Chester Bowl Fall Fest Returns to Duluth

By Dave Schaeffer, Chester Bowl Improvement Club Executive Director

Chester Bowl Fall Fest has been bringing the Duluth community together every September for over four decades. On the third Saturday of September, we gather to celebrate the change of seasons, spend time together in Chester Park, and check out the work of so many talented artists at the 42nd annual event. People keep coming back year after year not only to see the featured craft vendors, but to get together every autumn. You never know when you will bump into an old friend or make a new one.

135 Vendors, 12 Food Trucks, and a Full Day of Music

Fall Fest has grown into one of the region’s biggest craft events. As visitors enter through the front entrance, they are greeted by a line of craft vendors on both sides, leading back into the park. With 135 total craft vendors, booths wind well into the park, on the grass by the playground, and even across a bridge over Chester Creek at the base of the ski hill.

Every booth gives a new opportunity for discovery, where you could find your new favorite local artist. Somewhere about halfway through, you are sure to get hungry, usually right when you get to the line of food trucks. Maybe you really need a cup of coffee on a cool day, or perhaps french fries will hit the spot. Whatever treat you are looking for, one of our food vendors will have it. A line of picnic tables is located right next to the stage, where you can discover a new local artist while enjoying your snack.

If you have kids with you, be sure to spend time at the playground or the kids’ area at the base of the ski hill so they can get their wiggles out. Then you can turn around and catch the second half of the vendors on the way to the park entrance.

When you’ve seen and done it all, our shuttle buses give you a quick, easy ride back to your car if it’s parked at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Local Makers, Local Food, Local Music

With so many craft vendors, you can find a little bit of everything at Fall Fest, with many people getting a head start on holiday shopping. A few of this year’s vendors include watercolor artist Katie Bromme, with beautiful landscapes; Weber Woodcraft and Designs, who specialize in carving woodland trolls; and Miel Duluth, a fourth-generation family beekeeping business selling honey and various beeswax products. You can get a sneak peek of all of their work on our website.

With a dozen food trucks, if you go home hungry, you are doing Fall Fest wrong. Many people seek out the caramel apples from the Lions Club or kettle corn as treats, and North Shore favorite New Scenic Café will be one of many providers, with full meals available.

Our music lineup has three acts, each with 90-minute sets starting at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. With the stage right by the food trucks, it is a great opportunity to listen to some tunes while relaxing and refueling.

A Beautiful Setting in the Heart of Duluth

Chester Bowl is a beloved neighborhood park tucked into the hills of Duluth that brings a “sense of place” with it. It is so rare to find a park that is right in the middle of a city, and yet can have you feeling like you are miles away from civilization where it is just you, the trail, the rocks, the trees, and the water.

Almost everyone who has lived in Duluth has a Chester Bowl story. That includes formative experiences like building forts as a kid, spending time walking their dogs, learning to ski and snowboard, hiking or picking up trail running, zooming on the Nordic ski trails, hanging out on the playground with your kids, and so much more.

We also hear about plenty of first dates, and even some weddings have happened in the park. And if Chester Park is new to you, start your Chester Bowl story at Fall Fest!

More Than a Festival — It’s a Fundraiser

At Chester Bowl, we believe that anyone should be able to ski, snowboard, or attend summer camp, regardless of their income or ability to pay. So every dollar donated at the gate goes directly toward winter and summer camp scholarships for Duluth kids and families.

We work hard to keep our prices as low as possible for both our summer day camp and our winter ski and snowboard program, so that most families can afford them. But we recognize that many families still can’t pay our reasonable registration fees. Plus, summer camp and winter sports are typically out of reach for low-income families.

Your donations will go straight to families that need that extra financial support. Last winter, Chester Bowl awarded $31,000 in summer camp scholarships (the equivalent of 600 days of camp) and $22,500 in winter scholarships (to over 100 families). With your generosity, we can keep making sure outdoor recreation is something anyone can do.

Where to Park and Free Shuttles

Free shuttles run all day from the University of Minnesota Duluth’s (UMD) parking lot B, making it easy to get to the park without the hassle of finding a parking spot. Walking or biking is a great option for those who are nearby, with bike racks available right at the entrance.

If you’re arriving by car, please park at UMD’s Lot B, near the intersection of College Street and University Avenue. There are multiple buses running constant loops, so you won’t need to wait more than five minutes. It is fast, free, and stress-free. Parking near the entrance is limited to spots for those with disability plates. Please don’t try to park in the neighborhoods and walk in; you’ll likely end up just as far away as Lot B.

A Perfect September Visit to Duluth

Mid-September is a perfect time to visit Duluth, with lots of other events to check out once you have been to Fall Fest. The leaves are just starting to change, making a hike in any natural area a treat. If you prefer to move fast — and maybe even on wheels — the Northshore Inline Marathon has divisions for roller blading, roller skiing, and road running. Prefer running on trails? Check out Bangin’ In the Brush, a 10k trail race at Korkki Nordic.

And Duluth has incredible options for food and drink. The Burrito Union and Tequila Bar is just steps away from the trails at Chester Park on 4th Street. Other great events include the Scandinavian Festival, the Duluth River Train Excursion, and Duluth Oktoberfestival.

Chester Park is Worth the Drive Any Time of Year

Chester Park is a rare treat in Duluth — it feels like a wilderness area, yet is nestled right in the heart of the central hillside with nearly six miles of trails waiting for you to explore.

Each season has its own highlights: wildflowers in late spring, swimming in Chester Creek in the summer, leaf peeping in the fall, and of course, skiing and snowboarding in the winter.

Beyond Fall Fest, you won’t want to miss the summer Music in the Park Concert Series, summer day camp for the kids, and the ski and snowboard program with our one-chairlift hill.

FAQs About Chester Bowl Fall Fest

Dave Schaeffer answers the most frequently asked questions to help you plan your trip to Duluth, MN.

Dave Schaeffer

Dave Schaeffer has been the Executive Director of the Chester Bowl Improvement Club since 2014 and is part of the five-member permanent staff team that makes outdoor recreation accessible to anyone at Chester Bowl. His favorite season is fall; he prefers live music outdoors, and his favorite foods are coffee and french fries, so he loves how Fall Fest perfectly combines all of those things.