2025 Fall Fest Visitor Information
Our 41st Annual Fall Fest is on Saturday, September 20th, 2025 from 9:30-4:30.
If you are a potential vendor looking for registration information, click this link.
Fall Fest is all about building community with friends and neighbors in the park! At this regional craft event you will enjoy music, food, crafts, locally grown fresh produce, vendors, and informational booths about local programs. The annual event has grown over the years and will host 135 vendors selling locally made crafts, a great line up of music, fifteen food trucks (if you go home hungry you are doing it wrong), and activities for children and families. In addition, Chester Bowl branded clothing and other items will be sold by the Chester Bowl Improvement Club. We have so much exciting new merch this year, so you will want to get to the Chester Bowl table (just inside the gate) early to buy our new gear!
Fall Fest is a fundraising event for Chester Bowl’s scholarship fund. Suggested donations of $5 per person or $10 per family will be accepted at the entrance to support the scholarships we will award in the coming year. Last year our community supported us with $12,012 in donations! This funding (along with our Silent Auction, Raffle, and Warren Miller Film Screening in November) is what enabled us to award $27,460 in winter scholarships to over 100 different families last year, and to support almost 200 weeks of camp with $32,750 in scholarships in summer 2025. Your generosity means more kids and families can ski, snowboard, and come to summer camp, even if they can’t afford the fees!
There will be live music all day on our stage!
10:00-11:30, Lydia Boyum & Ryan Lane (Acoustic Folk)
Lydia Boyum & Ryan Lane are a singer/songwriter duo from Duluth, MN. Drawing from folk, Americana, and indie genres, they blend poetic and witty lyrics with catchy melodies in their original songs. Their music is influenced by artists such as Leonard Cohen, Jason Isbell, Kris Kristofferson, and Colbie Caillat. Lydia’s debut EP, “Paradise Lost,” as well as Ryan’s debut album, “Aspiring Romantic,” can be found on all streaming platforms.
Preview Lydia and Ryan at this link.
12:00-1:30, Owler (Americana)
Owler is a Northern Minnesota band performing original Americana music, and we are excited to have them on the Chester Bowl stage! Guitarist and vocalist Karl Sundquist has previously performed at the Chester Creek Concert Series with Pocketknife (2021) and Big Waves & Bonfires (2019). We are delighted to have him back with the Owler trio!
2:00-3:30, Climes (Folk/Americana/Alt Country)
When Climes played a split billing at the Concert Series earlier this summer, we decided that 45 minutes of their music was not enough- so we are bringing them back to Fall Fest! We love them, and think you will love their Alt Country/ Americana sound too. But don’t take our word for it- check them out at the link below!
Listen to Climes at this link.
Free Shuttle Service: All visitors are highly encouraged to use the three free shuttle buses that will run continuously from the University of Minnesota Duluth parking lot B, located at the intersection of College St. and University Drive. Parking is very limited near the event, so walking, biking (bike racks near the entrance), or using the shuttles is highly recommended. There are a limited number of handicapped accessible parking spots near the entrance to the park. PLEASE do not try to drive and park in the neighborhoods nearby- the shuttle will be faster and more convenient, we promise!
We have a Facebook event page that you can follow to see updates- and use it to invite your friends! Check it out at this link.
To make Fall Fest happen, we have about 100 volunteer pitching in each year. Would you like to help us out this year? If you are participating in the winter program, these hours do go towards your volunteer commitment- imagine being done with your hours before the snow flies! Sign up to volunteer at this link!
This annual event is sponsored by the Chester Bowl Improvement Club, the City of Duluth Parks and Recreation Department, Kat Country 98.9, My 95.7, 95 KQDS, and KDAL 610 A.M.
With any questions, please contact Sam Luoma at sam@chesterbowl.org or call the Chalet at 218-724-9832.
Thanks to our media sponsors!
