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By Ayanna Eckblad

Central Park on Saturday was crowded with families, vendors and pets for the fifth annual Daisy Fest Outdoor Festival. 

The event was hosted by Daisy Blue Naturals of Albert Lea and was dedicated to “joyfully experiencing all things holistic,” according to the event’s promotional materials. 

Jena Thompson, founder and CEO of Daisy Blue Naturals, said she began Daisy Fest because she wanted the opportunity to bring like-minded people together for a day of  fun, fellowship and learning, according to a blog on the store’s website. 

“The inaugural event was limited to 100 registered attendees,” said Thompson, speaking about the first Daisy Fest in 2020. “But it has since grown into a highly anticipated annual celebration. Now in its fifth year, Daisy Fest is held in partnership with the (Albert Lea) Convention and Visitors Bureau … attracting thousands of visitors each year.”

The event featured live music, food and drink vendors as well as various booths for people to learn about different types of holistic wellness. Local favorite Bourbon Stiletto performed in the morning, and Root River Jam performed in the afternoon. 

The event also featured speakers and demonstrations. These included Lee Aase’s talk, “Restoring the soul of health care,” a dry needling demonstration by Big Stone Therapies and “What is hypnosis?” presented by metaphysical minister Jennifer Matteo-Holtz. 

Amongst these activities were other fun things for families to enjoy like face painting, a hula hoop contest and a pet parade hosted by the Freeborn County Humane Society. 

There were booths set up around the park for vendors to sell things, as well as for businesses to promote services. The booths spanned a wide range of topics and wares including portrait paintings, midwifery, massage therapy, baked goods, natural remedies and wellness supplements. There were also tables set up for things like tarot card readings.

Families considered facepainting to be a highlight of the event as well as the many food vendors they may remember from the Freeborn County Fair earlier this summer. There was also an opportunity for people to take photos with a mermaid in the afternoon.