New Resident Resources

If you're new to Cottage Grove, here's a list of resources that may be helpful to you as you settle in to the community. Click on the headers below to see more information about the topic.

For information about food, senior, transportation and economic resources, please visit our community resources page.  

02022Mark your calendars for these large-scale annual events in Cottage Grove each year. You won't want to miss them!

Cottage Grove Strawberry Festival

This four-day, family-focused event offers something for everyone. An estimated 25,000 people come to town to enjoy wonderful food, fantastic bands, a carnival and much more! 

Monster Bash Parade

On the Saturday before Halloween, put on your best costume and line up to watch the parade of Halloween themed floats go by.

Dodge Nature Center hosts this family friendly event at Shepard Farm. Families can take a hayride, get their face painted, practice axe throwing, slingshot apples, listen to live music and go trick-or-treating through the woods. This event is typically held the same day as the Monster Bash Parade.

The Haunting Experience

Head to Zywiec's Garden Center to be spooked by the scariest monsters in town. Their fun Halloween scares include a haunted hayride (the longest consecutively running hayride in the state) and a haunted house.

Fall Fun Fest

This family-friendly Halloween festival at Zywiec's Garden DSC_0785Center is perfect for the kiddos to enjoy farm animals, hayrides, pumpkin painting, no-scare haunted house tours and more.  

Join the Cottage Grove Parks and Rec team just after Halloween with a fun activity to get rid of the rotting pumpkins on your stoop. Toss them, launch them, roll them down a slide or give them to a firefighter to drop from the top of a fire truck bucket.

Hale to the Bird 5K

DSC_0185_editedHeld on thanksgiving morning, the Hale to the Bird 5K is a great option for a turkey trot with a community feel.

Hometown Holiday Celebration

This celebration is a hallmark of the city's holiday events. The event is filled with cheer as attendees listen to carolers, play festive games and win prizes, take photos with Santa, enjoy the food trucks and sometimes even spot some live reindeer!

Holiday Train

Each December the decked out holiday train rolls through Cottage Grove to bring live musical performances. Before the train arrives, attendees can take photos with Santa, grab food from the food trucks, and pick out some holiday train gear.

Santa Breakfast

Held the second Sunday in December, enjoy a North Pole breakfast complete with photos with Santa and a ride on his sleigh!


For more information about these events, keep watch of Discover Cottage Grove's website, newsletter and social media