attend local/cultural events
Our breweries aren’t the only ones planning entertainment. Local businesses, museums, schools, and libraries host epic events for everyone too, and what makes it even better is that most events are free! Our new and improved events calendar pulls all the happenings into one place. The hardest part is deciding which one to go to. Our top recommendations are:
- Diversity Dinners in Pelican Rapids (held monthly on the last Sunday of the month)
- Henning Haunted House (Annually in October)
- Holiday Parade of Lights in Perham (held in November)
- Over the River Festival in Fergus Falls (Annually in December)
- Longest Night Music Festival in New York Mills (Annually in December)
- Otterdazzle in Ottertail (Annually in December)
- Maple Syrup Festival in Vergas (Annually in April)
- Friendship Festival in Pelican Rapids (Annually in June)
- Phelps Mill Festival in Battle Lake (Annually in July)
- Parkers Prairie Fall Festival and Bull Riding (Annually in August)
- Leaf Days at Maplewood State Park (Annually in September)
7. Volunteer your time
One of the best parts of our small, charming communities in Otter Tail County is that everyone is willing to pitch in and help. Volunteering with a non-profit or community group connects you with other community members with the same passion to serve. From personal experience, we’d highly recommend coaching youth sports, connecting with the Chamber of Commerce, or teaching community education classes.
Easy-Going Otter
8. Walk the trails with your dog
Dog is a man’s best friend but your cute pooch might be good for more than that. Make friends with the many other dog walkers on the Central Lakes Trail, at Arvig Park, Maplewood or Glendalough State Parks, and Higgins Dog Park. When your dog sniffs out a new friend take the opportunity to introduce yourself. You’ll both make a good friendship-finding duo.
Active Otter
9. Join a gym
Make friends and feel healthy – win, win! Whether you enjoy running, hiking, weightlifting, pickleball, swimming, yoga, or CrossFit, there are places to do it all. Our personal favorite is the PACC in Perham, which is near completing a major facelift of all its facilities. They also have a New York Mills location inside the Otter Tail County office building. Other gyms worth checking out are the brand new Lakes Fit in downtown Vergas and Lake Region Healthcare’s Unity Wellness Center which offers boxing, CrossFit, and yoga.
All Otters
10. Reach out to us!
The team here at Otter Tail Lakes Country is well-rounded with connections and friends in all our communities. Our friends are the friendliest otters around and would love to sit down for a cup of coffee, a tasty donut, or a cold brew any time. Just drop us a line!
Erik Osberg, Rural Rebound Initiative Coordinator
218-639-3130 or [email protected]
P.S. He has a fishing boat 😉