2026 Festival Schedule, Map and Visitor Guide
Plan Your Visit to the 2026 Minnesota Pottery Festival
The 14th annual Minnesota Pottery Festival returns to Masonic West River Park in Hutchinson on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26.
The festival brings together 40 pottery businesses from Minnesota and across the country for two days of handmade ceramics, artist conversations, demonstrations, friendly competition, food, and hands-on activities.
Admission is free.
Festival Hours
Saturday, July 25: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday, July 26: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Saturday Schedule
10 a.m. — Festival opens
All 40 pottery booths open for the day.
11 a.m. — Technique demonstration
Participating potters Karin Kraemer and Alysha Baier will team up for a demonstration exploring surface decoration from two different perspectives. See how each artist uses process, imagery, pattern, texture, and color to give a clay surface its own character.
Noon — Raku firing demonstration
Joe Frank McKee will demonstrate the dramatic raku firing process. This demonstration is weather permitting. Raku involves extremely high temperatures, so visitors should remain behind the safety barriers and keep children close.
1 p.m. — Pottery Olympics, Heat 1
Watch professional potters compete in throwing challenges that test speed, control, creativity, and occasionally their ability to work without seeing what they are doing.
2 p.m. — Cooking demonstration by Clay Coyote
Morgan Baum will demonstrate cooking over a gas grill with handmade clay cookware, including Clay Coyote’s Grill Basket.
3 p.m. — Pottery Olympics, Heat 2
The competition continues.
5 p.m. — Festival closes
Sunday Schedule
10 a.m. — Festival opens
11 a.m. — Amateur Pottery Competition
Recreational potters and students take the wheels for a friendly throwing competition. Advance registration is required and participation is first come, first served.
1:30 p.m. — Pottery Olympics, Heat 3
The final professional heat begins, followed by the announcement of the 2026 winner.
2:30 p.m. — Raku firing demonstration
A second opportunity to see Joe Frank McKee demonstrate raku firing, weather permitting.
4 p.m. — Festival closes
Food and Drinks
Sunny Days Comfort Food, Gypsy Bowls, and Let’s Thai It will serve food throughout the weekend. Coffee will be available from Mocha Motion, with alcoholic beverages from Crow River Winery.
Pop will be sold at the Info Pavilion. Visitors may also refill personal water bottles at the complimentary hydration station.
Activities for Children
Children of all ages can visit the Kids’ Station to work with clay and bring home a creation. There is also a playground onsite, and the demonstrations and Pottery Olympics are open to festivalgoers of every age.
Getting Your Pottery to the Car
Bought more pottery than you can comfortably carry? Visit the golf-cart shuttle near the Info Pavilion. Festival volunteers can help take you and your purchases to the parking area.
Location and Parking
Masonic West River Park
Les Kouba Parkway NW
Hutchinson, Minnesota 55350
Enter the park from Montana Street NW and follow the festival and Gopher Campfire Wildlife Sanctuary signs.